Event Safety Insights Issue One | Fall 2016 | Page 17

匀琀愀渀搀 
椀渀 琀栀攀 

匀瀀漀琀氀椀最栀琀
䄀搀瘀攀爀琀椀猀攀 椀渀 

䔀瘀攀渀琀 匀愀昀攀琀礀 䤀渀猀椀最栀琀猀⸀
䘀漀爀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 瀀爀椀挀椀渀最 挀漀渀琀愀挀琀
愀搀瘀攀爀琀椀猀攀䀀攀瘀攀渀琀猀愀昀攀琀礀椀渀猀椀最栀琀猀⸀挀漀洀

Hippsley and Digby then led attendees through a
guided workshop, which involved developing a
trigger chart for a real or hypothetical event. A trigger chart (or weather decision matrix) is a simple,
easily understood tool that provides a visual representation of expected actions based upon pre-established weather “triggers,” such as windspeed,
hail, or lightning.
Triggers are determined based on factors specific to
your event, such as the environment, attendance and
production elements. As the intensity of these triggers increases, so too does the degree of response.
The final product is a one page, color-coded reference sheet that helps to guide the decision-making
process when faced with severe weather. For more
complex events, individual work areas may require
their own unique matrix (i.e. one for production, one
for concessions, etc). All trigger charts should also
contain the method by which stakeholders will be
alerted of an impending threat.
Hippsley stressed that trigger charts should not be
“one size fits all” and may need to be updated as
conditions warrant. For example, if you’re working
on a temporary festival site, the safest sheltering option for attendees may be their personal vehicles.
This would