Level 2 Award in Crowd Safety Management

Unit 1: Crowd Safety Fundamentals

1. Principles of Crowd Safety : Introduces the purpose of crowd safety management and explains how safe planning, competent personnel, effective supervision and appropriate controls protect visitors, workers and other people attending events.

2. Crowd Characteristics and Behaviour : Examines how audience profile, event type, expectations, environmental conditions and crowd behaviour can influence movement, congestion and safety risks.

3. Crowd Movement and Density : Introduces basic principles of crowd flow, density, congestion, bottlenecks, surging, pushing, overcrowding and uncontrolled movement.

4. Roles and Responsibilities : Explains the responsibilities of organisers, safety personnel, stewards, supervisors, venue representatives, emergency services and other parties involved in maintaining crowd safety.

5. Safe and Inclusive Crowd Management : Introduces considerations for children, older people, disabled people, vulnerable persons and others who may require additional assistance during normal operations or emergencies.

HSE specifically recommends considering crowd movement, behaviour, audience profile and the needs of people including young people and people with disabilities when assessing crowd-safety risks. HSE

Unit 2: Crowd Risk Assessment and Event Planning

1. Crowd Safety Hazards : Identifies common hazards associated with crowd movement, including surging, crushing, falls, blocked routes, inadequate entrances and exits, vehicle interaction, poor lighting and unsuitable site conditions.

2. Audience and Attendance Assessment : Introduces methods for estimating attendance and considering audience characteristics, previous attendance, ticketing information, event popularity, weather and other factors that can affect crowd numbers.

3. Venue and Site Suitability : Examines the basic features of safe crowd environments, including access routes, circulation areas, viewing areas, exits, emergency routes, barriers and potential pinch-points.

4. Crowd Safety Risk Assessment : Introduces the process of identifying hazards, evaluating risk and selecting proportionate measures to reduce the likelihood or severity of crowd-related incidents.

5. Crowd Management Plans : Explains the purpose and basic content of crowd management plans, including staffing, movement controls, communications, emergency arrangements and monitoring arrangements.

HSE recommends establishing whether a crowd can be safely managed at the selected venue, assessing the site and audience, determining safe capacity and developing a crowd-management plan based on the identified risks. 

Unit 3: Entry, Exit and Crowd Movement Control

1. Safe Arrival and Entry : Examines arrangements for managing queues, entrances, ticket checks, access routes and the controlled arrival of attendees.

2. Internal Crowd Circulation : Introduces methods for maintaining safe movement between facilities, viewing areas, attractions, refreshment points and other areas within an event site.

3. Exit and Dispersal Management : Covers the safe movement of people from venues and event sites, including controlled exits, dispersal routes and prevention of congestion during departure.

4. Queues and Congestion : Develops awareness of queue formation, overcrowding, bottlenecks, pinch-points and conditions that may cause sudden changes in crowd movement.

5. Barriers and Physical Controls : Introduces the purpose of barriers, fencing, gates and other physical measures used to guide or separate crowd movement and protect people from hazards.

HSE identifies three key crowd-control phases as arrival and entry, movement around the venue, and leaving/dispersal, while barrier selection should be based on the intended function and appropriate risk assessment. 

Unit 4: Stewarding, Communication and Crowd Monitoring

1. Stewarding Roles and Conduct : Explains the role of stewards in directing attendees, supporting safe circulation, identifying hazards, monitoring crowds and communicating concerns through the established command structure.

2. Communication Systems : Introduces effective communication between stewards, supervisors, event control, management, emergency services and attendees during routine operations and emergencies.

3. Crowd Observation and Monitoring : Develops awareness of monitoring crowd numbers, distribution, movement, queues, entrances, exits, standing areas and potential overcrowding points.

4. Recognising Early Warning Signs : Teaches learners to recognise developing congestion, agitation, unusual crowd movement, blocked routes, distress and other indicators requiring escalation.

5. Reporting and Escalation : Explains how stewards and crowd-safety personnel should report hazards, incidents and emerging risks to the appropriate supervisor or control function.

HSE states that crowd monitoring can help identify overcrowding early and should consider numbers, distribution, entrances, exits, standing areas, bottlenecks and queues. 

Unit 5: Incidents, Emergencies and Evacuation

1. Crowd-Related Incidents : Introduces appropriate responses to incidents involving overcrowding, falls, injuries, disorder, blocked routes, sudden crowd movement and other safety concerns.

2. Emergency Procedures : Develops awareness of emergency plans, reporting arrangements, command structures, assembly arrangements and the responsibilities of personnel during an incident.

3. Evacuation and Emergency Egress : Examines the principles of directing people toward safe exits, maintaining emergency routes, preventing additional congestion and supporting orderly evacuation.

4. Emergency Services Coordination : Explains how event personnel should cooperate with police, fire and rescue, medical services and other emergency responders within established arrangements.

5. Incident Reporting and Debriefing : Introduces the importance of recording incidents, communicating lessons learned and contributing to post-event reviews and improvements.

Learners completing the qualification should be able to:

• Explain fundamental principles of crowd safety.

• Recognise common crowd-management hazards.

• Understand how crowd behaviour and density affect safety.

• Contribute to event-specific crowd risk assessments.

• Understand safe entry, circulation, exit and dispersal arrangements.

• Recognise congestion, bottlenecks and potential crowd surges.

• Support effective stewarding and communication arrangements.

• Monitor crowd conditions and identify early warning signs.

• Understand basic emergency and evacuation procedures.

• Report incidents and safety concerns through appropriate channels.

• Work effectively within an established event command structure.

This qualification is designed for:

• Event stewards and crowd-safety personnel

• Venue assistants and event operations staff

• Festival and concert staff

• Sporting-event personnel

• Exhibition and public-event staff

• Community-event organisers and volunteers

• Hospitality and venue personnel involved in crowd movement

• Staff supporting entry, exit and queue management

• Individuals seeking introductory knowledge of crowd safety

• Personnel progressing toward further spectator-safety or event-safety qualifications

The programme can apply to sports, concerts, festivals, exhibitions, public gatherings, community events and other environments where people assemble, rather than being restricted to sports grounds.

Assessment Format: Written knowledge assessment combined with scenario-based crowd-safety exercises and practical observation of hazard recognition, communication, monitoring and emergency-response decision-making.

Total Questions: 30

Passing Score: 70%

Duration: 45 minutes for the written assessment, plus approximately 60 minutes for scenario-based assessment.

Certification: Successful learners receive the HiQual UK Level 2 Award in Crowd Safety Management.

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Level 2 Award in Crowd Safety Management may progress to:

• Level 2 Certificate in Spectator Safety or another appropriate competency-based stewarding qualification, where required by the relevant sector or employer.

• Further training in event safety, stewarding, crowd management, emergency planning and venue operations.

• Specialist training in first aid, fire safety, conflict management, accessibility, safeguarding and counter-terrorism awareness, according to role requirements.

• Career development into event-support roles such as Event Steward, Crowd Safety Assistant, Venue Assistant, Festival Steward and Event Operations Assistant.

• Further study toward Level 3 spectator-safety supervision or Level 4 spectator-safety management, subject to the relevant entry and competency requirements.

SGSA currently identifies Level 2 as the stewarding level, Level 3 as the supervisory level and Level 4 as the safety-management level within its sports-ground spectator-safety framework.