The DIM-ICE risk model
| Ingress | Circulation | Egress | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | |||
| Design | Elements of the design that influence the crowd during ingress – this specifically relates to the elements of the design (such as barriers, local geometry, width of routes, paths and stairs, entrances, turnstiles, etc. | Elements of the design that influence the crowd during circulation (this relates to “mid-event” – moving around) such as route widths, stairs, layout and facilities management, concessions, etc. | Elements of the design that influence the crowd during egress (getting out) – specifically the egress capacity, route complexity and geometry (stairs, corridors, doors, gates, etc.) |
| Information | Prior to the event, many things can influence crowd behaviour such as advanced notifications, media coverage, tickets and posters, local knowledge, previous event history, nature of the band, weather forecasts. Assess how the information prior to the event, near the event, on the way to the event and at the venue could influence the crowd – specifically signage and information systems | Mid-event there could be a lot of conflicting information, the performance, the concessions, signage, PA announcements, stewards and information points. Assess how this influences the crowds and how best to inform the crowd of the facilities | Signage and PA announcements for departure (non-emergencies) influence not only the direction but the distribution of the crowd. Ensure that all routes are clearly signed – checking for lines of sight to ensure all exit routes are visible |
| Management | Stewards, security and police management not only divert the crowd to the most appropriate areas but also influence the crowd’s behaviour (such as reducing the element of hooliganism by increasing the visibility of police – this is also information). Queues can be actively managed and evenly distributed if approach routes allow good sightlines | During the event, the stewards can actively manage queues and crowd movements | During egress departing crowds can be actively managed = specifically car parks can be made more efficient if actively managed (rather than allowing a free-for-all dash for the exit) |
| Emergency | |||
| Design | How does the ingress system cope during an emergency – you may need to consider a “stay out” strategy and assess how the design copes with turning the crowd back from an internal threat | Mid-event how quickly can this site evacuate – typically the type of calculation a fire/safety officer would perform to ensure the site had sufficient egress routes and capacity for clearance | How does the egress system cope during an emergency – you may need to consider a “stay put” strategy and assess how the design copes withholding the crowd back from an external threat |
| Information | During ingress how would the crowds be informed of an emergency? What type of information, in what form and content is required? | Mid-event how would the crowds be informed of an emergency? What type of information, in what form and what content is required? Ensuring the crowd moves away from the threat requires more than just a please leave an announcement | During egress how would the crowds be informed of an emergency? What type of information, in what form and content is required? For this, you need to consider the crowd in the process of normal egress |
| Management | During ingress, there may be more people trying to gain entry than is physically possible (for example, a “free” event). The crowds may need active management to prevent overcrowding in the event space. This would be considered an emergency situation as there is a risk of crushing if the event does not have an active management system | During the event, the crowd may need to be managed (directed) away from a threat. Consider the information (above) and the management of the egress for a direction that ensures the crowd moves as quickly as possible away from the source of danger | The crowd may need to be managed after vacuation (say on a holding area) to be kept safe until the threat/danger has passed You may need to keep managing the crowd for several hours during a holding operation. You will need to keep the crowd informed until it is safe to let the crowd disperse |
| Ingress | Circulation | Egress | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Elements of the design that influence the crowd during ingress – this specifically relates to the elements of the design (such as barriers, local geometry, width of routes, paths and stairs, entrances, turnstiles, etc. | Elements of the design that influence the crowd during circulation (this relates to “mid-event” – moving around) such as route widths, stairs, layout and facilities management, concessions, etc. | Elements of the design that influence the crowd during egress (getting out) – specifically the egress capacity, route complexity and geometry (stairs, corridors, doors, gates, etc.) |
| Information | Prior to the event, many things can influence crowd behaviour such as advanced notifications, media coverage, tickets and posters, local knowledge, previous event history, nature of the band, weather forecasts. Assess how the information prior to the event, near the event, on the way to the event and at the venue could influence the crowd – specifically signage and information systems | Mid-event there could be a lot of conflicting information, the performance, the concessions, signage, PA announcements, stewards and information points. Assess how this influences the crowds and how best to inform the crowd of the facilities | Signage and PA announcements for departure (non-emergencies) influence not only the direction but the distribution of the crowd. Ensure that all routes are clearly signed – checking for lines of sight to ensure all exit routes are visible |
| Management | Stewards, security and police management not only divert the crowd to the most appropriate areas but also influence the crowd’s behaviour (such as reducing the element of hooliganism by increasing the visibility of police – this is also information). Queues can be actively managed and evenly distributed if approach routes allow good sightlines | During the event, the stewards can actively manage queues and crowd movements | During egress departing crowds can be actively managed = specifically car parks can be made more efficient if actively managed (rather than allowing a free-for-all dash for the exit) |
| Design | How does the ingress system cope during an emergency – you may need to consider a “stay out” strategy and assess how the design copes with turning the crowd back from an internal threat | Mid-event how quickly can this site evacuate – typically the type of calculation a fire/safety officer would perform to ensure the site had sufficient egress routes and capacity for clearance | How does the egress system cope during an emergency – you may need to consider a “stay put” strategy and assess how the design copes withholding the crowd back from an external threat |
| Information | During ingress how would the crowds be informed of an emergency? What type of information, in what form and content is required? | Mid-event how would the crowds be informed of an emergency? What type of information, in what form and what content is required? Ensuring the crowd moves away from the threat requires more than just a please leave an announcement | During egress how would the crowds be informed of an emergency? What type of information, in what form and content is required? For this, you need to consider the crowd in the process of normal egress |
| Management | During ingress, there may be more people trying to gain entry than is physically possible (for example, a “free” event). The crowds may need active management to prevent overcrowding in the event space. This would be considered an emergency situation as there is a risk of crushing if the event does not have an active management system | During the event, the crowd may need to be managed (directed) away from a threat. Consider the information (above) and the management of the egress for a direction that ensures the crowd moves as quickly as possible away from the source of danger | The crowd may need to be managed after vacuation (say on a holding area) to be kept safe until the threat/danger has passed |
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