A health and safety professional Edward Debrah, has warned that health and safety must be placed at the centre of event planning and delivery, following recent events surrounding the Shattafest concert in London.He said the incidents linked to the event should serve as a reminder to organisers, promoters, venue operators and contractors that the safety of patrons must never be treated as an afterthought.In a statement issued on Monday, August 10, under the theme “Safe Events, Stronger Experiences”, Mr Debrah said every event should be remembered for positive reasons rather than preventable incidents.“Every successful event should be remembered for the right reasons, not for preventable incidents,” he said.His comments come as the organisation and delivery of large public events continue to attract attention over the responsibilities of those involved in keeping audiences, staff and contractors safe.Mr Debrah said the responsibility for safety does not rest with one party alone. Organisers, promoters, venue operators and contractors all have a shared duty to ensure appropriate measures are in place before an event begins and remain effective until the final attendee has safely left the venue.“Be it a concert, festival, conference, sporting event or community gathering, organizers, promoters, venue operators and contractors have a shared responsibility to protect everyone in attendance,” he said.He stressed that safety planning should start well before an event opens its doors to the public.“Robust Health and Safety planning and arrangement should begin long before the first guest arrives and continue until the last person has left the venue safely,” Mr Debrah said.According to him, organisers must make adequate provision for several essential safety measures, including thorough risk assessments, effective crowd management and properly developed emergency response plans.Such emergency arrangements, he said, should cover situations including fires, first aid requirements and medical emergencies. Events should also have well-trained and competent security personnel, safe infrastructure and appropriate welfare facilities.Clear communication and instructions for both staff and members of the public are also essential, while organisers should conduct post-event reviews to identify shortcomings and lessons that can be applied to future events.Mr Debrah said these measures should not be viewed simply as regulatory requirements, but as fundamental responsibilities towards the people attending an event.“No event can be successful if lives are put at unnecessary risk,” he said.He also drew attention to the responsibility that comes with selling tickets to members of the public.“Every ticket sold represents a person with family, friends and loved ones expecting them to return home safely,” he said.The safety professional called on all stakeholders in the events industry to change the way health and safety is considered during the planning and delivery of events.“As a Health and Safety Professional, call on all event stakeholders to place Health and Safety at the heart of every event planning and delivery,” he said.While acknowledging the importance of complying with laws and regulations, Mr Debrah said legal compliance should be regarded only as the minimum standard expected from event organisers.“Compliance with legal requirements can only be the starting point,” he said.He argued that a stronger commitment to protecting people would help build public confidence while also protecting the reputation of organisers and creating better experiences for audiences.“A genuine commitment to protecting people is what builds trust, enhances reputation and ensures events remain memorable for the right reasons,” Mr Debrah said.The warning comes with a broader call for the events industry to rethink how success is measured. According to Mr Debrah, attendance figures alone should not determine whether an event has been successful.“The measure of a successful event is not only about how many people attended, but how safely patrons returned home,” he said.