2.2.15 Certified Event Safety Professional

Description

The “Certified Event Safety Professional” designation signifies an individual’s deep knowledge and commitment to safe working practices in the events industry and asserts their commitment to continuing professional development in this field. A Certified Event Safety Professional has demonstrated their comprehensive understanding of standards, regulations and laws relating to event safety, as well as a deep understanding of the role and responsibility of agencies involved in the inspection and approval of event power and temporary demountable structures.

Benefits

• Become a member of SACIA and use the designatory letters CESP behind their name
• Offer employers and colleagues assurance of commitment to the events industry
• Be listed on the National Learners’ Record Database

Qualifying criteria

The candidate should hold a relevant NQF-level 5 qualification in event management or similar. They should also have held the Certified Event Safety Practitioner designation for at least three years. Examples of a relevant qualification might include a Higher Certificate in Event Management (qualification 84686 or 115970) or a National Certificate in Sport Event Management (qualification 60276)

Individuals in full-time employment need to demonstrate at least five year’s relevant work experience in the events industry. Individuals working on a freelance basis should demonstrate that they have worked a minimum 105 days in each year.

Assessment

Applicants are to submit an extended essay on a medium-risk event on which they were formally appointed as the Event Safety Officer (one event). The event should have occurred within the last three years and must be supported by testimonial letters from the client and other relevant stakeholders, confirming the appointment, role, involvement, responsibilities, and contributions to the event's safety. The purpose of the essay is to demonstrate the applicant's competence through integrated knowledge, legislative and regulatory requirements, practical application, critical analysis and professional reflection.   The essay must include dedicated chapters structured as follows:

Chapter 1: The Nature and Profile of the Event – Provide an overview of the event, including the type of event (e.g., festival), scale, location, dates, the profile of attendees, and a brief description of the stakeholders involved.

Chapter 2: The strategic vision – events strategic objectives. Discuss the strategic objectives of the event (mission and vision) as well as the safety objectives of the event for successful event delivery.

Chapter 3: Risk assessment and evaluation – identify and critically evaluate the risks associated with the event (methodology used, risk ratings, persons/groups at risk).

Chapter 4: Risk Mitigation Measures – explain the control measures to address the risks identified in Chapter 3.

Chapter 5: Implementation and execution of the operational safety plan – Explain how those controls were organised, coordinated and managed during the event. (Demonstrate how the event safety strategy was translated into operational reality.

Chapter 6: Challenges and incidents experienced during the event – critically discuss significant challenges experienced during the event.

Chapter 7: Measures implemented to address these challenges.

Chapter 8: Event outcome, including lessons learned and recommendations for future improvement.

Technical requirements: the essay should be between 5000 and 7500 words in length, presented in 1.5-line spacing in 12-point font, with clear chapter headings and labelled figures and tables, and confidential information should be appropriately anonymised where necessary. Where possible, refer to SANS 10 366.

Applicants will be required to present their essay and all supporting documentation/evidence to an assessment panel comprising designated representatives from academia and the event safety profession.

Preparing a portfolio of evidence

There is no definitive list of documents that should appear within the portfolio but generally it would include a CPD report detailing the professional development activities you have been involved in since you were first awarded the Certified Event Safety Practitioner designation. We do NOT provide a template for the reference letters because we are looking for an authentic endorsement of your skills and attributes, written by someone familiar with your work, character and accomplishments. We'd suggest their letter cover the values and principles associated with SACIA membership described in the SACIA Code of Professional Conduct, but even this suggestion is tempered by a greater need for the testimonial to be an authentic endorsement of your skills and attributes. 

Recognition of Prior Learning

SACIA’s certification council recognise that many of the applicants for this designation will not hold an underlying NQF-level 5 qualification. The Council will encourage individual’s lacking such a qualification to apply for a professional designation if they can demonstrate additional work experience as an event safety officer. For more information please visit the RPL page

Designation competencies

An individual applying for recognition as a Certified Event Safety Professional should be able to demonstrate the following:

• An informed understanding of event safety practices across multiple event formats, and an informed understanding of the key terms, concepts, facts, general principles, rules and theories that apply to event safety.
• An informed understanding of standards, regulations and laws relating to event safety (including but not limited to the Occupational Health & Safety Act, SANS10366, Safety at Sports & Recreational Events Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act (Section 6), Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, and the Disaster Management Act), and should understand how these are applied over multiple event formats.
• The ability to plan and manage an implementation of a safety plan within a well-defined, familiar and supported environment.
• The ability to identify, evaluate and solve both routine and new problems within an event context, and to apply solutions based on relevant evidence and procedures appropriate to event safety. The candidate should also demonstrate an understanding of the consequences that accrue when an event safety plan is not correctly implemented. The candidate should also have an informed understanding of dispute resolution techniques applicable to both public and private spaces, as well as a proven ability to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis on events across multiple formats
• The ability to take account of, and act in accordance with the SACIA code of professional conduct, as well as the values and practices applicable to the events industry. The candidate should also have an informed understanding of gender-based violence, discrimination, victimisation, sexual harassment, bullying and intimidation in the workplace
• The ability to communicate information reliably, accurately and coherently, using conventions appropriate to the events industry, including an understanding of event safety documentation required by national government, provincial government, municipalities, councils and other regulatory bodies.
• The ability to operate in a range of familiar and new venues and environments, demonstrating an understanding of different event genres, their constituent parts and the relationships between these parts, and to understand how event safety infractions in one area impact on other areas within the same system. The candidate should also demonstrate an informed understanding of the role and responsibility of agencies involved in the inspection and approval of event power and temporary demountable structures.
• The ability to evaluate his or her performance as well as the performance of others, and to take appropriate action where necessary; to take responsibility for his or her learning within a framework of continuing professional development; and to promote the learning of others.
• The ability to account for his or her actions, to work effectively with and respect others, and, within an events environment, to take supervisory responsibility for the application of safety protocols where appropriate. The candidate should also demonstrate proven ability to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis on events across multiple formats

Application Process

The Application Form is completed and submitted to SACIA for processing, together with the required supporting documentation. This includes the registration fee.

Candidates are notified of outcome of evaluation

Successful candidates are Certified, and their name is added to the National Learners Records Database

Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements

Designated members are required to:

• maintain annual membership of SACIA
• pay an annual certification fee to SACIA
• subscribe to the SACIA code of professional conduct
• comply with the CPD requirements as stipulated by SACIA

It is important to note that:

• Professional designations are awarded at the discretion of the SACIA board;
• SACIA reserves the right to check the records of applicants as part of the application process;
• Certificates issued by SACIA remain the property of SACIA and must be returned should the individual for any reason lose their status as designee.
• In instances where a candidate does not hold an appropriate qualification, recognition of workplace learning, and extended work experience will be considered in an evaluation.

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