Public safety starts with smart procurement

Ensuring the safety of our communities at large-scale events, whether concerts, sporting events, or community gatherings is a top priority for municipalities and public services. With the responsibility of protecting attendees, crowd control, and maintaining security, public sector procurement teams play a critical role in making sure the staff has everything they need to execute the event.

From acquiring security staff and surveillance technology to event-specific safety gear and road signage, having a co-ordinated procurement plan is essential for effective crowd and event management.

Need for Enhanced Event Safety

With the increasing frequency of large-scale events, procurement teams are tasked with finding reliable, high-quality solutions for crowd control and event safety. Public safety for these events isn’t just about preventing incidents – it’s also about ensuring that events operate efficiently while keeping attendees and workers comfortable and secure.

When it comes to managing crowds and ensuring event safety, there are a few key components that procurement professionals need to keep top of mind:

Security staffing – Having enough trained personnel is critical to managing crowd behaviour and responding to incidents quickly. Procurement teams must source reliable security services that can scale up depending on the size and complexity of the event.

Effective crowd control measures – Entry and exit points are often where bottlenecks or security breaches occur. To manage crowds effectively, employ strategies such as clearly marked entry and exit points, crowd barriers, and trained personnel to monitor crowd flow. Using technology, like crowd management apps, can also help in real-time monitoring of crowd density. Regularly conducting drills can prepare staff, city personnel, and volunteers for managing large crowds.

Surveillance systems – Video monitoring and surveillance tools have become vital in keeping events secure. Procurement must ensure the availability of high-quality systems that allow for real-time monitoring and data analysis to respond to any incidents that may arise.

Emergency preparedness – Staffing for first aid and emergency response is just as critical as security staffing. It’s important to have clear lines of communication between all stakeholders, as well as access to medical personnel who can respond to emergencies on the ground.

Personal protective equipment – Personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial for protecting workers and volunteers from hazards at events. Procurement teams need to ensure that items like helmets, gloves, masks, and safety glasses are available. PPE ensures that first responders, sanitation workers, and other public service employees stay safe while performing their duties at events.

Health and hygiene protocols – Implement health protocols at events such as providing hand sanitizing stations and ensuring you have products for clean restroom facilities. Many events utilize touchless payment systems and contactless entry to enhance safety. Adapting these practices can help reduce the spread of illnesses.

Compliance and risk management – In addition to staffing and technology, procurement professionals need to ensure that all solutions meet regulatory requirements. This includes everything from fire safety to Accessible Canada Act (ACA) compliance, ensuring that the event is safe and accessible for all attendees.

Weather Preparedness Plans – Before an event, monitor weather forecasts and establish a clear communication plan for attendees. Purchasing needs to help city staff provide shelters and shaded areas and understand the contingency plans that are in place for extreme weather. Municipalities should designate a safe area where attendees can go in case of severe weather.

Traffic planning – Depending on how large your event is you may need to close streets or re-route traffic. Ensure you have the manpower and equipment to direct the community in the right direction. This could include everything from cones to signs.

Enhance Public Safety Procurement

Kinetic GPO understands the unique challenges faced by procurement teams, especially when it comes to ensuring public safety for large-scale events.

By offering access to a broad portfolio of contracts with industry leading suppliers, Kinetic GPO helps procurement professionals streamline their sourcing process and ensures they’re working with trusted suppliers who meet high standards.

Here are some ways working with Kinetic GPO can help optimize your next event:

1. Access to trusted suppliers – One of the biggest challenges of sourcing is ensuring you’re working with trusted suppliers. With Kinetic GPO, procurement teams have access to a portfolio of suppliers who provide quality, compliance, and reliability. This saves time and reduces the risk of working with unproven vendors, especially when time is of the essence. Furthermore, many Kinetic GPO contracts allow you to work with local contractors, dealers, subcontractors, and suppliers in your area.
2. Competitive pricing, cost savings – Procurement teams are always looking for ways to stay within budget while maximizing the value of their contracts. By utilizing Kinetic GPO, organizations can secure competitive pricing on security and safety solutions without sacrificing quality. This is especially important for public sector entities, which often face tight budgets and increased scrutiny over spending.
3. Expertise and support – Kinetic GPO offers more than just access to suppliers – they also provide subject matter expertise and support to help procurement professionals make informed decisions. Whether it’s navigating compliance requirements, providing supplier recommendations, or ensuring that security and staffing solutions are up to the task, Kinetic GPO can guide you through the process to ensure your event is a success.
4. Efficient procurement – The procurement process can often be time-consuming, particularly when you need to coordinate multiple suppliers for security, staffing, and technology solutions. Kinetic GPO stands ready to support your organization’s public safety procurement efforts, offering trusted suppliers, competitive pricing, and expert guidance to ensure your next event runs smoothly and securely.

Whether you’re planning a local community gathering, a regional hockey tournament, or a large-scale festival, working with Kinetic GPO can help you procure what you need with ease. By partnering with us, you can ensure that your procurement process is efficient, cost-effective, and ready to meet the growing demands of public safety.  MW

Chris Penny is the CEO of Kinetic GPO. Penny has spent two decades helping public-sector entities and suppliers manage the often-complicated world of public sector purchasing.