6.5 million liters of beer – that’s how much was poured in one location over the space of 18 days in 2023. You’re right, we’re talking about Germany’s biggest Oktoberfest.
I’m from the outskirts of Hannover and well-acquainted with beer festivals. In my region, they celebrate Oktoberfest but also the world’s largest marksmen festival (Schützenfest). So, if you think a beer festival on its own is a safety hazard, try one that incorporates a target shooting competition, especially in the villages. Beers and guns certainly sound like a terrible EHS combination and not something you’d expect on a traffic sign.
For this article though, I took a closer look at the famous Munich Oktoberfest and its safety concept. How do they keep their visitors safe and what can we learn from it for EHS management? Keep reading to find out.
How Dangerous is it Compared to a High-Risk Workplace?
Each year, approximately 6,000 to 7,000 visitors at Munich’s Oktoberfest suffer non-fatal injuries. To put this into perspective, consider the oil and gas industry in the United States, which reported around 8,500 non-fatal injuries in 2023. While the numbers are comparable, the nature of the risks is vastly different.
In the oil and gas sector, workers contend with severe hazards such as rough sea conditions, slippery surfaces, electrical sparks, and rotating machinery. Moreover, drinking alcohol on oil platforms is strictly prohibited, while it’s encouraged and an essential cultural part of Oktoberfest.
Therefore, at the world’s largest Volksfest, the biggest hazard are the consumers themselves. With 6 million visitors a year, organizers face intoxicated crowds who need to be safe while safety might not be on their minds after a few beers.
This begs the question: how do Oktoberfest organizers effectively manage hazards that land in the “certain” category of the IOSH 5×5 risk matrix, and what can EHS managers learn from their approach to handling residual risks—those that persist even after preventive measures are in place?
You Can’t Remove All Hazards, But You Can Decrease Their Risk Score
One of the most inherent hazards of Oktoberfest is alcohol. However, banning it would directly conflict with one of the key aspects of the event – drinking beer. Therefore, organizers must anticipate that even the most level-headed individuals may act unpredictably.
Balancing hazards with controls is something EHS professionals are familiar with. It’s both a science and an art, given the need to also manage perceptions.
For example, despite initial backlash, the festival grounds have been enclosed by a large fence since 2010. Not only does this prevent terroristic attacks, but also stops drunk people from running in front of cars.
Additionally, large, well-equipped medical tents staffed with doctors, nurses, and paramedics are stationed throughout the festival. While the risk of alcohol poisoning remains, its potential consequences are significantly reduced.
Safety to Your Table in One Click
The “SafeNow” app, introduced in Munich’s Schottenhamel tent, demonstrates how technology can streamline emergency responses in crowded settings. With just a single tap, festival-goers and staff can summon security to their exact location, whether for harassment, medical emergencies, or reuniting with a group.
SafeNow’s user-friendly design allows users to request help by holding a point on their smartphone screen, alerting the nearest security member. This system effectively handles both serious incidents and minor issues.
“Smart Local Matching” matches those in need with the closest helper, much like a dating app. This approach, also being tested by Deutsche Bahn, offers potential for EHS managers to implement similar technology in large, multi-level workplaces for quick, accurate emergency responses.
Collaboration With Local Authorities
Behind the festival’s health and safety management is a detailed concept that has been developed with local authorities, police, fire departments, medical services, and event organizers.
To ensure that people can enjoy the festival in a relaxed manner, the City of Munich, together with the Munich police, has developed a comprehensive security plan that has proven effective in recent years and is constantly being updated.
EHS managers can take inspiration from Munich’s approach by working with local authorities on emergency plans before situations occur – and not afterwards. Preventative, rather than corrective.
For example, BASF invited local fire departments to on-site training exercises to show how fires on chemical manufacturing sites can be extinguished.
Bringing EHS to Smartphones
While EHS managers hopefully never have to deal with excessive alcohol consumption on high-risk industry sites, the Oktoberfest still serves valuable safety lessons. (I bet that sometimes, getting employees to buy-into the safety culture you’re curating can feel a bit like herding rowdy revellers…)
The festival’s approach to continually evaluating safety measures, collaborating with local authorities, and inventing innovative solutions demonstrates a strong EHS commitment.
The SafeNow app shows how safety can be made accessible to consumers, allowing the public to report dangerous situations directly from their smartphones.
For the workplace, Pro-Sapien’s Power App enables workers to submit near misses and observations on the go, even without an internet connection. Discover how it looks in practice by watching a demo today:
