"Grim reality" of festival workers' safety and wellbeing revealed in new survey

UK festival workers face ‘significant health and safety issues’ including long hours and extreme heat, a new survey by the Bectu union has revealed.

Bectu represents workers in the live events industry, who face an “often grim reality” working behind the scenes at music festivals across the UK. Respondents working in construction, sound, lighting, production, stage management spoke of 18 hour days and even sleeping on the floor.

Half of all respondents said they sometimes or usually felt unsafe while working at UK festivals in 2024. A fifth said working conditions had worsened in the last five years, and three in 10 reported that they had experienced a risk to their physical safety, such as working at height without sufficient training or equipment.

The survey revealed serious deficiencies in safety management, as 35% didn’t know who to report health and safety concerns to on site. Over 70% said they worked long hours; some reported 18-20 hour days with as little as three hours off between shifts.

Sanitation was another common theme, with over 70% reporting substandard washing and toilet facilities. Crew were often required to use ‘long-drop’ toilets (also known as pit latrines) that were not emptied over the space of a week, and did not have access to any water in crew camping areas, nor access to shower facilities during the festival build.

One worker reported having to sleep in a crowded tour bus as crew accommodation, where people outnumbered bunks and some had to sleep on the floor.

Another reported having to sleep squeezed into one trailer of 30 people. Many respondents reported crew accommodation that was cramped, without power and not able to be locked.

Furthermore, 40% of workers were exposed to excess noise without the necessary PPE to protect their hearing. 40% also reported having to work in extreme heat without adequate provisions, putting them at risk of heat exhaustion or dehydration.

Other responses from the survey portray an unsettling picture of UK festival sites’ working conditions:

“I was told to work despite my protests about safety.”

“I was offered less than minimum wage as a day rate for a role that was managing a campsite of 25,000 people.”

“You have people who are responsible for the health and safety of what is effectively a huge and packed city, and they are on a knife edge of sleep deprivation.”

“It was 42 degrees while rigging. I collapsed due to heat stroke.”

Commenting on the survey results, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:

“The UK is known for its world-class festivals but the reality for those working behind the scenes can be very different.

“The issue of long working hours and the physical and mental health risks this creates is well-established in other sectors of the creative industries, such as film and TV. But many festival crew told us they often work 18+-hour days back to back, with many of them then operating heavy machinery or working in risky environments.

“Our members are highly skilled professionals without whom the live events industry would not survive. Yet they often face precarious work, low wages and, as our survey has highlighted, significant health and safety issues on site.

“Many of the stories we heard are unfortunately commonplace and almost normalised – but no one should have to put up with these conditions.

“The more members we have, the stronger our influence and the more we can lobby for change. If you work in the UK’s live events sector, joining a trade union is one of the best things you can do to help improve working conditions.”

Not-for-profit trade group The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) provided a statement in response to the survey. AIF represents more than 150 UK festivals.

“These conditions aren’t ones we recognise or condone at AIF,” said AIF chief executive John Rostron. “Festival freelancers are the largest part of our workforce, so we’re very attuned to their needs and problems. We always want to offer ways to help and support this valued part of our sector.”

Production Manager Alice Black, from Bectu’s Live Events Network, said:

“Our survey uncovered what many of us who work at festivals know only too well. Poor sanitation, long shifts and risky work without proper protection – often in combination – are unfortunately all too common.

“The festival industry can’t do without us, but we are often treated like second-class citizens.

“Bectu’s Live Events Network is working to change this. We encourage anyone working behind-the-scenes at festivals to get involved to help improve conditions for everyone.”

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