Saturday 7 July 2012

Right or Wrong?

"40 year old female, won't get off the floor"

Doing the kind of work I do brings with it some fantastic opportunities. I work for a number of different companies doing various event work ranging from sports events to concerts and festivals. This weekend I was lucky enough to be able to work at the Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert in Knebworth. For most of the day I was working on the cycle response unit but occasionally I was required in 'the pit'. The pit is the area between the stage and the crowd. When crowd surfers or people who can't stand the crush get to the front they are escorted back into the crowd by security. The reason I was there was in case anyone came 'over the top' injured. I have done a lot of festivals and you would be amazing what medical problems come flying over the top into the waiting arms of security; unconscious people, seizures, open fractures, neck injuries, crush injuries and 6 year olds! Nothing surprises me anymore! Being up front for the headlining act is a sought after place and people literally wait there all day and night! Saturday was no different. As soon as the gates opened people ran to the front to wait! One of the eager few was a woman in a wheel chair. 

She had arrived early, sat in the rain, queued like everyone else and had wheeled herself to the front and sat there all day. She was told as soon as she arrived at the front by security that she probably would not be allowed to stay there but she wouldn't move. The issues surrounding her being there are down to 'health and safety'. I can hear some of you groan already but in this instance I'm with the H & S bods (To a point!). A crowd, 80,000 strong, all crushing up to the barrier causes injury in itself. Stick a woman in an electric wheelchair in there and not only is there a danger to her but to others too. As the day went by the 'wheelchair in the pit' situation was monitored and despite every effort by security to get her to move to the disabled viewing platform she wouldn't. About an hour before the Chilli Peppers were due on stage the decision was made by the event organiser that for her own safety she had to be removed along with her very heavy chair. Against her will, she was lifted over the barrier, followed by her chair and moved out of sight of the crowd whilst a plan of where she could go was made. From here things took a turn for the worse. She refused to get back into her chair. Instead, she threw herself on the wet floor.

There she sat, refusing to be lifted, refusing to move and getting further soaked by the rain. She quoted legal legislation to prevent anyone from touching her and although, technically they could have moved her as she was causing an obstruction to an emergency route, they opted for diplomacy instead. This approach however was futile. She was livid that she had been moved and part of me understood why. That part was my heart understanding her frustration. My head however felt she shouldn't have put herself in that position and should have just gone to one of the three disabled viewing platforms. This was offered but she wasn't interested. Again, I get why, I can only imagine being on a platform would make her feel like a spectacle. She just wanted to be in the crowd, soak up the atmosphere like everyone else. After an hour she agreed to be taken into our field hospital to warm up. This happened just as the Chilli Peppers were starting. The event organisers offered for her to sit on her chair in 'the pit'. She would have had a perfectly good view, better than what she would have had stuck behind a barrier, but she wasn't interested. She turned down all viewing platforms and every offer that was put to her. Now, she was simply cutting of her nose to spite her face. Again, I get why! It had been a horrible, embarrassing experience and to be fair, I would probably have acted the same. She sat on the hospital bed for all of the concert and once it had finished refused to leave the hospital until she was given a refund for the entire concert. The problem was at 11pm on a Saturday night the security staff and the hospital have no power to issue a refund and the event organisers are busy! Sadly, she was taken away punching and screaming by police.

Should it have come to that? No. Could it have been avoided? I don't think so. I am all for disabled people doing everything they can to have a normal life; I have close friends in wheelchairs. Unfortunately, no matter how much will they have, there are some things people's injuries or illnesses will not permit them to do. That is life. No it's not fair but life isn't. A wheelchair has no place in a mosh pit. I'm sorry but it doesn't. Event organisers have to think about everyone there and to accommodate wheelchair users there are viewing platforms with an unrestricted view, toilets and clear pathways. The fact is, rules are rules, right or wrong. The argument over whether the organisers should or shouldn't allow wheelchairs in the crush is another debate. If a wheelchair user pays for a full price ticket then surely she has the right to go where she wants. Unfortunately, she can't, and was told so from the outset and as horrible as it was watching it unfold the ones taking the action did not make the rule. I felt guilty looking at her on the hospital bed, she looked like a drowned rat. I know being in a wheel chair was not her choice and she is trying to lead a normal life and do things that everyone else does, but in this instance I feel she was playing on her disability to make a point. She wasn't removed from the crowd out of spite or malice, it was done with her best interests in mind and I agree with that decision. Were they wrong? Were they mean? Should she have been allowed to stay? Please tell me because I am split on this one!

27 comments:

  1. Your right! The health and safety organisers offered her a place in the pit for her safety a mosh pit is very rough and people can easily get injured and things can get damaged, those wheelchairs are worth a lot and she should of known better to be in the mosh pit, especially with an electric wheelchair and in her condition!

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    1. It's not about money. If people want to get their own property damaged that is their choice and wasn't a contributing factor at all. And 'she should know better' 'in her condition'. I'm sure someone in a wheelchair would not agree that their condition means they should know better!! It's a question of whether the policy is correct, on this I am on the fence. I see the H & S side but I also think if I was in a wheelchair, being put on a platform and not being in the electric atmosphere of a crowd would be a waste of time.

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    2. It would be a waste of time going if you can't get the electric atmosphere of the concert, you are correct there. A relative of mine recently went clubbing with crutches, the club bouncers got the manager out, to ask whether they could go in, surely that would of been on that DDA (DIsability Discrimnation Act)

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    3. Well crutches could be used as a weapon. Besides, crutches in a night club not really the point!

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    4. I am on the side of the lady in the wheelchair, I don't really see how a wheelchair is going to harm anyone and it's her decision if she wants to risk her property and health. There is risk for everyone in a mosh pIt, wheelchair or not. Not all people in wheelchairs are weak and in need of protection, think of those whole play wheelchair rugby!

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  2. As she was an adult and of sound mind I would have left her there if she was causing risk unto herself only, however she wasn't. Those chairs can be quite dangerous, some of them have handles so that they can be free wheeled if the battery dies, some have those caster wheels on the back to help stabilise the chair when it goes up ramps or other gradients etc. all these protruding objects can cause massive injury to someone, would she like to be the one explaining to a family that their relative is dead because a crowd of 80,000 crushed the poor sod against one of those handles and it impaled them? I sure wouldn't

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    1. They were my thoughts on the issue but it is a tough one. Does a wheel chair pose more of a risk to flying bottles?! One could argue no but a wheelchair can be prevented!

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  3. Being a teacher of pupils with disabilities I have this battle every day. Within my class I have pupils with full mobility and pupils who are wheelchair users. In certain situations the full mobility pupils go running off to do something and then the mean teacher comes along and stops the wheelchair users doing things. But in my position as teacher, I worry about health and safety. Yes I could bump them up a ledge so they can go to a certain place, or push them over uneven ground so they can go with their friends. But if the wheelchair tipped or they hurt themself who would be in trouble, Me!
    In the situation you are talking about I quite agree with security. When a crowd surges forward you have no chance, you have to go with it. If anything had happened to her, it wouldn't be as easy to drag her out the crowd. Although this is rubbish for her at the end of the day the safety of her and people around her is most important.

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    1. Exactly, the onus always lays with the person allowing it to happen, not the one doing it. Someone will always get the blame if something goes wrong! Its the blame culture we live in. Damned if they allow it, damned if they don't! Thanks for the comment!

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  4. Totally right! You would of ended up picking up the pieces should she have stayed. Indeed life can be harsh, but doing the best for most is correct. A wheelchair blocking an exit is a no brainer.

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    1. On reflection I think it was the right decision!

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  5. Its a difficult one, one that needs massive amounts of diplomacy..

    There is no doubt that there was no way she should of been in the crowd but maybe there was a better way of handling it? Maybe before the crowds turned up they offered her a place in the pit as opposed to the platforms.. I think event organisers and stakeholders need to find a solution that is safe and also allows a wheelchair user to "soak up the atmosphere" there is no easy solution but one does need to be found.

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    1. Sadly, 6 hours of diplomacy didn't work! The problem was, there were 100's of wheelchair users. The others would then say at the start of the day, if she can go in there why can't we?! No one is allowed in the pit apart from security and a skeleton medical team. She was offered that as a last resort halfway thorough the main act. I think the solution is wheelchairs must stay in designated areas. No its not fair but on a downslope, in the mud and rain and platform away from the crush and footfall is the safest place to be.

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  6. Being directly related to someone in an electric wheelchair has opened my eyes to how accommodating and understanding the organisers at these sort of events are. The viewing platforms/ boxes have a view that many would pay extra to have. In my opinion this woman was making a statement which she is perfectly entitled to do, but at the risk of others, which is not acceptable, meaning I agree with you and the action that was taken. Wheelchair users have to do a huge amount of adjusting in their lives and it is the law for venues to appreciate this and make arrangmements accordingly and it seems like she totally disregarded this. I do feel for her, but imagine the consequences of a crowd surge with the brakes on.

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    1. You are right, I know my post doesn't criticise the organisers but it doesn't commend them either. I was on site for 3 days during the set up of the event and saw the work that went into providing the best experience as possible. There were 3 disabled view platforms, pathways from the roads to their area, their own toilets, lighting and staff on hand to fetch drinks and food when the crowd became to busy. They did more than most.

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  7. Unreasonable behaviour applies to everyone.... Her behaviour caused this esculation not the wheelchair. The wheelchair was just the catalyst. Everyone must abide by the rules or face the consequences disabled or not. Compromise was offered and not taken, therefore imo something had to be done. If there were no disabled provision however, I would have a different viewpoint...

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    1. Very true. I've had this debate with a few people and I maintained right or wrong, the rules are the rules. You can complain and argue the legitimacy of them with the rule makers, but breaking them means the people employed to enforce them have no choice.

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  8. My son is in a wheelchair, I would hate for him to grow up with the attitude that he can do what he wants as it is discrimination otherwise. Fact is he does have limits to what he can do, hell I would have gladly paid extra to sit in the viewing areas at Ozzfest! But my son hates my music, damn him lol

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    1. Ozzfest was amazing!! Loved it! Doesn't like music?! Odd ball lol!

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  9. From your account of the story Ella, and given that your customer was ready to quote legislature at those who wanted to move her, it does rather sound to me not only premeditated to a degree, but that she was looking for nothing short of confrontation.

    I know it goes without saying that those of us who aren't wheelchair-bound will probably never fully be able to understand how it must feel to be - like this woman - told that your disability dictates where you can and cannot enjoy the event, but the organisers and event staff clearly went out of their way to accommodate her in a way that would have allowed her to enjoy the concert at least as much as somebody standing at the back of the crowd, and probably much better.

    She's also obviously clever; if she was trying to stage a one-person protest, she could direct her efforts much more productively than this.

    This just seems like a huge waste of everyone's effort. Shame :(

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    1. I think thats why I have been on the fence. Its easy to assume but you are right, we can't know what its like. I think both sides could have acted differently. Whilst she could have been less obstructive, if she was made to move 6 hours earlier rather than face the indignity of being dragged out in front of a crowd it would have given time to find a solution and let her get over her anger so to watch the concert.

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  10. I read this blog as soon as you posted it ....have read it again since. I haven't commented before as I hadn't worked out how I felt bout it ....still haven't really.
    I think its really easy to underestimate what 'being a health and safety risk' day after day must be like ....and if you'rea massive red hot chilli peppers fan then lets be honest the mosh pit is where you want to be. If that's the umpteenth time in your life you've been told that you can't try and experience it in the same way as all the other lucky rhcp fans who's legs happen to work then I can imagine myself being filled with white hot fury too. I hope though that I would have a little more grace to recognise when I was actually taking out my frustration at the unfairness and lack of equality in the world on just some random people who were trying to follow the rules ....rules which however unfair they might be were trying to keep people safe.
    Two things to add ....that maintaining the safety of the walking majority is SO often at the cost of disabled people's freedom, autonomy and dignity.
    secondly as many disabled authors have said if someone is a nasty bugger and becomes disabled they are then still a nasty bugger who just happens to also be disabled

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    1. You have said what I have tried to say much more eloquently that I just have!!

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  11. Yep! A nasty bugger will always be a nasty comment! Some excellent points made, I agree she had a point but I think the way she made it was wrong. I'm sure a lifetime of struggle can make someone quite jaded! Thanks for the comment! x

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  12. Maybe soft chairs could be provided (big cushiony things???). If people pressed forward then they wouldn't get hurt by the soft chair itself BUT the chair-occupant might. Let them sign a disclaimer that says they take responsibility if injury occurs.

    The risk awareness rating obviously was medium to high for the big electric wheelchair and it had to be removed. Where do special arrangements end? Do the partially sighted all get to stand at the front? Do the deaf all get to sit on the stage?

    An accommodation was made and common sense suggests that the lady should have cooperated for the greater good.

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  13. Okay... I promised to comment on this post but arrrrrggghhhh!! I still don't know what I want to say! I've read it so many times, debated this with so many friends and I'm still not sure.
    I think for me the over riding message is about equality of access to the full experience. It is not the same up on the viewing platforms as it is in the mosh pit. There's something really exciting about being in the middle of a crowd that I know I would be gutted to miss out on just because I had to use a wheelchair.
    The arguement here should be between the lady in the wheelchair and the people who write the rules/regulations. The point is, I guess, that once those are set, people have to follow them. But they need challanging - it seems unfair to deny people the opportunity to experience this in the way everyone else gets to.
    By putting herself in that situation she is accepting responsibility for the potential harm to herself. I would argue that people who choose to be in a mosh pit are also taking responsiblity for the harm they might come into for being in there (poor grammar - I know!). If someone gets a bottle to the head at a gig they get treated by medics, same as they would if they got an injury from her wheelchair.
    Risk management is about reducing and/or removing risk, but I think if the actual risk that a wheelchair poses to the other people is assessed not just my H&S people but in partnership with people who need to use a wheelchair, it really wouldn't be enough to warrant banning them from the front of a gig.
    This really has got me tied in knots! I can really see everyone's point of view, but it just doesn't seem fair to disallow people to have the same experience as others.
    Great blog for getting my brain going!!
    xx

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  14. As someone who has spent much time either on crutches, using a cane, using a walker or trapped in wheelchair for most of my life I find myself more on the fence about this. I do understand crowd safety and mosh pits + disabled people aren't the best combo, however disability platforms for all there wonderful accommodations aren't so nice. They kind of make you feel like a circus act or something. People will state at you, point at you and whisper to other people. Some people will even yell, scream and throw things at you because you are being accommodated for their safety, because you have something they want but once they would have the right to have it they'd hate it just like you do. It puts you on display with a big flashing sign saying "I'm different." There are times that I would be nicer to risk other people simply so you can feel normal, not trapped and defined by a disability. So I can in many ways understand why this lady did what she did. Was it truly right? To me thats more of a gray area. Could she have found a better way to go about this? Probably. However I can truly understand this lady's pain and for that I can't really say what she did and then what you were then required to do was right or wrong. The area is just two gray for me to truly make a decision.

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