Safety company MRL Safety Ltd prepare for New Year Hogmanay revellers in Edinburgh, Scotland (From York Press)

Safety company MRL Safety Ltd prepare for New Year Hogmanay revellers in Edinburgh, Scotland

1:34pm Monday 14th December 2009 in

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A COMPANY run by a Selby couple has been charged with the massive task of keeping thousands of Hogmanay revellers safe in Scotland this New Year.

MRL Safety Ltd, owned by Judy Jackson and Phil Storr, of Burn, has been working for weeks to ensure that more than 80,000 party-goers wake up with nothing worse than a hangover after New Year celebrations in Edinburgh, the home of Hogmanay.

Staff from the national events safety company based in Knottingley have been working with Edinburgh City Council, police, fire and ambulance services and security staff, carrying out risk assessments and preparing a safety plan for the massive Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival.

A giant New Year’s Eve street party in Princes Street alone is licensed for 80,000 people and will feature top rock group, The Enemy, along with DJ Mylo. There will be three performance stages and giant screens for the event, which is televised worldwide.

There will also be a support event for 9,000 people in Princes Street Gardens, featuring big-name group Madness.

But the festival also includes a huge torchlight procession through the city with massed pipers, a bonfire and fireworks display on December 29; as well as LightNight, a new event featuring street fire sculptures and theatrical events in Edinburgh Castle.

MRL has drawn up an event risk assessment and consulted on the event management plan. It is responsible for making sure that contractors work safely and has drawn up an evacuation plan in the event of any emergency, including fire. The company’s role has involved planning all aspects of the health, safety and emergency procedures connected with the Hogmanay events.

Judy, MRL’s managing director, said: “When people gather in large numbers, the risk of serious illness and injury is never far away.

“No-one celebrates the New Year like the Scots and our task is to ensure everyone enjoys it without mishap.

“Keeping them secure is a huge job. All aspects of safety have to be carefully planned, checked and implemented. Nothing can be left to chance. Procedures have to be meticulous – but that’s what we do.”

MRL was responsible for safety at last year’s Olympic Flame handover at Buckingham Palace; this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in London and this summer’s Edinburgh International Festival, along with many of the well known music festivals around the country. The company has also been busy overseas with work in the Middle East and China.