Ending show at Olde Union House a matter of safety

The overcrowding of an establishment, such as that which occurred at the Olde Union House on May 31, represents a serious threat to the life safety of the building’s occupants.

The safe occupancy load of a given establishment is a combined function of many factors, including, but not limited to, the usable square footage and means of egress facilities of a room or area.

In the case of the Olde Union House, the permitted occupant load in the area of the performance was exceeded, and the over-capacity crowd compromised access to the building’s exits.

It is of little consequence that the crowd was simply trying to escape the weather, or that the event’s producers and performers had only wanted to entertain their fans.

Had an emergency occurred that evening, innocent people might well have become casualties as a result of the overcrowded conditions.

The article mentioned that "Drucker made his way through the crowd, put his hand over the microphone and told the band to stop playing."

The fact is, after earlier attempts had failed to relieve the overcrowded conditions, the event producers were requested to terminate the performance, which they did themselves without further incident.

In writing this commentary, it is hoped that readers reflect on the importance of fire safety in their daily lives and appreciate the efforts of our fire officials.

John J. Drucker Jr.

Fire Protection Subcode Official, Assistant Fire Marshal

Borough of Red Bank