Momentum calls for a mandatory National Fire Safety Framework for public venues

In light of the heartbreaking tragedy in Switzerland, where a fire in a nightlife venue claimed 40 young lives, Momentum is calling on the government, regulators, and the entertainment industry to unite behind a new, robust and enforceable framework for public safety.

Any standard adopted must be legally defined, consistently enforced, and tied directly to licensing and inspection regimes.

We cannot wait for a local disaster to dictate our standards. We need a shift from reactive investigation to proactive prevention.

“Our young people are full of plans, hope, and dreams. They deserve spaces where they can enjoy life without hidden dangers,” said Mark Camilleri Gambin, General Secretary at Momentum. “Safety shouldn’t just be a promise. We are asking for a policy that turns that promise into a guarantee.”

Momentum highlights that we have, unfortunately, normalised risk in our entertainment culture. From the use of indoor pyrotechnics for “atmosphere” to the uncertainty surrounding construction materials, we are relying on luck rather than logic.

We must look at our own local context with honesty. The building collapse in Paceville was a near-miss that could have easily mirrored the devastation seen abroad. That incident, which affected an area heavily frequented by teenagers, must serve as a catalyst for positive change.

We must also remember the mass injury of 74 people in Paceville in 2015. Last November, the court had concluded that the injuries were exacerbated by poor evacuation procedures, stating that “no timely action was taken” and that the emergency exit was only opened after the railing had already collapsed.

“We have an opportunity right now to fix the chain of failures before they break,” Camilleri Gambin continues. “We don’t want to be the country that commissions reports after the smoke clears. We want to be the country that prevented the fire in the first place.”

Momentum is proposing a comprehensive “Safety First” Policy, focusing on legal clarity, education, and modernisation. Crucially, this includes the immediate implementation of a dedicated National Fire Safety Act, addressing the current lack of a unified legal and enforceable framework for fire safety.

Our proposal consists of:

• Ending the current fragmentation of safety laws by enacting a single, robust Fire Safety Act that clearly defines liability, standards, and enforcement powers for all public venues.
• A rigorous audit of all mass entertainment venues, specifically checking for non-combustible soundproofing and ceiling materials that do not release noxious chemicals when in contact with fire.
• Mandating that audio systems are interlinked with fire alarms to cut music immediately during an emergency, ending confusion and speeding up evacuation.
• A national education campaign to help young people spot risks. We should be teaching youths to check for exits and safety equipment, making them active participants in their own safety.
• A definitive ban on sparklers and visual fire effects in enclosed venues not specifically engineered for them.
• Strict rules and random inspections to regulate the capacity of people inside venues to prevent stampedes, ensuring that emergency doors are always clear, unlocked, and functional.

Momentum believes that foresight should shape our policy rather than tragedy. By raising our standards now, we protect not just lives, but the joy and freedom of our youth.

There is hope, you can help!

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