Rank: Forum user 
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I have a client who raises a valid concern about safety implications when attending a particular stadium to watch footbal games. The stadium which at present will remain nameless, is located in southern Ireland. Briefly I am instructed that up to 30 wheelchair users must wait in a line to exit this stadium and the matter of going to the bathroom during a game is not possible as the designed route does not allow one person to pass out another person.
Without going into too much detail, may I enquire what is the norm with emergency evacuation in the UK? Would the UK fire service on encountering such a situation in the UK close down the stadium or what would they do?
I am fully aware of the relevent Irish Code of Practice which deals with this situation. At present I am just intrested to see what really goes on in the UK.
Thanks in advance for any replies
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi seamusosullivan Not had much to do with sports ground safety, but you may find this publication of use, unless you’re already aware of it. It’s called ‘The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds - Fifth Edition’ (applicable to the UK). It’s available as a pdf download at: http://www.culture.gov.u...afetyatSportsGrounds.pdf“The Guide has no statutory force but many of its recommendations will be made statutory at individual grounds by their inclusion in safety certificates issued under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 or the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987.” Cheers
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Rank: Forum user
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Really poignant posting this so close to the 25th anniversary of the Bradford fire, I suggest that the stadium management watch the video before they defend their evacuation procedures. I am not suggesting that this is a wooden statia but there is a lesson on complacency for any facilities manger in that event.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for the replies,
I forgot about Bradford,
the stadium concerned does not appear to be made of timber, so far I am informed that management and designers have ignored a series of letters sent within the past 4 months. Oral advice from one official was to use the lift for evacuation (not a fire lift).
When asked what happens if the lift broke down, the response was it wont because it is manitained !!!!
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi seamusosullivan, I don't know who/what the enforcement body is in Eire or their Code of Practice so can't comment but in England it's the Local Authority who issue a General Safety Certificate (GSC) in liaison with a multi-agency Safety Advisory Group comprising the Emergency Services, health and safety, building control and overseen by the Football Licensing Authority. The GSC contains terms and conditions to ensure the reasonable safety of spectators whilst the stadium is in use. These are legally enforceable by the LA on the Certificate Holder and are often based on guidance in the 5th edition of The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (known as the Green Guide) - see link in earlier posting. Deviation from the Green Guide can be done but the SAG will do a risk assessment to justify why. Not all stadiums/grounds require certificating >5000 for Football League grounds, >10,000 in other cases and (i think) some other specified grounds/stadiums. If no Certificate is in force then the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 gives powers to the LA to prohibit access to the whole or part of the ground. The Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 cover individual stands with a capacity >500 (a Regulated Stand) if no GSC is in force. Emergency evacuation will be covered by the terms and conditions of the GSC or, if one is not in force then this issue raises serious concerns about adequate evacuation so, access to use this part of the ground by wheelchair users may well need to be prohibited and either alternative viewing provided or works done to this area to ensure compliance. More information on Safety Certificatesis available on the Football Licensing Authority website www.flaweb.org.uk Hope you get it sorted. AJB
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Rank: Super forum user
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Most stadia have an employee specific to cover all of these risks associated with safety. Can't remember what the title is of the one in Charge of Liverpool but his name is Ged Poynton (might just be classed as Stadium Manager). Might be worth dropping someone like him an email? as we have a row at the front of The Kop for wheelchair users and their helpers (if needed)
And yes very poignant in regards to the 25th Anniversary of Bradford two days ago along with less than a month after the 21st Anniversary of Hillsborough and later this month the 25th Anniversary of Heysel.
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Rank: Super forum user
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seamusosullivan wrote:Thanks for the replies,
I forgot about Bradford,
the stadium concerned does not appear to be made of timber, so far I am informed that management and designers have ignored a series of letters sent within the past 4 months. Oral advice from one official was to use the lift for evacuation (not a fire lift).
When asked what happens if the lift broke down, the response was it wont because it is manitained !!!!
All stadia in uk that had wooden parts had to have those sections closed off, however i've been to Goodison Park quite a few times as an away fan, and the stand that we use still has wood, assuming it has been treated to resist fire? One thing i've always wanted to ask Everton about.
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Rank: Forum user
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On match days it's the Safety Officer in charge (until such time as Police Commander (Bronze or Silver) steps in - if present) which is different to the Stadium Manager who is usually responsible for overseeing the running of the stadium at all other times. All wooden stadia had to go through a very thorough fire risk assessment to ensure they could continue to be used safely, they were not stopped from being used. Control measures identified by the FRA were then implemented and rigourously monitored. This may have meant some wooden stadia stopped being used, or capacities on others reduced but this will explain why Everton continued to use theirs - they could implemet such measures and evacuate the wooden stand in sufficient time to satisy the requirements of the Local Authority. seamusosullivan, Forgot to post a direct link to "Accessible Stadia" publication on FLA website if you haven't found it already - http://www.flaweb.org.uk...ations/pubs/acssstad.phpajb
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Rank: Super forum user
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AJB, i did assume they'd done whatever they would have had to to keep the stand in use and probably cheaper for them that way. Other clubs i think found it cheaper just to demolish and start again.
Safety Officer at Liverpool is the Stadium manager anyway.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Excellent reply from ajb which succinctly gives the legal position on who issues the GSC & what is needed to comply.
Just to add to this, I am employed as Deputy Head Safety Steward at Manchester United on match days & in addition to the issues mentioned by ajb, the Club employ a full-time team of Occupational H&S professionals as well & on match days having Fire Teams comprised of serving & retired Fire Brigade personnel.
As well as this, the Local Authority always have a representative from the Licencing Authority who monitors issues throughout the game or other events.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Why not contact the fire sservice and have them consider the stadium in terms of a potentially dangerous building under the fire services acts 1981 and 2003?
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Rank: Forum user
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bleve wrote:Why not contact the fire sservice and have them consider the stadium in terms of a potentially dangerous building under the fire services acts 1981 and 2003? Had a meeting with them, and the outcome was positive.
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