Annual Audit of Mansfield Town by Safety Advisory Group
Mansfield Town were successfully audited by the Safety
Advisory Group today who congratulated the club on the maintenance and state of
the ground and the improvements that had been made in recent years. They
recommended that the General Safety Certificate should be updated and awarded
for the start of the new season subject to a few minor requirements.
The Safety Advisory Group Meetings are attended by Paul Taylor
from the Stags Supporters Association who very rarely misses a meeting and
Darren Shaw from Stags Fans United who attends when work commitments allow.
Both were present at the annual audit.
It is a legal requirement for Mansfield Town to have a
Safety Certificate which is issued by Nottinghamshire County Council who
organise the Safety Advisory Group meetings. It is also necessary for insurance
purposes. The main guide which is used by local authorities and football clubs
relating to the safety of football grounds is "The Guide to the Safety of
Sports Grounds" which is known as the Green Guide. Copies can be
downloaded from the internet:
The Green Guide has no statutory force but many of its
recommendations are 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.
The Guide deals with many issues including:
Calculating and applying the safe capacity of a sports
ground
Factors to be considered including the (P) and (S) factors
Management - Responsibility for Planning and Safety
Drawing up a spectator safety policy document
Appointing a safety officer
Requirements of a safety officer
Staffing – risk assessment
Stewarding plan
Responsibility for training & competence
Emergency plan
Safety audit
Policing
Accommodating visiting supporters
Segregation
Ejection and detention
Ticketing
Alcohol
Management - Stewarding
Appointment of stewards
Duties of stewards
Training
Code of conduct for stewards
Control and communication
Identification
Visiting stewards
Circulation
Design and Management of circulation routes and areas
Access and egress for emergency vehicles 59
Ingress and Egress
Counting
Providing a sufficient number of turnstiles or entry points
Admission policies
Stairways and gangways
Barriers and handrails
Ramps
Passenger lifts
Escalators
Concourses and vomitories (access points into the stand)
Prevention of overcrowding
Emergency evacuation routes
Seating
Standing Areas
Fire Safety
Communications
First Aid
Media
In addition, Alan Lakin, as Safety Officer is also
responsible to the football club, Football League and FA for:
The monitoring and control of persistent standing including
writing and implementing a 'Persistent Standing Management Plan' and reporting
on its success or otherwise after every home game.
The monitoring and prevention of the use of pyrotechnics in
the stadium which includes writing a 'Pyrotechnics Safety Policy' and reporting
on their use at the stadium.
Ensuring there is adequate First Aid cover and liaising with
St. John's Ambulance and EMAS to provide this.
Monitoring access to the ground, setting up monitoring and
reporting on turnstile counts to the club and authorities.
Liaising with the police.
Pre-game safety checks before every game (usually a 2.5 hour
tour 24 hours before match day) involving an examination and check of the
stadium and all of its operational services including PA, general and emergency
lighting, emergency generator, access and egress' radial gates. turnstiles,
toilets, seats, first aid room and hospitality areas.
You can see from the above that there are many issues that
need dealing with and so being a Safety Officer is not an easy job. However, it
is an essential one to make sure the club complies with the law and retains its
Safety Certificate. Our experience as a Supporters Trust is that Alan
Lakin has done and continues do an excellent job for the football club.
Congratulations and thanks to Alan, Paul and Tina Broughton,
Steve Middleton and Andy Sutton for all their hard work and financial
assistance in maintaining and improving the ground.
