I’m a new Safety Officer, what do I need to know?
The primary purpose of a safety certificate is to set the safe capacity of a designated ground or of a regulated stand at a non–designated ground. In addition to setting the safe capacity the safety certificate will set out the detailed terms and conditions with which the certificate holder must comply if that capacity is to be maintained.
Safety certificates are issued by the local authority. Depending on the area in which the sports ground is located the local authority will be either the county council, unitary authority, metropolitan or London borough.
The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide) provides detailed guidance on calculating how many spectators can be safely accommodated within the viewing accommodation of a sports ground. The Guide also provides advice on measures to improve safety at sports grounds.
Although the Guide has no statutory force many of its recommendation will be given the force of law at individual grounds by their inclusion in the safety certificate for that ground.
To assist the local authorities discharge their functions under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (1975 Act), at grounds at which designated football matches are played, the SGSA has produced Safety Certification, which provides a single source of reference on the safety certification process, monitoring and enforcement.
Tools and resources
Advice on Drones
You may be familiar with the scenes from the Partizan stadium during the Serbia v Albania Euro 2016 qualifying game, when a drone carrying a pro-Albanian flag landed on the pitch. The violence that ensued both on the pitch and in the stands is a reminder of how quickly situations can change.
What are the alternatives to level 2 NVQ in spectator safety?
In order for a qualification to be an acceptable alternative it must cover all of the National Occupational Standards for Spectator Safety, include an assessment of occupational competence by a qualified assessor and be issued by an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual
How to calculate the safe capacity of a sports ground?
The responsibility for calculating the safe capacity of a ground rests with the ground management. Where any part or parts of a ground are covered by a safety certificate issued by the local authority the capacity calculated by ground management should be reviewed by the local authority and if validated included in the safety certificate. Further information and detail is available in the Green Guide.
When should the first annual inspection and structural appraisal be undertaken at a new, or recently completed, stadium?
It is usual that the safety certificate or operations manual will require ground management to obtain every 12 months , a report from a competent person that the structural elements have been inspected and found to be adequate.
What they're saying
“Fan safety at sports grounds is paramount. The world looks to us as an example of how to manage risks and improve safety records and this guide will continue to contribute to that legacy.”
Rt Hon Jeremy Wright MP, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in relation to the Green Guide