Broughty Athletic Football Club (“the Club”) is a member of the Midlands League.
This document details the Club’s contingency plans for emergency situations for Quest Arena (“The Ground”).
In producing this document guidance has been taken from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, sixth Edition of Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, Green Book, specifically sections: 3.5, 3.15, 3.17, 3.18 and 3.20.
The Club’s Contingency Plans have been formulated to provide a structured and progressive response to any incident likely to affect spectator safety inside, or in the immediate environs of Quest Arena.
The Contingency Plans reflect the requirements placed on the Club from the guidance on this subject by the Scottish Football Association with respect to Club Licensing.
The Contingency Plans outline the immediate response by the Club to any incident likely to affect spectator safety or disrupt the normal operation of the Ground.
The objectives of the Contingency Plans are to:
Through a process of Risk Assessment, the incidents referred to in these plans are the ones considered most likely to occur at Quest Arena. The plans cannot however cover every possible eventuality, and flexibility in the adoption of these plans will be essential in catering for this.
Typically for a home game there will be 80 to 100 spectators within the ground.
Location
The Ground is located on Arbroath Road, in Dundee.
The Ground is enclosed by a fence around four sides.
Layout
The access/exit points to the Ground are located within the car park on Arbroath Road Dundee and an exit on to Baldovie Terrace, Dundee which is only used in emergencies.
Vehicle access to the car park is from Arbroath Road, Dundee.
The car park is accessible before, during and after matches.
There is one gate for spectators to enter the Ground. This is situated on perimeter wall accessed from the car park. Access through the adjacent green double gate is reserved for players and officials only.
The green double gate, also accessible through the car park, is used as an emergency exit during matches, and used for the exit of spectators following the end of a match.
The main grandstand is located on the left-hand side of the pitch as you come in to the ground from the Arbroath Road.
Events covered by this Contingency Plan (Included in Risk Assessment)
Fire extinguishers are located at the following points within the Ground:
A fire blanket is contained within the catering hut and within the referee’s room.
All fire extinguishers are checked annually.
As part of the risk assessment it has been identified that the following areas within the Ground may potentially be at risk from fire:
1.1 Pavilion – in the event of a fire in the pavilion building (either the social area, or in the changing areas), the following steps will be taken: as soon as the stewards or a committee member are made aware of a fire in the pavilion, all present in the pavilion will be immediately informed either through the public address system or a steward / committee member in the pavilion, to leave the pavilion at the nearest and/or safest exit. As the pavilion also includes the dressing rooms, all players and officials will be requested to leave the pavilion immediately as well. Depending on the severity of the fire, club officials will attempt to deal with the fire with the fire extinguishers which are located within the pavilion without placing themselves or others in danger. If it is clear that the fire will not be able to be contained by club officials, the Fire Service will be called immediately. Responsibility for contacting the Fire Service rests with the Club’s Safety Officer. Once the pavilion has been evacuated no-one will be allowed back into the pavilion without the approval of the responsible club official or the Fire Service depending on the extent of the fire.
Depending on the extent of the fire and damaged caused it may be necessary to abandon the game and evacuate the ground. If this is the case please refer to section 8 and 10 of this document for details on emergency evacuation and match abandonment.
1.2 Enclosures – in the event of a fire in the enclosure the following steps will be taken: as soon as a steward or committee member is made aware of a fire in an enclosure, spectators will be immediately informed either through the public address system or a steward / committee member, to leave the enclosure at the nearest and/or safest exit or the escape gates leading onto the pitch. Depending on the severity of the fire, club officials will attempt to deal with the fire with the fire extinguishers which are located around the ground, without placing themselves or others in danger. If it is clear that the fire will not be able to be contained by club officials, the Fire Service will be called immediately. Responsibility for contacting the Fire Service rests with the Club’s Safety Official. Once the enclosure has been evacuated no-one will be allowed back into the enclosure without the approval of the responsible club official or the Fire Service depending on the extent of the fire.
Depending on the extent of the fire and damaged caused it may be necessary to abandon the game and evacuate the ground. If this is the case please refer to section 8 and 10 of this document for details on emergency evacuation and match abandonment.
1.3 Catering hut – in the event of a fire in the catering hut the following steps will be taken: as soon as the a club official or committee member is made aware of a fire in the building, any in attendance within the hut will be immediately informed by a club official to vacate the hut. Depending on the severity of the fire, club officials will attempt to deal with the fire with the fire blanket which is located in the hut, without placing themselves or others in danger. If it is clear that the fire will not be able to be contained by club officials, the Fire Service will be called immediately. Responsibility for contacting the Fire Service rests with the Club’s Safety Officer. Once the hut surrounding area has been evacuated no-one will be allowed back into the building without the approval of the responsible club official or the Fire Service depending on the extent of the fire.
Depending on the extent of the fire and damaged caused it may be necessary to abandon the game and evacuate the ground. If this is the case please refer to section 8 and 10 of this document for details on emergency evacuation and match abandonment.
2.1 Upon notification of any structural damage or defect in or nearby to the Ground the responsible safety official for the club or most senior club official will:
3.1 There are no emergency power supplies for either the floodlights or other buildings within the Ground. If a power cut occurs during a floodlit match and the Referee decides to abandon the match, spectators will be kept informed by club officials with the use of a loud hailer. Club officials will ensure that spectators leave the ground safely, with disabled spectators getting any assistance as required.
3.2 The Club’s Safety Officer, or most senior club official will contact Scottish Power to report the fault on telephone number 0845 27 27 999. A list of all emergency telephone numbers will be held beside in the Pavilion.
4.1 In the event of anyone suspecting a gas release, or any other chemical release, they should immediately contact the Club’s Safety Officer or any other available club official.
4.2 In the event of such an alert being raised the Safety Officer, or senior club official will:
4.3 In consultation with the Fire Officer the Club’s Safety Officer, or most senior present club official, the following action or decisions will be taken:
5.1 If a situation arises involving unruly crowd behaviour which may lead to surging or crushing, the club officials will attempt to resolve the situation. If it is clear that this is impossible, the Police will be notified immediately by the Club’s Safety Officer or senior present club official.
5.2 The Club’s Safety Officer or senior present club official will also alert the Club’s First Aid officials that their assistance may be required, and if necessary call the Ambulance service on 999.
5.3 The public address system should be used to direct people away from the area and keep them updated on the situation.
5.4 Depending on the seriousness of the event the Club’s Safety Officer or senior present club official will consider abandoning the game and invoking emergency evacuation procedures. See section 8 of this document for details on emergency evacuation.
6.1 If a situation arises involving a pitch invasion, club officials will attempt to resolve the situation. If it is clear that this is impossible, the Police will be notified immediately by the Club’s Safety Officer or senior present club official.
6.2 All available club officials and stewards will be deployed to the area to prevent or limit additional numbers of spectators gaining access to the pitch. Club officials will attempt to prevent any breaches or confrontation between rival fans.
6.3 The public address system will be used for issuing warning messages or advising spectators to clear the pitch area.
6.4 If a considerable number of spectators have intruded the pitch during play the game may be stopped. At that stage the Club’s Safety Officer or senior club official should consult with the Police (if they are present) and match referee and make a decision on abandoning the fixture.
6.5 Where there is anticipated to be a larger attendance (such as Scottish Cup matches) at the ground Police will be informed well before the date of the game and additional stewards may be brought in to assist in any crowd control and prevent potential pitch invasions or crowd surges.
7.1 If a situation arises involving disorder within the ground, club officials will attempt to resolve the situation. If it is clear that this is impossible, the Police will be notified immediately by the Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official.
7.2 All available club officials and stewards will be deployed to the area to try to contain the situation and prevent further disorder escalating, either from additional people getting involved, or allowing the situation to spread to other areas of the ground. Club officials will also attempt to prevent any breaches or confrontation between rival supporters.
7.3 The public address system will be used for issuing warning messages or advising spectators to clear any area where any disorder is taking place, until such time as the issue is resolved.
7.4 If a considerable number of spectators are involved in any disorder occurrences during the game may have to be stopped. At that stage the clubs Safety Officer or most senior present club official should consult with the Police (if they are present) and match referee and make a decision on abandoning the fixture.
8.1 If an emergency evacuation of the ground is required, club officials will ensure that spectators leave the ground safely by the nearest available exit. In such evacuations club officials will ensure all spectators with a disability make a safe exit from the ground, offering assistance as required.
8.2 Exits to be used will be the main exits located by the car park, and the exit on to Baldovie Terrace.
8.3 The Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official will make the decision on whether an evacuation is necessary, and if appropriate will also inform the emergency services.
8.4 If an announcement is made to evacuate the ground it will be broadcast over the public address system as follows:
“An emergency situation has arisen in the ground. Please make your way out of the ground immediately, in an orderly manner by the nearest available exit. Please be considerate of spectators with disabilities or people with a visual impairment.”
8.5 If only a specific exit can be used for evacuation, the announcement will make reference to the appropriate exit/gate and direct supporters to that exit. In such instances the announcement will be as follows:
“An emergency situation has arisen in the ground. Please make your way out of the ground immediately, in an orderly manner by the exits at the car park. Please be considerate of spectators with disabilities or people with a visual impairment.”
8.6 Club officials will be placed at both main gates to direct people out of the ground as well as stop people re-entering the ground, and to direct Emergency Services as necessary.
8.7 Players and officials will be instructed by the Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official to congregate in the centre circle until the situation can be assessed to see if it is safe to return to the dressing rooms. If not, they will leave the ground at an appropriate exit.
8.8 Once the ground has been evacuated the Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official will carry out a stadium inspection to ensure that it has been totally evacuated. The inspection will be conducted by at least two persons and if appropriate they will be accompanied by the Fire Brigade.
If a match is cancelled prior to kick-off due to adverse weather please refer to section 10 on this document.
10.1 Where any match is cancelled before spectators are admitted to the ground, the Club’s Match Secretary will ensure everyone listed as follows are informed:
10.2 If appropriate every effort will be made to contact visiting club officials and request them to use their local radio station or other appropriate social media to advise listeners or readers on the cancellation of the game for their own supporters.
10.3 If spectators have already been admitted when the decision to abandon the fixture is made, the Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official will ensure no more spectators can enter the ground and that club officials are informed of the decision.
10.4 The Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official will advise spectators inside and outside the ground of the situation by use of the public address system and request them to leave via the normal exit routes.
10.5 If a fixture is abandoned before kick-off a voucher/ticket will be offered to all admitted paying spectators allowing free entrance to the rearranged fixture. For any fixture abandoned after half-time, then no such arrangement will apply. Full price admission will apply for a fixture rearranged under these circumstances.
10.6 If a fixture is abandoned after kick-off and before half-time a voucher/ticket will be offered to all spectators allowing reduced entrance to the rearranged fixture. For any fixture abandoned after half-time then no such arrangement will apply. Full price admission will apply for a fixture rearranged under these circumstances.
10.7 For league games season ticket holders will be unaffected, since their season ticket will be valid for the rearranged game. The use of season tickets is not appropriate for any Cup games.
11.1 Should information be received that large numbers of spectators are expected to arrive at the Ground close to or after the scheduled kick off/ start time the Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official will liaise with the Match Secretary and match referee regarding the possibility of delaying the kick off (start) time. The ultimate decision on this rests with the Club’s Safety Officer or most senior present club official and the match referee.
11.2 If appropriate a revised time mutually acceptable and agreed between the match officials, team managers and both clubs will be set as soon as the estimated arrival of the latecomers is known.
11.3 If the kick off time is delayed, the Club’s Safety Officer will advise spectators inside and outside the ground via the public address system.
11.4 If the kick off is delayed the Club’s Safety Officer will consider broadcasting the details of the delay by:
11.5 The Club’s Safety Officer will ensure the entrance gates are kept open to allow speedy ingress to the ground. In this respect he/she will continue to liaise with club officials to keep them abreast of the situation.
12.1 If for any reason the start of a match is to be delayed, the spectators will be kept informed of the situation over the public address system or by club officials as appropriate.
