Medical Risk Assessment and Medical Plan

Introduction

This document combines the Medical Risk Assessment and Medical Plan. It addresses:

• Organisation and infrastructure relating to medical matters;
• Identifiable risks and how these are controlled;
• General provisions for medical care.

Infrastructure and Organisation

Access for Emergency Vehicles

Broughty Athletic FC’s ground at Quest Arena is accessible by public road from Arbroath Road and would permit direct access for emergency vehicles to the ground and pitch.

First Aid Facilities

The principal First Aid Room is in a building sited next to the main pavilion.

It contains adequate first aid equipment and a medical couch. It has hot and cold running water. There is a toilet in the building.

Referee’s Room

The Referee’s Room is in a building sited next to the Pavilion. It has access to a toilet, sink with running water, shower and changing space.

Organisation and Personnel 

Broughty Athletic FC (“the Club”) has an association with at least one qualified First Aid staff member and present at all matches.

There is an announcer present at every home match. This person will be located at the entrance to the dressing rooms and is the focal point for co-ordination of messages during the match. He/she will make any safety announcements and will have immediate access to a telephone to communicate with others including the emergency services to ensure expedited management of any health and safety issues.

Identifiable Medical Risks

Injury to players

1. Description
   The most likely source of a medical issue is the injury to players during the normal course of the match. This can cover the spectrum of minor injury which is treated pitch side before the player returns to the game to serious injury requiring immediate intervention and hospitalisation.
2. Current arrangements
   The Club will ensure that there is a qualified sports first-aider present at all matches. A stretcher is available in the First Aid Room which will allow removal of players from the pitch to the First Aid room if the player requires assistance to leave the pitch.The nearest accident department is at Ninewells Hospital, which is 20 minutes from the ground under normal traffic conditions. The first-aider looking after an injured player will make arrangements through the Club’s Safety Officer either to arrange transport for a player to the hospital for further assessment or to call the emergency services if immediate medical care is required.

   The risk of injury to players does not vary significantly between normal and major matches and this assessment applies to all matches.

3. Assessment
   The procedure for removal of the player from the pitch and making arrangements for onward transport are reviewed at least annually.

Actions required

Annual review of arrangements as above.

2. Injury to Spectators 

2.1 Description

The following risk factors can be considered collectively for assessment purposes ;

• Fire – there is identifiable risk in the dressing rooms, First Aid Room, Referee’s Room and Pavilion. The risk as assessed is small for these areas and negligible for open areas of the ground.
• Structural Failure – the identifiable source of risk is the stand structure. This is of modern structure and is regularly inspected. The risk is considered negligible under normal circumstances to slight in high winds.
• Evacuation-There is negligible risk under normal operating conditions rising to moderate in a “panic” situation in a match with a maximal capacity. This risk is mitigated because (a) unplanned evacuation is extremely unlikely (b) planned, orderly evacuation reduces the risk.
• General- there is a general risk to spectators from slips, or other accidents. This is controlled by the maintenance of the ground in good condition. The risk is proportional to the number of spectators.

2.2 Current Arrangements

Direct injury from fire and structural failure has been reduced to acceptable levels by the inspection and maintenance required by the local authorities. In the event that there was a risk of structural failure this would be controlled by closing off the affected area of the ground or cancellation of the match.

Other risks are proportional to the attendance. The Club will ensure that there are additional first aid staff present for matches where more than 1000 spectators are expected. The precise arrangements will be agreed in discussions with the police, medical professionals and first aid suppliers.

2.3 Assessment

The procedure for injury to spectators are reviewed at least annually.

Actions Required

Annual review of arrangements as above.

3. Illness

3.1 Description

There is general risk of illness whenever there are gatherings of people. There are no identifiable risk factors which suggest that players and spectators at a match are at greater risk of illness except the established risks that can be associated with any situation in which there is potential stress (e.g., heart attacks in those with pre-existing risk factors).

A defibrillator will be present at all games and training at Holm Park.

3.2 Current Arrangements

Immediate care is the same as for physical injury. Anyone becoming ill will be made comfortable and the condition assessed by a first aider or doctor. In an emergency an ambulance will be called –DIAL 999-otherwise advice can be obtained from NHS 24 – DIAL 111

3.3 Assessment

The procedure for dealing with illness are reviewed at least annually.

3.4 Actions Required

Annual review of arrangements as above.

General Medical Provisions

The following personnel must be present at each home match:

• At least one qualified sports first aider
• The Club’s Safety Officer to act as the single point of communication

Where there is an anticipated attendance of greater than 1000, in addition to the above:

• Attendance by a club doctor or other relevant and appropriate appointment
• Additional first aid provision will be provided by request from the first aid service providers.

The Club Doctor is responsible for advising on equipment to be present in the First Aid Room and in the medical bags available to sports first aiders and the sports first aiders are responsible for checking that the equipment is present and in good order.

The team will be accompanied by a sports first aider at all matches, including away matches.