News release

22 February 2012 - NR 68/12

Health and safety body warns against reintroduction of football terracing

Sports fans should be seated to watch games at large stadia, a leading health and safety body warned today (22 February), as a new poll revealed one in three people had been caught up in a crowd surge at a major sporting or music event.

Of the 3,000 surveyed by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), 34 percent said they had experienced a crowd surge or collapse – where people push forward en masse.

As the debate continues surrounding the reintroduction of terracing at top-flight football grounds, IOSH said terraces should not be reintroduced in Championship and Premier League football stadia - a call backed today by the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

Nearly two thirds who took part in the poll said that the presence of stewards, police officers and security guards had put their minds at ease.

But the recommended NVQ level two standard or equivalent for safety training of stewards at sports grounds remains optional in the UK, as set out in the industry’s Green Guide. IOSH now wants to see this training made compulsory.

Findings from the Institution’s poll – a wide-ranging survey on crowd control at major sports and music events – were published today at the launch, at Wembley Stadium, of IOSH’s new Sports Grounds and Events Group.

Group chair John Holden said: “Safe seating should be provided wherever possible instead of standing areas to prevent any chance of crowd surges.

“While smaller terraces may pose less of a risk, it’s a known fact that it’s safer to sit than stand, especially where large numbers of people are in the same area. By allowing people to sit down they have their own safety-zone in which they can safely support their team without the threat of being pushed, trampled on or crushed.

”Stewards, supervisors and safety officers need to be trained to the relevant standards in crowd safety management to help ensure accidents don’t happen.

“They spend enough money on players, football clubs – and other sports clubs for that matter – should not be cutting corners with the safety of their supporters.”

Only 43 percent interviewed in the poll said enough had been done to improve health and safety in sports stadia since the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, in which 96 football fans died.

At the end of December it was announced that the Scottish Premier League had been given the green light to pilot safe-standing areas within their stadiums.

Mr Holden added: “This is a big decision to have made and safety needs to remain paramount.

“Since the banning of terraces in the Championship and Premier League, there have been no reoccurrences, thank goodness, of the devastating scenes we saw during the football disasters of the 80s.

“Where terraces exist, stadium and health and safety managers, need to ensure they’re designed to the specifications set-out in the industry’s Green Guide - it’s vital that these terraces are maintained to the highest possible standard, to ensure spectators aren’t exposed to unnecessary risk.”

In 1989, 96 people were killed and 766 injured at Sheffield Wednesday’s football ground as a result of poor crowd control among other factors. The disaster lead to the Taylor report and terracing being banned from larger football stadiums.

The Hillsborough Family Support Group – families of a number of the victims of the disaster – believes that “under no circumstances” should terracing be reintroduced.

Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, who lost her 18-year-old son James in the tragedy, said: “There should be no terracing brought back to English League football.

“We’ve moved on since the 80s when football fans were treated like cattle. Fans feel safer and families can go to games, and be 99.9 percent certain they will go home safe - the legacy left behind by the deaths at Hillsborough is everyone’s safety.

“Those who want to forget what happened could end up reliving it again if standing was brought back. Why would people want to take 10 steps back, when sports ground safety has now gone forwards.

“This is not an emotional mother speaking - it’s too late for our 96. This is about being a mother and having grandchildren and looking after their future."

- Ends -

Notes for editors:

MEDIA CALL

If you would like to interview IOSH Sports Grounds and Events Group chair John Holden, vice-chair Carl Hagemann or Hillsborough Family Support Group chair Margaret Aspinall, a media opportunity will be taking place on Wednesday 22 February, at Wembley Stadium.

For further information or to confirm your attendance contact IOSH media officer Amy Chappell on +44 (0)116 257 3141 or +44 (0)798 000 4494, or alternatively e-mail amy.chappell@iosh.co.uk

About the poll

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) Sports Grounds and Events Group commissioned the poll which was conducted by OnePoll.

The poll was of 3,000 people who had attended a major sports or music event in the last five years.

About the IOSH Sports Grounds and Events Group

The Group aim to bring together safety personnel from all sports, a variety of venues and different types of events to create an opportunity to share experiences and expertise

As a Group one of the main aims is to promote good practice, improve standards and encourage professional development

The Group intend to build on existing links with sports ground safety associations, develop communication with Government departments and sporting bodies and become the definitive voice for sports grounds and events safety issues

At present, the Group is supported by the Local Authority Event Organisers Group, The Racecourse Association, Rugby League Ground Safety Officers Association, The Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, Cricket Safety Officers Association, Rugby Football Union and Football Safety Officers Association Scotland

About IOSH

IOSH is the chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.

Media enquiries

For more information or to arrange an interview with Ted Slater please contact:

Amy Chappell, Media Officer, +44 (0)116 257 3141 or +44 (0)798 000 4494

Ruth Davies, Media Officer, +44 (0)116 257 3139 or +44 (0)798 000 4474

Tim Walsh, Media Manager, +44 (0)116 257 3252 or +44 (0)797 660 4715.