Ewood Park Stadium Crisis Management - Case Study Example

Crisis Management: Ewood Park Stadium Student Name Student Number Instructors Name 19 January 2009 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………..3 2.0 Analysis of the Stadium……………………………………………………3 2.1 Structural Design…………………………………………………………..3 2.2 Stadium Use………………………………………………………………..3 3.0 Legislation Control…………………………………………………………4 4.0 Stadium Crisis Management……………………………………………….4 4.1 Nature of Crisis…………………………………………....………..4 4.2 Control Structure……………………………………………………5 4.3 Roles during Incidents (Major)……………………………………..6 4.4 Communication and Media…………………………………………6 4.5 Liaison Management………………………………………………..7 5.0 The Stakeholder Agencies…………………………………………………8 6.0 Evacuation…………………………………………………………………8 7.0 Medical Approach…………………………………………………………9 8.0 Decontamination Plan…………………………………………………….10 9.0 Training of Workers………………………………………………………10 10.0 Recovery and Reconstruction……………………………………………10 11.0 Conclusion……………………………………………………………….11 12.0 Recommendations……………………………………………………….11 13.0 Bibliography……………………………………………………………..13 1.0 Introduction Emergency may occur any time and there should be a well laid down plan that ensures that it is contained with minimal risks. Terrorism, civil unrest and power failure are some of emergencies that can occur any time. Thus, the aim of this report is to analyze the emergency plan that is in place at the Ewood Park Stadium. The report analyzes the stadium and brings out the ability that the contingency plan can fulfil. At the end of the paper, recommendations are analyzed to ensure that the contingency plan fully solves any emergency problem. 2.0 Analysis of the Stadium 2.1 Structural Design There are four sections in the Ewood Park stadium. The four sections are grouped into two and one tier stands. The two tier stands are the Darwen End, Jack Walker and the Blackburn End stand. The one tier stand, which is the fourth stand, is the CIS. It is located at the Ewood Park, which is next to the Nuttall Street at Blackburn town. The stadium was completed in 1882 and has a sitting capacity of 31,154 persons (Contingency Plan). 2.2 Stadium Use Blackburn Rovers football club uses the stadium as a football pitch since 1890; initially they were located at Leamington Road. The pitch itself measures 115 yards by 76 yards. The stadium has hosted of late various international matches, which includes the Women Euro 2005, whereby three matches were played. The stadium is well equipped and has the facilities that support utilization of the stadium both day and night time (Blackburn Rovers Club). 3.0 Legislation Control Various legislatives and statutory requires that the government has a guideline to manage and maintain safety. The legislatives that play import roles in ensuring safety in the stadium include: General Safety Certificate Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds – Green Guide Club Safety Policy – Fire Service Inspectorate 2002 The most important legislative is the Green Guide that contains regulations on the operation of playgrounds. Some of the provisions that are contained in the Green Guide include fire escapes, crash barriers, gangways and adequate structural design. The aim of these provisions is to ensure that the stadium can control rowdy crowds, the stadium is structurally stable, access for people with disability and easy means of access and exit; these provisions are in the Safety at sports Grounds Act 1975. Thus, the Act and legislative directives plays important roles in ensuring that the management has a base that they will use in developing policies and safety matters (Parks & Quarterman 2007). 4.0 Stadium Crisis Management Many people usually access the stadium. Thus, it is paramount that the safety measures that are accorded should bring into consideration the diverse emergency that can occur any time. 4.1 Nature of Crisis The extent of emergence or hazard that can occur is not predictable. Thus, the contingency plan is able to manage emergency of any level - from minor to complex emergencies. In this scenario, the minor emergencies include cancellation of matches to the more complex or catastrophic emergencies such as presence of chemical substances or bombs. They have different approaches on the way that the stadium emergency team can tackle any problem that may arise. Moreover, there are specific measures that are in place which ensure that minor emergencies are avoided. There are equipments and means that reduce the chance of accidents and emergencies occurring. For example, the stand can only accommodate specific number of spectators to prevent overloading. There are also the internal emergency systems such as the utilization of sprinklers and fire alarms, which minimises risk associated with fires (Smith 2007). This means that the threats that have been specified in the assignment brief are factored in the emergency plan. Some of the incidents that may be contained easily are fire and CBRN weapons. The presence of the stadium stewards and other officers makes monitoring of emergency easy. The stewards and officers analyze the development of any emergency and communicate it to the Safety Officer in Charge. Moreover, the presence of CCTV and radio calls makes it easy for the emergency to be known and monitors the development of the emergency. 4.2 Control Structure The safety of the Ewood Park is under a Nominated Safety officer, commonly known as the Safety Officer. Depending on the extent of the emergency, the Safety Officer collaborates with police Commander. Their relationship is addressed in the Statement of Intent. The Statement of Intent is an agreement that determines the way that the stadium safety team collaborates with other departments especially the police. 4.3 Roles during Incidents (Major) Different members who are in the stadium have to fulfil certain duties at a time of emergency. The hierarchical level of the members determines the sector that they will be located and the type of duties that they have to accomplish. General supervision is managed by Safety Officer and assisted by the Deputy Safety Officer who ensures that the right staff is at the right position at the right time. Chief Steward assists the Safety Officers in the evacuation and monitors the stewards. The Assistant Chief Steward evacuates VIPs and directors, receives casualties and is responsible to liaise with next of kin of injured spectators. Moreover, there are other position holders such as the Perimeter Track Supervisor who manages the perimeter track and monitors forward evacuation through ensuring that all perimeter gates are opened and the kick board are removed. Other persons who play important roles include Assessors and Section Heads. 4.4 Communication and Media The media plays an important role during emergencies, but they are supposed to be controlled and monitored. At the time of emergency, information should be passed discreetly so that it prevents panic from spectators and players. There are various ways that the stadium management has placed into place that ensures that information is passed to the Safety Officer. These includes emergency telephone, internal telephone extension and radio transmission. Nevertheless, there is fire alarm, which when activated, initiates evacuation through automatic opening of the doors. At the same time, communication in terms of announcements can be announced through the Public Address System. In most cases, the fire system alarm is usually off at match time so that the management of any fire related incident is managed strategically and are usually operated manually. In addition, there are loudhailers that are in the Security and Gate Offices that backs the Public Address System. On the other hand, the radio system has five frequencies, frequencies for Management, safety, catering, emergency and safety, which are all available at a time of incident. The use of CCTV ensures that all activities that take place at every corner or location of the stadium are recorded. 4.5 Liaison Management Media coverage is a common concept at a time of emergency. In the case of stadium, there are usually media organizations that take live pictures for their organizations. Sometimes the media houses may broadcast inaccurate information. Thus, the Club management should release frequent and to date information concerning the incident so that it minimizes the broadcast of inaccurate information. This condition requires the stadium management to pick a spoke who speaks on behalf of the stadium and club management. Communication plays an important role in informing the right people on the development of the incident. Communication through 999 calls and radio communication ensures that the Local Authority and police are informed on the development of emergency. Moreover, liaison capabilities ensure that communication is achieved in calling upon other services such as health and medical services and the next of kin. 5.0 The Stakeholder Agencies When an emergency occurs and it is crucial that multi-agency is required, the senior officer within the accident scene reports to the Control room. The senior officer will call supportive agencies such has the fire service through 999 and the Ambulance Officer is contacted through radio communication. Thus, the stakeholders plays crucial role at the time of emergency, which is incorporated to the Ewood Park Stadium. For example, the police and the local authority are the backbone to the control of any emergency that may occur. These stakeholders provide resources that assist in mitigating of the emergency. The police provide security and guidelines during and after the incident while the Local Authority provides parametric ambulances that take the injured spectators to the hospital. Moreover, voluntary assistance play import role at the time of emergency. For example, the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance offer first aid services. Additionally, the Local Authority ensures that the building is structurally designed and has possession of architectural design of the stadium since it comes handy at the time of incident. 6.0 Evacuation The decision to evacuate the stadium is determined by the Club management under the guidelines of Safety Officer or the Police Commander under terms that are set in Statement of Intent. The method and extend of evacuation will be determined by the location, nature and severity of the emergency. Generally, the method that will be employed will be determined by dynamic risk assessment depending on the risks that are exposed to the spectators, public and government regulations. The main gates are controlled from the Control Room; the gates have electro-magnetic mechanism. Moreover, stewards who have the ability of over-riding the electro-magnetic mechanism when the time of such intervention is required manage the gates. Additionally, the doors have batteries that come handy when there is power failure (Plunkett 2008). Total and partial evacuations are the types of evacuation that the contingency plan supports. Total evacuation is when all spectators and layers are removed from the stadium through the gates and emergency exits. On the other hand, partial evacuation targets only a specific part of the stadium, such as a stand. These two types of evacuation may affect both the players and spectators. Ground evacuation is the time at which the spectators pass through the pitch to their safety. This requires the removal of some sections of the pitch. This method usually calls upon the utilization of Public Address System. Moreover, persons with disability are given the preference and are usually given the chance of exiting through the nearest outlet. 7.0 Medical Approach At any time that there is an activity in the stadium, there is usually a spectator doctor who is assisted by one of the stewards. They have the ability and access to communicate easily with the Control Room Emergency Telephone. There are three first aid rooms in three of the stands and the spectator doctor has the permission to use them. Moreover, the doctor may be assisted by the voluntary first aid providers e.g. St. John Ambulance. In addition, Lancashire County Ambulance provides two paramedic ambulances to assist in any emergency. If additional ambulances are required, the emergency team can requested for additional ambulances through the 999 system. The stadium has also one ambulance that is available at critical times. Physiotherapists and the team doctor are responsible for the players and they have the ability to call the ambulance, if the problem is complicated. However, there is no clearly defined way that the contingency plan handles deceased persons. Nevertheless, the two-paramedic ambulances that are offered by the Local County may have the facilities that support this problem. 8.0 Decontamination Plan No specific plan is in place that contains any emissions that may occur. The only decontamination plan that is supported by the contingency plan is control of gas. There are valves and other measures that control the leaking of the gas, but there are no methods that may be used to contain the gas at a specific area. The emergency team can only contact the gas company to stop provision of the gas. Thus, this means that there is no specific plan that is in place that deals with decontamination. 9.0 Training of Workers There is no defined way that the workers and stewards can be trained. This is an important aspect in any area that there are many people. The plan that is in place is only dealing with and containing any emergency that can occur. However, the presence of specialised persons e.g. spectator doctor ensures that some level of services may be provided. 10.0 Recovery and Reconstruction There is no defined way that the Club can transfer its activities to a specified area. The Management and Board are planning ways that can address this problem. Moreover, there is no defined way in which the contingency plan deals with recovery and reconstruction. There are only minor ways that the stadium may employ to recover from the emergency problem that they are in e.g. postponement or delay of a game. Thus, there is no defined way to take care of catastrophic emergencies (Graham & Goldbatt 2002). 11.0 Conclusion The stadium has a high capacity and it supports four stands. Three of the stands are two tiers while the fourth is a single tier, which is used by the Blackburn Rovers football club. Various legislative and statutory directives are followed by the stadium to ensure that safety is provided to the spectators and players. The contingency plan addresses different levels of emergencies that can take place. This is from minor emergency to the catastrophic incidents. Moreover, there are defined roles in which stewards and staff of the stadium can fulfil at the time of emergencies. Each steward and stadium management team plays a crucial role in ensuring that all people within the stadium are safe. Media and stakeholders play an important role in ensuring that the public knows nature of emergency and they provide assistance that can be used to address the problem. However, the contingency plan does not provide means to train its workers and methods that are used at the time of recovery and reconstruction. 12.0 Recommendations The stadium management should lay down defined ways that decontamination can be carried out. This will ensure that any emissions and dangerous materials are not released to the public. Furthermore, the contingency plan should have means that enables the staff of the stadium to contact the next of kin. Currently, such strategy is not supported by the contingency plan. Training of the workers is paramount and it lacks in the plans of the stadium. Training and refresher courses ensure that the staff and workers can handle various emergency incidents when they occur. Additionally, the contingency plan has no defined way that determines recovery and reconstruction especially in large-scale emergencies. Recovery and reconstruction should be well defined and alternative location should be put into place. 13.0 Bibliography Adams, D., 2004, Essential Football Fun: Premier and Football League Grounds, London: Aesculus Press, Ltd. Publishers. Blackburn Rovers Club, Contingency Plan: Ewood Park Blackburn, London. Graham, S. & Goldbatt, J., 2002, The Ultimate Guide to Sports Marketing, London: McGraw-Hill Professional. Gorst, T., 1995, The Buildings Around Us, New York: Taylor & Francis Publishers. Information on Blackburn Rovers, available at: http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk [Accessed 19 January 2009] Parks, J. & Quarterman, J., 2007, Contemporary Sport Management, 3rd ed., London: Human Kinetics Publishers. Plunkett, J., 2008, Plunkett’s Sports Industry Almanac, New York: Plunkett Research Publishers. Smith, D., 2007, The Boys Book of Soccer 1966, New York: Evans Brothers Publishers. Tarlow, P., 2002, Event Risk Management and Safety, New York: John Wiley and Sons Publishers. Read More