Safety in broadcasting sports events
Entertainment Sheet No 1 - HSE information sheet
CONTENTS
In this information sheet 'must' denotes a legal obligation. Words such as 'do', 'should' etc are used to give advice on good practice.
Introduction
This information sheet is one of a series prepared by the Joint Advisory Committee for Broadcasting and Performing Arts. It gives general guidance for broadcasting activities at sports grounds and is relevant to both television and radio. More specific guidance is available on many of the topics (see Useful reading).
The advice is directed at pitch-side filming and those events with high-level commentary boxes or observation platforms within a stadium complex. The general principles can be applicable to any sports ground.
Hazards
When covering events at sports stadiums the main hazards arise from:
- Accessibility to the broadcaster's position
- Fire and other emergency situations
- Working at heights and from temporary structures
- Exposure of staff to crowd disorder and personal violence
- Wind and other weather conditions
- Collision with players or the ball when recording near touchlines
- Noise
Risk assessment
Prior to broadcasting any event an assessment of the potential risks must be carried out. This must be reviewed as necessary if more information becomes available. The assessment will determine what precautionary measures, if any, are required.
The event organisers, stadium management etc should also have carried out a risk assessment. The broadcast organiser should liaise with these bodies to make sure that all hazards arising from the event have been identified and everyone is aware of the risks arising from each other's activities, and of the control measures that are in place.
Precautionary measures
Access and egress routes
In the aftermath of the Bradford and Hillsborough disasters it was found that many venues had only a single means of access to the broadcasting area. In many cases the areas were difficult to negotiate and a certain degree of agility was needed. In many stadiums and venues, particularly small clubs, the situation has not changed in any significant way.
The assessments should consider whether access routes are: free from obstruction and debris; of sound construction; securely fixed and fitted with handrails (1.1 m high); and sufficiently illuminated even under emergency conditions.
Any obvious defects should be brought to the attention of the management of the stadium.
Access for equipment should also be considered. Where lifting equipment has to be used it should be suitable for the job and examined by a competent person before being put into use. Spectators and others should be protected from the possibility of anything falling as a result of defective materials or inadequate handling arrangements.
Fire and associated hazards
You should be aware of the details of fire and emergency procedures. These should be obtained from the owners of the stadium or their agents. The procedures should include information on alarm signals, evacuation routes, emergency exits and assembly points. This information should be fully communicated to everyone involved.
Wherever possible, at each venue, a secondary means of escape from the broadcasting area should be identified, eg self-lowering equipment as a means of escape to ground level or portable ladders. Wherever such means are used they should not come down into an exit route for the general public.
Working at heights
Only people who are willing to do so should be asked to work at height. Adequate safety measures should be in place such as guard rails. Where safety belts, harnesses and life lines are necessary, there should be suitable anchorage points, and users should be properly trained.
When working from temporary structures such as scaffolding, access towers and platforms, check with the ground or stadium management that the structure is safe and available for use.
You can expect working platforms to have: fully boarded floors, guard rails and kickboards; arrangements such as nets to prevent anything falling from the platform and causing injury to people beneath; safe means of access and egress.
Violence
There are some sporting events with the potential for crowd violence. Camera crews filming on touchlines are particularly vulnerable to injury from the crowd.
The practical measures needed in these circumstances will vary, but they should be considered before work begins. Priority should be given to establishing the safest possible working conditions at the planning stage of an assignment. Further guidance can be found in Violence to workers in broadcasting (ETIS 2).
Pitch-side cameras
Manned cameras used close to the action at sporting events fall into two main categories, fixed and mobile. For each, care must be taken to reduce the risks to both players and camera crews.
Fixed cameras A fixed camera position is normally where a camera is mounted, such as on a tripod, eclair etc. In some cases the camera can be moved from one fixed position to another during an event.
Wherever possible, fixed camera positions should be placed behind recognised spectator barriers, or adjacent to permanent hazards such as dug-outs. In such situations the camera should not protrude any more than is necessary for operation.
All fixed cameras should be protected to prevent injury in the event of a person or vehicle colliding into them. Suitable protective barriers (eg buffer bags) should be placed to the height of the top of the mounting.
Mobile cameras Mobile cameras are defined as those that are hand held, either cabled or radio. Mobile cameras should stay a safe distance from the touchline. Normal practice is to stay at least two metres on the spectators' side of the field of play, away from officials and players. Mobile cameras should not encroach on to the field of play or into those areas where touch judges, linesmen etc operate while play is in progress.
Operators of mobile cameras with cables should be accompanied by a second person to control the safe position of the cables. A cable minder is not necessary for a radio relayed mobile camera but on some occasions a second person may be useful as a safety lookout depending on the location.
Noise
The Noise at Work Regulations 1989 require employers to carry out a noise assessment if their employees are likely to be exposed to noise levels above 85 dB(A). There are further requirements concerning reducing exposure, providing ear protection and so on.
Crowd noise levels are a particular problem at sports events, as talkback may have to be at high levels for operators to hear it clearly. The consequent risk of hearing damage can be reduced by either wearing sound excluding headphones so the effect of crowd noise is reduced, or allowing loud talkback through ordinary headphones, but wearing high-fidelity ear plugs to reduce the noise levels reaching the ear.
Useful reading and further information
Essentials of health and safety at work HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 0716 X
Noise at Work. Noise Guides 1 and 2 HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 0454 3
Management of health and safety at work. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. Approved Code of Practice HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 0412 8
Additional copies of this information sheet are available from HSE Books.
Further advice can be obtained from HSE offices (see under Health and Safety Executive in the telephone directory). For other enquiries, ring HSE's Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055 , or write to HSE's Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ.
HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6FS Tel: 01787 881165, Fax: 01787 313995. HSE priced publications are also available from good booksellers.
This information sheet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.
This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. The information it contains is current at 6/96. Please acknowledge the source as HSE.
Printed and published by HSE 6/96 ETIS 1 C100
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