Health & Safety and Emergency Procedures

Saltcoats Victoria FC will do everything reasonably practicable to keep players, officials, volunteers, spectators and visitors safe at Campbell Park and at every club activity. This policy sets out how we do that, and what to do in an emergency.

Responsibilities

The committee has overall responsibility for health and safety, and appoints a Health & Safety Officer to lead on it. Details are available from the club secretary.
Everyone at the club has a duty to take reasonable care of themselves and others, to follow instructions and signage, and to report hazards and incidents.

The club acts in line with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and works with the ground owner, the league and the Scottish FA.

Risk assessment

Risk assessments cover the ground, matchdays, training, events and travel. They are reviewed at least every year, and after any incident or change.
Pitch, goalposts, barriers, floodlights, stands and facilities are checked before matches and any defects are reported and dealt with. Goalposts must be secured and never climbed on.
The pitch, weather and safety of the ground are checked before every match. The match referee has the final decision on whether a match goes ahead.

Matchday safety

A named club official is in charge of each home matchday and knows the emergency arrangements.
Spectators must follow the Ground Regulations and the instructions of officials and stewards. Overcrowding, standing in gangways, pitch invasion and the use of flares, fireworks or glass containers are prohibited.
Exits and routes are kept clear, and the entrance is managed so that the number of people at the ground is safe.
Children must be supervised by a parent, carer or responsible adult.

First aid

A first aid kit is available at the ground on matchdays and training, and a trained first aider is present or reachable at all times during club activity where possible.
Where a defibrillator is available at Campbell Park, its location is made known to club officials and posted at the ground.
For any head injury, follow the Scottish FA concussion guidance: if in doubt, sit them out. A player suspected of concussion must be removed from play and must not return to play or train until they have followed the proper return-to-play process.
Injuries and illnesses are recorded in the accident book kept by the club.

Emergency procedures

In any emergency

Call 999 for fire, police or ambulance. Give your location: Campbell Park, Blakely Road, Saltcoats KA21 5JQ.
Tell the matchday official in charge.
Give first aid within your training, and stay with the injured person until help arrives.
Keep the access route clear so that emergency vehicles can get in and out.

Fire and evacuation

On hearing the alarm or an instruction from an official, leave the area calmly by the nearest safe exit and go to the assembly point given by the officials. Do not stop for belongings, and do not go back until told it is safe.
Officials help anyone who needs assistance, including disabled people and children.
Do not fight a fire unless you have been trained and it is safe to do so.

Match stopped for weather or safety

If a match is stopped for lightning, floodlight failure, a serious injury or any safety reason, spectators should follow the announcements and staff instructions, and stay in a safe place until told to leave or resume.

Reporting

All accidents, near misses and hazards are reported to the Health & Safety Officer, and recorded.
Serious incidents are reported to the appropriate authority, including under RIDDOR 2013 where it applies, and the Scottish FA and league are informed where required.
The club learns from incidents, and reviews procedures afterwards.

Training and other activity

Coaches and managers check the area and equipment before every session, make sure players are suitably dressed and warmed up, and keep a list of attendees and emergency contacts. Where activity takes place away from Campbell Park, the leader must find out the emergency arrangements for that place beforehand.