How Sporting disasters have
shaped the health and safety
of modern day sport
Unit 2 – Health, safety and injury in sport
Learning objectives (P2, M2, D1)
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Pass – All pupils will recall the safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975
and the Taylor Report and the key changes to professional sport
that resulted from them.
Merit - Most pupils will recall the safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975
and the Taylor Report and the key changes to professional sport
that resulted from them. They understand and can explain what the
Hillsborough disaster was.
Distinction – Some pupils will recall the safety at Sports Grounds
Act 1975 and the Taylor Report and the key changes to professional
sport that resulted from them. They will begin to evaluate them, as
well as drawing upon recent examples of how professional
participants can be at risk from the crowd.
Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975
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An Act introduced to ensure all sports
grounds are safe enough for the public and
players to use.
The Act stated that all sports grounds must
have a safety certificate from the local council
to ensure ‘reasonable safety’ for all who use
it.
Good idea?
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
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15th April 1989
FA Cup Semi Final, played at Sheffield
Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium.
INSERT HILLSBOROUGH
PICTURE HERE – (web search)
The Hillsborough Disaster
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Large numbers of Liverpool fans gathered outside
the Leppings Lane end, due to poor working
turnstiles.
Police open a large gate to reduce the crowding,
causing thousands of fans to flood in to the ground.
Pens 3 and 4 of the lower terrace filled. The
capacity was reduced to 1600 as the crush barriers
(large metal fences) did not meet safety standards.
It is thought that over 3000 fans were in those two
small areas.
The Result
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The match was abandoned after 7 minutes
96 people died
766 people injured
INSERT HILLSBOROUGH
PICTURE HERE – (web
search)
INSERT HILLSBOROUGH
PICTURE HERE – (web
search)
The Taylor Report
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Following the disaster, the Prime Minister called for
an immediate report into what went wrong on that
tragic day.
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The Lord Justice Taylor of Gosforth carried out the
report which, despite being very controversial,
resulted in some key health and safety changes to
professional sport.
How has the Taylor Report changed
modern day football?
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Removal of Crash Barriers
Greater number of security / policing
Greater number of medics and ambulances on site
Movement to all seated stadiums (Top 2 leagues
only!)
Greater management of how fans enter and leave
sports grounds
Introduction of CCTV to make sports experiences
safer.
Task 1 - The impact on Kingsholm?

If the recommendations from the Taylor report were
enforced on Kingsholm, what would be the impact?
Would Gloucester be allowed to move back to the
Spa ground? Look at picture 1.3e.
Questions to think about!
 What would happen to the barriers in the shed?
 Would the Shed exist?
 How many police do you see on a match day?
 Where would opposing fans sit?
Kingsholm Stadium Fire 1933
Kingsholm Stadium Fire 1933
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The opening match of the 1933 - 34 season
against Lydney had been postponed owing to
the hard state of the ground. Later in the day
a fire, which may or may not have started in a
circus being held in the club's car park, swept
through and destroyed the grandstand.
However, in just nine weeks a new stand was
planned, erected and completed for use
From “The Citizen” Saturday 4
November 1933:
New Grand Stand
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So far as spectators are concerned the new grandstand at Kingsholm will be
ready for the County match next Saturday. There will be seating accommodation
for 1,330 people, and in front of the stand there will be room for about 1,500
people to stand, most of whom will be under cover.
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Remarkable progress has been made in erecting the stand, as it is now barely
eight weeks since the old stand was burned down. Day and night shifts were
worked to erect the steel framework, and the floor has already been laid.
Carpenters have been busy this week fixing [word missing] into position, and the
asbestos roof is [word missing] in position. Although slightly smaller than the old
one, the new stand is more substantial, and spectators will find that they have
been provided with more leg room.
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A difficulty has been the two open erections on either side of the new stand.
These have to be moved back several feet bodily in order to give spectators in
the new stand a clear view of the whole of the field. They have to be placed on
concrete foundations, but this it is hoped will have been carried out by
November 11.
Fire Safety and Safety of Places of
Sports
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The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975
applies to all sports grounds with
accommodation for spectators. Safety
controls are imposed primarily through safety
certificates issued by local authorities for
sports grounds designated by the Secretary
of State, currently [insert].
Fire Safety and Safety of Places of
Sports
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Fire risk assessment: mandatory requirement
under new fire legislation.
Places of safety: definition of places of safety
and places of reasonable safety aligned with
new legislation.
New guidance: on emergency evacuation of
spectators with disabilities and staff
awareness and training.
Task 2
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Produce a leaflet explaining the measures
that are in place which prevent another fire
disaster happening at Kingsholm. You will
need to research stadium fire regulations and
apply it to Kingsholm.