SAFETY AND SECURITY
Creating a Safety Audit
ASBA 2022 Outstanding Sports Facility Award Winner . Photo courtesy of Activitas Inc .
By Mary Helen Sprecher
It is easy to look at a flat field and believe it is safe . Unfortunately , it is not until accidents , injuries and emergencies occur that problems become glaringly evident . That is why it is essential to do a safety audit on your facility on a regular basis , and to remain vigilant .
Safety audits can be performed by you or by your staff . Over time , it may be helpful to create a checklist or other document that is specific to your facility , noting areas that have been examined and problems that have been noted . Get started by using this article , expand upon it and personalizing its points to fit your needs .
An essential part of your contacts when it comes to your safety audit is your specialty sports contractor , the person who built your field and / or your running track . By maintaining an open dialogue with these professionals , it will be possible to correct problems before they become accidents or injuries .
And sometimes , when it comes to fields , it ’ s the most easily overlooked things that can cause problems . “ Something essential is having the proper safety zones and / or runouts , defined as the areas outside the game lines of a particular sport ,” said Paul Arcella of CSR Heavy & Athletic in Deerfield Beach , Fla . “ Oftentimes , fences , bleachers or viewing areas are designed too close to the game lines of a sport , which can cause injuries when athletes run out of bounds and into fencing , videographers , photographers and spectators .”
It ’ s not just a youth-level problem . The NFL Players Association ( NFLPA ) recently voiced concern about the number of non-athlete personnel – including trainers , officials , media , cheer teams and others – on the sidelines of games , and noted that players running out of bounds have collided with all of these individuals .
The fence surrounding a sports facility should also be built so as to minimize the possibility of injury .
“ I think one of the most glaring things we find is the
18 SportsField Management | April 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com