Slip, trip, fall related hazards at a football stadium

This study, part of the wider investigation reported in a companion paper (Au et al, 2004), sought to identify slip, trip, fall related hazards at a large capacity football stadium. Of particular interest was risk of falling arising from persistent standing in the all-seated stadium. Although there is a wider general literature on the causes of falls and their prevention (eg Leamon, 1992a & 1992b), it is surprising that Pauls (1991 and 2002, personal communication) is one of the few researchers to have looked at fall risk in sports grounds (during commissioning of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal in particular). However, the focus of Pauls’ work has tended to be on the design of steps and stairs, rather than seated or standing areas. Pauls’ research demonstrated that the dimensions of steps and stairs, their conspicuousness, and the provision of handrails, affected numbers of falls that occurred. Au et al (1993) and Smith (1995) recognised falling as a risk in crowd situations, but did not go into detail regarding the circumstances under which falls may occur.