Source: www.glos.ac.uk. All Rights Reserved. 2026 University of Gloucestershire
Last updated: 27 February 2026
Location: Sports Arena and Cricket Pavilion, Oxstalls Sports Park, Plock Court, Gloucester
Activity/Task Assessed: General Site Risk Assessment
Assessment Date: 10 February 2026
Completed by: Jonathan Wye, H&S Manager
Reviewed by: Amy Peates Health and Safety Manager
Assessment Review Date: February 2027 or more frequently if serious accident/incidents occur
Notes: The building is owned by UoG but occupancy split between the University and Freedom Leisure. A formal service level agreement is in place between the two parties.
| What are the hazards (things which have the potential to cause harm) | Who might be harmed and how? | What is being done to control the risks? | What further action is required to control risks? | Who needs to carry out the action? | When is action needed by? | Action completed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | Who: Employees, students, visitors, contractors How: Panic, crush injuries, smoke inhalation, burns, risk of death | Fire risk assessments completed bi-annually across the estate by Swan Fire, specialist consultant. Last completed in 2024, due in 2026. Automatic fire alarm systems provided in both the Arena and Pavilion which are electronically monitored 24/7 by a specialist company who alert UoG security contractor (OCS) in the event of an activation. First response to fire alarm activations undertaken by Freedom Leisure in accordance with the SLA. Fire detection and other life safety systems (e.g. emergency lighting, etc. are maintained by specialist contractors employed & managed by UoG Estates Dept. Planned (but unannounced) fire drills are completed in all buildings, twice per academic year by Estates staff. Designated fire escape routes must be kept clear of obstruction and in a useable condition at all times External fire assembly point located in the car park immediately in front of the Arena building. The Cricket Pavilion assembly point is on the playing field. Fire action notices detailing the emergency procedures detailed at strategic points within both buildings Fire extinguishers in place appropriate to the fire risks Designated fire doors to be kept shut and not propped open. Gas supplies and other mechanical plant automatically shut down when the fire alarm activates. The need for ‘active’ fire marshals must be assessed on individual event basis and detailed in specific risk assessments. No smoking or use of e-devices permitted within the buildings. Designated external smoking points provided at the front of the Arena. | Act on findings of FRAs once received. Maintain existing fire precautions, testing arrangements and PPM contracts. Fire incidents which require site attendance of GFRS to be followed up by the central H&S Team. When large scale events take place in the Arena where tickets can be purchased on arrival, a system must be employed to monitor and control the number of persons permitted in the building at any one time in accordance with the building’s fire risk assessment | As assigned in FRA and monitored by Estates Dept. Estates Dept. H&S team Managers of large events | By assigned action dates Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing | |
| Unaccompanied children in the building – general behaviour and emergency evacuation | Who: Employees, students, visitors, contractors, children How: Panic, crush injuries, smoke inhalation, burns, risk of death, child protection issues arising from unaccompanied minors | The University’s expectation is that groups of school children will be accompanied by a sufficient number of teachers/adult assistants to ensure that they behave appropriately and with due respect whilst visiting the Arena Building and in the car park. Adult supervision is also essential to ensure a safe and controlled evacuation from the building in the event of an emergency and whilst moving within the car park areas. | University staff acting as the interface with visiting schools and other groups of children/young adults to ensure that the University’s expectations are relayed ahead of their arrival at the Arena | Those arranging the event | Prior to each event taking place | |
| Accident or injury requiring first aid treatment | First aid room & equipment provided within the Arena. Qualified first aiders to be present for each event relative to the expected audience numbers. Freedom Leisure Duty Managers are first aid trained. Additional first aid facilities/ first aiders to be provided on the basis of risk for each event held in the Arena. Call 999 for serious accidents/ incidents Landline telephone available at reception desk together with site details/postcode Defibrillator available external adjacent to the main entrance of the Arena and also in the Tennis Centre Accidents and incidents occurring at the Arena to be reported to the University central H&S team using the on-line intranet form Specific risk assessments to be completed for each event | |||||
| University car park (directly in front of the Arena) – collisions between vehicles or between vehicles and pedestrians | Who: Employees, students, visitors, children, contractors How: Collision with moving vehicles, broken bones, head injuries, risk of death, | Designated footpaths provided Speed humps installed on road section adjacent to all weather hockey pitches Car park lighting provided Groups arriving with school age children must be asked to supervise movements to and from the building whilst moving in the car park areas Parking to be marshalled for large events to prevent emergency access routes becoming blocked Parking marshals to be provided with high vis vests (as a minimum), torches and radios Additional car parking to be sourced for large scale events (e.g. Plock Court fields, Gloucester Rugby Club, etc) Temporary road signage to be erected in accordance with the formal traffic plan for events to: Prevent visiting vehicles turning and parking in Plock Court Assist with traffic flows exiting from the site after major events by encouraging left hand turns out of Plock Court only. Speed limit of 5mph displayed | Those arranging the event | Prior to each event taking place | ||
| Vehicle Collison with buildings, structures and trees | Who: Students, employees, visitors, contractors, members of the public, children How: Collision resulting in broken bones, head injuries, risk of death | Speed limit of 5mph on the site. Vehicle routes clearly visible Buildings well lit | Investigate incidents and implement any remedial actions Maintain lighting levels | Incidents to be reported to Freedom Leisure and UoG H&S Estates Department | As required | |
| Uneven or damaged footpaths and walkways presenting tripping and falling hazards | Who: Employees, students, visitors, children, contractors How: Trips and falls resulting in broken bones, head injuries, risk of death | Site footpaths are the responsibility of UoG. Periodic inspections undertaken by Freedom Leisure and UoG staff, which includes checking condition of walkways and footpaths. All staff and students have the ability to report building defects through the Estates helpdesk system. | Continue to implement existing control measures | Freedom Leisure UoG Estates UoG H&S Team | As required | |
| Wet floors or slippery floors – slip and fall | Who: Employees, students, visitors, children, contractors How: Trips and slips resulting in broken bones, head injuries, risk of death | Wet floor warning signs or cones used when floors are being clean or wet for other reasons (e.g. inclement weather) Cleaning of high traffic areas completed outside main business hours, wherever practicable. Suitable cleaning product used for floor type. | Maintain existing control measures | Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | As required | |
| Person/s in building intent on committing harm to others (e.g. with a weapon or violent behaviour) | Who: Employees, students, visitors, children, contractors How: Physical or verbal abuse, bruising, broken bones, head injuries | The level of proactive security required in the building is to be assessed on an individual event basis and detailed in event-specific risk assessments (e.g. whether SIA licensed staff need to be employed). CCTV system in place at key locations with recording facility to assist with post-crime investigation Emergency Services to be summoned by Duty Management in the event of a major incident. ‘Run, Hide, Tell’ Approach to be adopted if person is within or thought to be within the Arena – initially evacuate to the Tennis Centre. NOTE: Fire alarm must NOT be operated as this would cause all persons to congregate at a single place. | Maintain existing control measures | Freedom Leisure Team | As required | |
| Tiered arena seating – collapse or significant defect | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Bruising, Crush injuries, broken bones, head injuries, risk of multiple death | Seating purpose designed for the venue (Hussey Seating) Operator training provided to Freedom Leisure and UoG Sports staff Erection and collapse of seating only to be operated by university and Freedom Leisure staff who have been suitably trained. Maintenance reporting system in place with the University Estates Dept to deal with any defects to the seating (Hussey Seating). Ongoing annual maintenance contract in place | Maintain existing control measures | Freedom Leisure Team UoG Estates Team | ||
| Falls from height – access to external roof areas | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Physical or verbal abuse, bruising, broken bones, head injuries, risk of death | Access to flat roof areas restricted to UoG maintenance staff and specialist contractors. | Maintain existing control measures | Freedom Leisure Team UoG Estates Team | As required | |
| Failure in building structure, mechanical plant and equipment | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Partial building collapse, explosion, contact with utilities | Established maintenance defect reporting procedure in place with the University Estates Department which can be used by UoG & Freedom Leisure staff and students. Freedom Leisure have a responsibility to make a situation of imminent danger safe whilst awaiting support from the University. Daily safety checks completed by University and Freedom Leisure Duty management as part of standard operating procedures | Maintain existing control measures | Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | As required | |
| Laying temporary carpet tiling and lifting following event – manual handling or repetitive strain injuries | Who: Employees and Aspire staff How: Strain/sprain Musculoskeletal injuries, both acute and chronic | Trollies available and to be used for moving tiles between storage areas and the main arena Staff to be trained in correct laying techniques Trollies not to be overloaded (max 100 tiles) Team manual handling techniques to be employed when moving trollies to/from storage Individual risk assessment to be completed for each event | Manual handling training may need to be refreshed | HS Team to check manual handling training dates | As required | |
| Trailing electrical cables – potential trip hazards | Who: Students, employees, visitors, contractors, members of the public, children How: Slips, trips, falls, resulting in broken bones, head injuries, strains, sprains | All cables to be routed to minimise trip hazards Where this is impracticable, cables must be contained within proprietary stripping or taped to the floor to minimise trip risks Specific risk assessments must be completed for each event. Pre event inspection to be carried out and attended by a member of UoG and/or Freedom Leisure staff | Member of staff hosting the event from UoG Freedom Leisure staff | As required | ||
| Asbestos | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Inhalation of asbestos fibres resulting in chronic respiratory illnesses | There is no asbestos used in the construction and use of this building due to the date of development and construction. | N/A | N/A | ||
| Contact with electrical supply/circuits | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Internal burns, cardiac problems, risk of death | Rolling inspection, testing and maintenance programme for fixed electrical installations in place. All staff and students have the ability to report building defects through the Estates helpdesk system. | Maintain existing control measures | Estates Dept Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Use of portable electrical appliances | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Internal burns, cardiac problems, risk of death | University owned portable appliances are subject to a rolling programme of inspection & testing every twelve months. Users must complete a pre use check prior to using any equipment Portable appliances that are brought to the site by third parties must be safe and fit for the intended purpose. It is the responsibility of the appliance owner to ensure this is the case and the University/Freedom Leisure have the right to prevent use of any appliance which is obviously unsafe | Maintain existing control measures | Estates Dept Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Catering for Events | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Food poisoning causing acute allergic response, sickness, diarrhea, dehydration, risk of death. | All event catering to be undertaken by Freedom Leisure preferred contractor (currently Cater Cater) unless otherwise agreed. Allergy information on foods to be made available to customers on request. No LPG gas cooking appliances or hot oil frying permitted within the Arena Building. Events which involve large scale or unusual catering to be discussed and agreed in advance with the University (note: additional insurance requirements may be imposed for certain types of catering) | Maintain existing control measures | UoG member of staff managing the event Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Access to mezzanine plant deck via the vertical ladders in the Arena equipment stores | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, Contractors How: Access to unauthorised areas at height, resulting in falls from height – bruising, broken bones, head injuries, risk of death | Vertical ladders at each end of the plant deck secured with metal plates and padlocks to prevent use by unauthorised persons. UoG arena staff do not use these ladders. Signage in place to warn of no unauthorised access. Metal ladder plates and padlocks to be removed from EACH end of the plant deck before work on the plant deck commences. Metal plates and padlocks to be replaced when the task requiring access is finished or when there is a need for those requiring access to leave the immediate area. | Maintain existing control measures | UoG Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Access to plant rooms and cleaning cupboards | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Contact with moving machinery, hot surfaces or chemicals | Plant rooms and cleaning cupboards are kept locked shut, except when occupied by a member of maintenance staff or a specialist contractor | Maintain existing control measures | UoG Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Loss of mains electricity to site | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Physical or verbal abuse, bruising, broken bones, head injuries | Emergency lighting system in place throughout the building which permits safe and controlled escape in the event of total power loss. Fire and intruder alarms will remain operational for at least 24 hours without mains power (battery back-up) Escalation procedures available within Freedom Leisure and the University which will be instigated if the outage becomes a ‘major incident’ | Maintain existing control measures | UoG Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Setting out sports equipment | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Physical or verbal abuse, bruising, broken bones, head injuries | Sports equipment set out by competent Freedom Leisure or UoG Sports and Exercise staff and students (under supervision) Equipment used for events is set out by Freedom Leisure staff, not teaching staff. Equipment to be stored tidily in purpose-provided storerooms off the main arena to minimise trip accidents and ensure means of escape are maintained Post hole covers to the primary netball court to be replaced back in position immediately following removal of posts | Maintain existing control measures | UoG Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Storage and movement of banqueting tables/chairs from Cricket Pavilion store to Sports Arena (and vice versa) – collapse of stacked items, manual handling injuries during the course of transfer, erection or dismantling | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Physical or verbal abuse, bruising, broken bones, head injuries | Appropriate trollies to be used and team manual handling methods employed. Trollies to be kept to existing paths. Tables to be stored on trollies (8 per trolley) or otherwise stacked and secured to prevent risks of stack collapse and injury of bystanders. Staff involved in the task of moving tables and trollies to be physically fit and wear safety shoes and gloves | Maintain existing control measures | UoG Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Contact with chemicals | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Physical or verbal abuse, bruising, broken bones, head injuries | Cleaning chemicals (beyond household chemicals) are locked away when not in immediate use. COSHH Assessments and safety information is held by the site team | Maintain existing control measures | UoG Estates Team Freedom Leisure Team | Ongoing | |
| Polar Recovery Pool | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Cold water immersion causing shock, | Door to the room containing the pool kept locked except when in immediate use Warning signage posted on door – no unauthorised persons, etc. Pool condition and water quality checked at least 3 times a week by UoG Sports & Fitness Facilities Supervisor (when it is filled and in use). Pool water changed every 3 months (assuming daily use). Maintenance contract in place with the pool supplier. | Signage on entrance door to warn it is a restricted area COSHH signage to be posted on cupboard door containing chemicals Swimming pool type matting recommended to minimise slip accidents as people exit the recovery pool – linen towels currently used. | Sports Facilities staff | As required | |
| Trespassers or Intruders on site. | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Cold water immersion causing shock | CCTV covering the Arena Building is linked back to the Pittville Security Control room and Oxstalls Security office. 24/7 security presence on site (provided by OCS) with contact numbers widely available to UoG staff and students. Regular patrols by uniformed officers who are equipped with mobiles and 2-way radios to summon further assistance if necessary. | Suspicious persons/activity to be reported to the Police where there is a threat to personal safety or property damage. | Security or staff | Ongoing | |
| Accident or injury requiring first aid treatment | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Delay in treatment could result in worsening of injury or condition | UoG and Freedom Leisure staff are trained in first aid, (in accordance with SLA). OCS security staff are also trained to deal with basic first aid matters The Arena is located off a main road with reasonable access for emergency vehicles if required. | Maintain existing control measures | UoG and Freedom Leisure | Ongoing | |
| Legionellosis | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl children, contractors How: Legionella proliferation in stored water systems resulting in severe illness or risk of death | Specific Legionella risk assessment completed On-going temperature monitoring and hygiene procedures in place through the University’s specialist contractor Dantec. Automatic shower flushing system installed in the Arena and Cricket Pavilion Buildings to reduce risks of water stagnation arising from low usage | General temperature in the cold-water storage tank room has exceed 20C during summer months. | Estates Dept | As required | |
| Use of DSE and MFDs | Who: Employees How: Strains, sprains | iHasco DSE training and assessment system offered to all DSE users of 0.4 FTE or more. Eyesight tests offered to DSE users Follow-up visits by central H&S team to advise on corrective actions. MFD’s provide on-screen safety instructions for paper jams and toner replacements. LTI provide technical support and assistance from MFD specialist where technical problems are more complex. | Health and Safety Team | As required | ||
| Gas appliances – fire, gas leak/explosion | Who: Students, employees, visitors, contractors, members of the public, children How: Severe burns resulting in long term injury, risk of death | All gas appliances are subject to an ongoing PPM programme and annual safety inspection by GasSafe engineers appointed by UoG. | Estates Department | As Required | ||
| Impact with fixed glazing | Who: Employees, students, visitors incl. children, contractors How: Collison with fixed glazing resulting in bruising, cuts | All doors and windows compliant to current Building Regulations and BS6206 (i.e. safety glass) | Estates Department | As Required | ||
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