Safety at sports grounds

We have a key role in ensuring sports grounds in South Lanarkshire are safe for everyone who attends. If you manage a sports ground or organise events, you may need a safety certificate before the venue can be used.

We issue safety certificates for stands and sports grounds, and we check that safety standards are met.

Who needs a safety certificate

You need a General Safety Certificate if your venue has a regulated stand. This means a covered stand that can hold 500 or more people.

If you plan to hold an event or activity that is not covered by your existing General Safety Certificate, you must apply for a Special Safety Certificate.

How we set safety conditions

We work with emergency services and other Safety Advisory Group partners to agree what is needed to keep people safe, in line with relevant legislation, the current edition of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide) and related supplementary guidance.

Safety certificates usually include conditions about:

• exits and exit routes
• stairways and walkways
• barriers and crowd protection
• fire safety
• stewarding and crowd management

We also carry out regular formal inspections to check stands are well maintained and to ensure compliance with the conditions included in certificates.

Your responsibilities

Responsibility for the safety of all people present in a sports ground lies at all times with the ground management who have to meet the cost of any safety measures.

Apply or ask for advice

To apply for a General or Special Safety Certificate, or to check whether your stand needs one, email sasg@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.

Appeals

If you think the conditions on a certificate are unreasonable, you can appeal to the Sheriff Court. You must do this within 28 days of receipt of a General Safety Certificate, or seven days for a Special Safety Certificate.

Costs

General safety certificate

• Stands with capacity up to 1,000: £200
• Stands with capacity over 1,000: £300

Special safety certificate

• Stands with a total capacity over 1,000: £150
• Stands with a total capacity up to 1,000: £100

Amendments, transfers, replacements or cancellations cost £30.