Colour blindness

1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women suffer some kind of Colour Vision Deficiency. The sixth edition of the Green Guide to Stadium Safety (Annex C) covers Guidance for Colour Vision Deficiency.

Sefton Council was asked if it held any record of Colour Vision audits, and we received this answer from the Service Manager, Building Control.

I write in response to your recent enquiry regarding colour blindness reviews at sports stadia.

I would confirm that in the Borough of Sefton, there are currently no ‘designated sports grounds’ – although there are three stadia – namely, Marine AFC, Southport FC and Aintree Racecourse, that contain a combined total of eight ‘Regulated grandstands’ i.e. stands that can house 500 or more spectators. The Councils Licensing & Regulatory Committee have previously issued General safety certificates for all of those grandstands. Certificates are issued at the time of a stands construction or can be re-issued if the named holder of the certificate changes.

As you have correctly pointed out, the current ‘Guide to Safety at sports grounds’ (6th Edition) does indeed contain guidance on dealing with issues of colour blindness and I will write to each of the Certificate holders (at the above-mentioned stadia) to remind them that under Annex C to the Guide, they are required to conduct a review of the arrangements in place that could impact on spectators with colour blindness. The focus of those reviews will need to be on aspects such as the suitability of written instructions, directional escape signage, steward identification, wayfinding etc  

Where those sports stadia are used to stage other events, such as pop concerts – legislation, other the 1975 and 1987 Safety at Sports Acts would apply – but in practical terms, any physical alterations made to a grandstand following the above-mentioned review process – would benefit everyone attending a sports stadia for any future sporting or non-sporting event.

Finally, can I thank you for raising this important issue with me and if you wish to discuss this matter further, please contact me directly.

For more information go to …www.colourblindawareness.org