Security and Risk Assessment of Sun Life Stadium, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Risk assessment and management involves carefully planning and carrying out a game plan that will ensure the safe operation and maintenance of a properly orchestrated and developed plan to ensure the safety of people in a given area. For the purpose of this study/assessment we will suppose the Sun Life Stadium is a multi-level business operation in that at different intervals it can take on different risk levels depending on the activity that is being hosted at any given time.

Facility Characterization

Sun Life Stadium is committed to a strong partnership with the Miami, Florida community and the City of Miami Gardens and all of South Florida. The stadium is the host of community-based events, civic and business events and other sponsored events that help to promote the community. The Miami Dolphins professional football team hosts its home games in the stadium which attracts spectators from all walks of life during the annual fall season. This is when heightened security is needed to protect the citizens of the community as well as the football players. The stadium recently added 360,000 square feet of enclosed space for spectators, concessions and restaurants. There are upgraded luxury suites, flat screen and high definition televisions throughout, expanded casual gathering and sitting areas on the 100 and 400 levels. Further the VIP club area offers air-conditioned VIP entrances, private escalators, the Sprint Fantasy Lounge, cocktail stations with table service and state of the art Kohler restrooms. There are baby changing stations on levels 100 and 400 and all club levels. The concierge is on level 200 and 300. The Boston Culinary Group offers the food services for the entire stadium. There are concessions offered by a variety of vendors. There are accessible wheelchairs for those in need. Guest services are located on the 100 and 400 decking. Lost and found is located on the 100, 300 and 400 level. The facility promotes “Lost Children” by taking all children that appear to be lost to the nearest Guest Services booth. Smoking is permitted at levels B, D, F, H and the Smirnoff Bars on the 100 level only. Tailgaters are allowed to occupy one vehicle spot only. Persons can only occupy a space of 8X10 only.

No one is allowed to bring a keg on the property. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the property such as golf carts or four-wheelers. Barbeque pits are allowed as long as you distinguish your pit and rid your coals with water before leaving your area. Guests cannot bring alcohol on the premises or leave with alcohol. A person must be of the minimum age of 21 to purchase alcohol at the stadium. A two drink limit will be applied per person at the concession stand. There will be no more alcohol sales at the beginning of the third quarter. If you are at the club level, you can purchase alcohol up until one hour after the game retires. Animals, bottles, food, noise makers and weapons of any kind are all prohibited. Anyone not abiding by the rules and regulations can and will be ejected from the game and will be turned over to the Miami Dade Police. Certain derogatory or profane banners will not be allowed in the game. There are ATM locations at the Grand Plaza, 100, 200 and 400 levels.

System Effectiveness Analysis and Threats

There are many issues or things that can go wrong at the Sun Life Stadium during an event. The key factor of a risk assessment is to spot the hazards. There will be innate hazards on the field with the football players including the players getting hurt, getting into fights, fans throwing objects onto the field, irate or obsessive fans wanting to get close to players, fans drinking alcohol in the stands, possible water in the restrooms, possible slippages elsewhere in the stadium leaving the management open to tort lawsuits, possible food poisoning, child injuries, the possibility of fights breaking out in the stadium, the possibility of fans bringing in weapons pass the metal detectors, possible barbeque fires, automobile accidents on site, etc. Most injuries will be personal injury related and criminal related injuries due to poor security due to either negligent security or fighting after the game.

Risk Estimation

Depending on the activity at the stadium will depend on the risk level. During football games I expect the risk level to be heightened because the stadium will most likely be at maximum capacity. Though there will be maximum security on hand, they cannot possibly assume and estimate all possible risks and cover all corridors at all times. People are prone to accidents because they simply are careless by nature and when alcohol is added to that as a factor the risk increases. That is why there is a two drink minimum per customer to minimize the alcohol contribution factor to the risk level. This does not stop fans from sneaking in their own alcohol though. There is no known way for security to check every bag for small packages of alcohol. Metal detectors are installed to check for metal objects and weapons but sometimes these objects may get through the detectors in turn heightening the risk estimation during times of extreme tension of competition games. During other events of civic activities I expect the risk estimation to be at a lower level that during football games.

Comparison of Estimate Risk Level

As stated previously I expect the risk level to be heightened during football and baseball games or activities of extreme competitiveness. There will be larger crowds in the stadium making it much more difficult for the security to patrol the entire stadium. The risk level increases as the crowd increase and as the risk level of the activity heightens. As the risk level of the activity decreases so does the risk level of damage decrease. According to the consequence analysis the greatest consequence that could occur at the stadium would be death of the spectators, the football players or any other person in the stadium during an event. This could be due to poor security or simply an accident. Another risk would be due to the trained personnel not being adequately trained to handle such large crowds. That is why it is so important for the stadium to conduct test assessments prior to every event. More common consequences would be loss of economics to the consumer due to climate and weather change in the stadium when the events are not held indoors. With the new addition of the indoor stadium these risks would be reduced.

Risk Reduction Strategies

Some risk reduction strategies are to set a maximum capacity of seating for the stadium, to increase security during competitive events, to ensure there is security at every zone, to ensure there is an escape route in force, to ensure there are fire extinguishers throughout the facility, to ensure there are working video cameras in all corridors, to ensure clean and safe restrooms, to ensure the alcohol policy is adhered to, to ensure the weapon free policy is adhered to, to ensure if there is any doubt a patron/customer may bring harm to another they are immediately escorted from the game  and/or turned over to the Miami Dade Police Department. The important key is to have a Risk Assessment Plan in writing and fully implemented prior to any commencement of any event and to adhere to the plan with full compliance. Another factor is to determine who might be harmed if there was a potential risk. The answer to this question is anyone who is present in the stadium during an active event.

Reduction of risks can be implemented by having increased security at the entry and exit points, and having locks on all private areas such as offices in the stadium areas. The critical areas will be the HVAC and electrical points because they are restricted zones and pose high risk to those who are not properly trained to handle such situations. No one properly trained to be on the football fields should be allowed during game play. When other events are taking place in the stadium such as civic events, they should be properly roped off if they pose risks to those not properly trained to be in that area. The security system should be in place during all civic and football game events to keep perpetrators out and to record incidents and accidents for tort action claims.

When implementing a full-fledged risk assessment plan remember that practice makes perfect! You should go through a hypothetical risk assessment before implementing the actual plan into action. The next step should be to share the written information with your staff. Another important factor is to keep the assessment simple so that the staff can understand how to implement it. An example might be: “If you find a corridor that has trash in the middle of the aisle what should you do?” The obvious answer would be to put out a cone not to pass the area and clear the area right away to prevent trips and falls because the stadium can and will be held liable for anyone that would hurt themselves as a result of the negligence of the stadium’s failure to do so. Remember, thin, plan, ponder, write, test, and put into action!

There is a medium threat during football games with respect to terroristic threat but when the super bowl game is played there the risk of threat goes to high alert.

Consequence Analysis

If the strict rule, regulations and policies of the risk analysis and procedure manuals are not adhered to there is risk of injury and death. The stadium managers and owners run the risk of economic loss, tort payout and personal injury lawsuit due to negligent acts. If there is lack of security for some civic events the risk will raise thus causing a higher risk to management and owners. There are many tort actions that could occur at the entry and exits, in the stadium, in the restrooms, in the electrical and HVAC area, etc. The potential for risk is higher as the crowding capacity heightens.

Impact Analysis

Impact analysis encompasses the process of identifying the potential consequences of a change or making a calculated and educated estimated guess of what needs to be changed according to risk assessments. According to Bohner and Arnold, this risk and change are interchangeable and are estimated according to estimates on resources, effects and scheduling. Hence with this said, the potential for errors increase as the available resources decrease such as available security and manpower at the football game/civil events held at the stadium and other security aiding situations change. Further potential risks must be traceable in order to eliminate such risks.

Risk Management Decisions

Risk management decisions involve “economic, health, legal, environmental, social, geo-political and other factors when making decisions according to such a standard.” (“Risk Management Decision Criteria”). These decisions interchange daily as one factor does not play heavier than the other. Situations including, “cost-benefit analysis, cost-effective analysis, risk-benefit analysis and comparative analysis play an equal role in the circumvention and spiraling of a transgressive risk assessment program.” (“Risk Management Decision Criteria”.

References

Sun Life Stadium Retrieved June 26, 2010 from, http://www.sunlifestadium.com/content/stadiumguide.aspx

Five Steps to Risk Assessment Health and Safety Executive Retrieved June 26, 2010 from, www.workplacehealthconnect.co.uk

Who is at Risk Retrieved June 26, 2010 from, http://www.osha.gov

Practices of Leading Organizations Retrieved June 26, 2010 from, http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/ai00033.pdf

Risk Management Decision Criteria Retrieved July 1, 2010 from, > Risk Reduction http://www.foodrisk.org/risk_analysis/RM/RM_Decision_Criteria.pdf