24 Jun New health and safety rating for post-COVID-19 entertainment venues
Earlier this year, Healthy Stadia was pleased to play a role as a member of the advisory committee to develop a new health and safety standard for sport and entertainment venues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in partnership with the International WELL Building Institute.
The WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and facility types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, occupant engagement and emergency plans.
Designed to empower owners and operators across large and small businesses alike to take the necessary steps to prioritise the health and safety of their staff, visitors and stakeholders, the WELL Health-Safety Rating can help users confidently prepare their spaces for re-entry in a post-COVID-19 environment and into the future, instilling confidence and trust in occupants and the broader community
Our Executive Director, Matthew Philpott, was part of an advisory committee of over 30 organisations who conducted a third-party review ensuring integrity and consistency, and participated in two consultation sessions in late June.
As an organisation, Healthy Stadia provided evidence on why the new WELL rating should have a specific commitment to tobacco-free environments, and advocated for healthier catering options and active modes of travel such as walking and cycling to stadia.
More information on the new standard is available at:
https://www.wellcertified.com/health-safety
WHO Guidance on Mass Gatherings and COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the unique challenge that mass gatherings pose given the risk of transmission, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has assembled a range of guidance documents and risk assessments tools to assist those involved in the planning, organisation and delivery of sporting events.
These tools will be particularly useful for sports organisations such as national associations and league operators to fully assess the health and safety challenges of hosting sporting fixtures and events in and between their respective host countries in the months and possibly years to follow the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthy Stadia has attended two briefing events hosted by the WHO’s EPI-WIN team over the course of April and June, and we have developed a free to access resource hub containing all of the WHO’s risk assessment tools and guidance on mass gatherings.
You can access the WHO’s mass gathering resources here:
https://healthystadia.eu/who-guidance-on-mass-gatherings-sports-events/
