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Coming Soon - National Standard on Spectator Safety for Indoor Arenas

The Canada Safety Council has a longstanding concern that flying pucks can injure spectators in hockey arenas. Deaths are rare, but injuries - some quite serious - are not uncommon. Most of Canada's 3,500 community arenas date back at least 30 years. That means that many are due for renovations, when features could be incorporated to protect the fans. However, the absence of a national standard makes it hard to determine what is needed for optimal safety.

In line with its public health and safety mandate, CSC will provide seed funding for a national standard on spectator protection for indoor arenas. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Canadian Recreational Facilities Council (CRFC) have endorsed the development of the standard. CRFC represents the owners and operators of over 3,500 facilities across the country.

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) will develop a voluntary standard targeted to owners, operators and designers of indoor arenas. Topics in the standard may include netting, glass or other devices to protect spectators from being injured by objects coming out of the area of play.

CSA has been developing standards for more than 80 years, and has a proven record of collaboration with all stakeholders. Working with hockey associations and other interested groups, the adoption of CSA standards for hockey helmets and face protectors has significantly reduced the number of head and eye injuries among players.

The purpose of this standard will be to protect people who watch events at indoor arenas. Millions of Canadians visit these facilities on a regular basis, especially during the hockey season.

This new standard, which should be ready in 2004, will be the first of its kind in the world. Other countries may want to follow Canada's lead when planning safety features in their arenas.

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Safety Canada April 2003

Flying Pucks

Update: (May 11, 2004 )
New Standard to Protect Spectators in Arenas