SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
LBO channel broadcaster SIS Racing’s Outside Broadcast division is aiming to set new benchmarks in the way it operates its on-course services. SIS has launched several new initiatives in support of its field-based operational staff, including a dedicated website.
Vic Ridley, Operations Manager, SIS Betting Support and OB Services, who has overseen the launch, said: “This is all part of an Operational and Health and Safety review process.
“With the continuing challenges of Health and Safety (H&S) within the OB environments and the duty-of-care responsibilities to our field-based staff and freelancers, there is a requirement to bring transparency to creating better and safer working practices and environments, and clarity to the latest H&S requirements and legislation.
“The launch of these new initiatives has involved a number of key objectives, which saw the launch of a new more user-friendly H&S booklet. This will be issued to all staff, along with a rollout of an OB-dedicated H&S training course covering a wide range of important and relevant subjects. This industry-recognised and certified course is being delivered FOC to all our current field-based staff and freelancers over the next three months in partnership with 1st Option Media Safety consultancy.
Ridley explained that as part of this process SIS has surveyed all its current racing venues, creating over 170 separate individual camera positions, each with their own individual risk assessment and method statements. These have given our onsite crews total visibility and transparency of the day-to-day risks they face in delivering the ever-increasing demands that our TV coverage and viewers expect.
Ridley added: “While we go through this H&S education process, there will be some challenges to face, but working closely with our staff and clients can only enhance the current on-course services we provide.
“These initiatives will set the standard for the rest to follow and is a very positive step forward for all concerned, as it demonstrates how seriously SIS wants Health and Safety to be ‘best in class’ and the importance we place on the well-being of our teams out on the racecourse.”
