Light fitting falls from East Stand roof

Tom_Hovi

About mid-way through the second half today, one of the large metal lamp shades suddenly fell from the ceiling of the East Stand. It landed with a tremendous crash but fortunately it fell just about in the closed of section of the stand. I’m in ‘C’ Block but heard the crash from where we were sitting. People sitting nearby were asked to move further along, away from where this thing fell. If this had happened last week when this area was in use, then someone could’ve been at best, seriously injured, at worst killed by this large piece of metal falling on them.

Chizz

Sue the landlord for every Euro he's got

InspectorSands

did it have “PROPERTY OF STAPRIX NV” written on it?

darkmadman

i was in block B, quite concerning tbh, especially given it was full last week, i'm trusting they'll check the rest of the lights, plus hope they put some sort of safety cable or attachment to the light that ensures it doesn't fall again like it did it today.

Tom_Hovi

InspectorSands said:

did it have “PROPERTY OF STAPRIX NV” written on it?

You’d hope so! It was taken away by a member of staff. Presumably this’ll be a Health & Safety Executive job. The other fittings will need to be checked and secured. No doubt HSE will want to see records of when these things were last checked, if they ever have been in recent times.

Bedsaddick

There were people doing maintenance at The Valley Last week  . There was a picture on Instagram showing them hanging from the roof of the stand . Probably just coincidence 

Hartleypete

Isi is it big Tones responsibility, hope so, sacking offence in my book😜

ozaddick

darkmadman said:

i was in block B, quite concerning tbh, especially given it was full last week, i'm trusting they'll check the rest of the lights, plus hope they put some sort of safety cable or attachment to the light that ensures it doesn't fall again like it did it today.

Agreed. Secondary retention is a must with things like this in a public area. 

Henry Irving

I was told it was the plastic fitting rather than the metal light but still concerning.

guinnessaddick

Henry Irving said:

I was told it was the plastic fitting rather than the metal light but still concerning.

Don’t think gravity is bothered what material it’s made of, if someone had been hit by it, it would cause a lot of damage.

Tom_Hovi

Henry Irving said:

I was told it was the plastic fitting rather than the metal light but still concerning.

It certainly sounded metallic when it hit the deck and it didn’t shatter as I’d thought a plastic fitting would but as another poster had said, whatever it was made from, had it fallen on someone it wouldn’t have done them any good.

AFKABartram

I sat in the West about 6 years ago and a light fitting / bulb fell from the roof and landed just by us. I dread to think the incident if one of these things landed on a person, the heat from it was incredible. 

jacob_CAFC

This never happened under Roland

Rothko

I'll keep saying it, but the Valley needs a serious amount of TLC, and sorting stuff like this would be a start

MuttleyCAFC

I suppose the club can view itself as fortunate and an urgent check is going to be required before the next game.

Fumbluff

Has anyone asked Matt on Twitter if he’s checked all the fixtures/fittings for safeties? Nobody will be making jokes if one of the rusty old PA speakers drops on somebody....

shine166

jacob_CAFC said:

This never happened under Roland

Shame it didn't happen above him 

T_C_E

Hartleypete said:

Isi is it big Tones responsibility, hope so, sacking offence in my book😜

I think it’s only fair we remain impartial on this and if it is tones responsibility I’m happy to sit on on an independent review panel to make sure he gets a fair hearing.

Taxi_Lad

Definitely not plastic @Henry Irving
it happened near us and I saw it falling and landing before coming to rest by the gate. It had a huge dent in it. Probably was not that heavy, maybe aluminium 

guinnessaddick

shine166 said:

jacob_CAFC said:

This never happened under Roland

Shame it didn't happen above him 

Pretty sure Roland has never been in the east stand.

seth plum

We are assured (previously) that there is an alternative audible PA system to use in emergencies. The inaudible system is the one in general use.
Maybe there is an alternative lighting system to use after all the other lights fall on us.

oohaahmortimer

Rothko said:

I'll keep saying it, but the Valley needs a serious amount of TLC, and sorting stuff like this would be a start

Well are ESI gonna pay for it or Roland ?? 

seth plum

In Theatres lights have safety chains along with the usual brackets to prevent the whole light falling on audience members.

thai malaysia addick

shine166 said:

jacob_CAFC said:

This never happened under Roland

Shame it didn't happen above him 

That’s why he never came

swords_alive

I'll keep saying it, but the Valley needs a serious amount of TLC, and sorting stuff like this would be a start

Yes, priority for stuff like this. But there's also at least one toilet door in an east stand gents with no lock on, which can be no fun for anyone desperate enough to need a crap.
And the taps are too powerful and at least one does not turn off. Shody and unnecessary.

Tom_Hovi

swords_alive said:

I'll keep saying it, but the Valley needs a serious amount of TLC, and sorting stuff like this would be a start

Yes, priority for stuff like this. But there's also at least one toilet door in an east stand gents with no lock on, which can be no fun for anyone desperate enough to need a crap.
And the taps are too powerful and at least one does not turn off. Shody and unnecessary.

The whole place exudes an air of tired-ness and looks in desperate need of some money being spent on it. There are at least a dozen floodlights out in the array above the West Stand, presumably a similar number above the East. When (if) ESI take possession of the ground, then let’s hope we’ll see some improvements. Yesterday’s incident could have been nasty - serious injury, loss of life even - and it was pure luck that it didn’t. HSE will doubtless have something to say about it.

E_cafc

A week earlier and the outcome doesn't bear thinking about. That's the only positive.  

Rothko

Tom_Hovi said:

swords_alive said:

I'll keep saying it, but the Valley needs a serious amount of TLC, and sorting stuff like this would be a start

Yes, priority for stuff like this. But there's also at least one toilet door in an east stand gents with no lock on, which can be no fun for anyone desperate enough to need a crap.
And the taps are too powerful and at least one does not turn off. Shody and unnecessary.

The whole place exudes an air of tired-ness and looks in desperate need of some money being spent on it. There are at least a dozen floodlights out in the array above the West Stand, presumably a similar number above the East. When (if) ESI take possession of the ground, then let’s hope we’ll see some improvements. Yesterday’s incident could have been nasty - serious injury, loss of life even - and it was pure luck that it didn’t. HSE will doubtless have something to say about it.

The whole floodlight system needs replacing, it would need ripping out lock stock in the Premier League, but it’s one of a lot of things that make the place just look unloved 

SoundAsa£

Rothko said:

I'll keep saying it, but the Valley needs a serious amount of TLC, and sorting stuff like this would be a start

Has all the pigeon shit been cleaned off the staircases at the rear of The West Stand, was absolutely disgusting last time I had the occasion to use one.

BrentfordAddick

Was thinking yesterday that the microphone above the Covered End was swinging about a lot in the wind and isn't safety-chained and wouldn't pass inspection in a theatre. Southall out.

SoundAsa£

Rothko said:

Tom_Hovi said:

swords_alive said:

I'll keep saying it, but the Valley needs a serious amount of TLC, and sorting stuff like this would be a start

Yes, priority for stuff like this. But there's also at least one toilet door in an east stand gents with no lock on, which can be no fun for anyone desperate enough to need a crap.
And the taps are too powerful and at least one does not turn off. Shody and unnecessary.

The whole place exudes an air of tired-ness and looks in desperate need of some money being spent on it. There are at least a dozen floodlights out in the array above the West Stand, presumably a similar number above the East. When (if) ESI take possession of the ground, then let’s hope we’ll see some improvements. Yesterday’s incident could have been nasty - serious injury, loss of life even - and it was pure luck that it didn’t. HSE will doubtless have something to say about it.

The whole floodlight system needs replacing, it would need ripping out lock stock in the Premier League, but it’s one of a lot of things that make the place just look unloved 

Makes me hopping mad how it was, as you so rightly say, unloved.
God what an absolute arsehole Duchatalet was.....never should have been allowed to come within a million miles of us or any other club come to that, the nightmare still lives on in so many ways.