Posted By John Battye
Has anyone any experience with risk assessment for activities in churches, preferably non - conformist churches or "free churches" which are not encumbered with ancient buildings to look after.

I have been appointed health & safety officer for my Church and think I will have to start from "scratch"

Posted By John Murgatroyd
A true believer should put their trust in the Lord.

Posted By Arran Linton - Smith
John,

I have been involved with a major project for one diocese.

When I looked at the risks associated with a church. The worship was only one activity.

Other risk areas should include:

Church maintenance (maintenance service areas are usually quite interesting)
Lone working
Church paths and car parking facilities
Fire safety (particularly arson)
Electrical safety
Food safety
Child safety

In this list I have not included church towers which I have a lot of experience with or even grave yards.

I believe the two highest risk areas are church paths (for claims) and food safety.

Posted By Ken Taylor
The major denominations have produced various guidance documents on health and safety issues so it could be worth contacting them. We have three Anglican chapels among our premises but the risks there have tended to vary from insignificant through general repair and maintenance issues to the performance of plays, musical events and the like. When it comes to any needed work to our historic buildings, the published guidance of English Heritage and requirements of the Planning Authority are major considerations - along with constructive thinking aiming toward modern standards with the constraints of history and duties of H&S legislation.

However, when it comes to modern non-conformist churches, there seems to be a considerable range of activities within their buildings, in hired premises (eg schools) and elsewhere (eg baptisms in swimming pools). I have found lunch clubs, creches, computer workshops, offices, woodworking, line-dancing, etc, etc. In such circumstances, I would suggest using the range of check-lists applicable to other workplaces as quite a lot could be relevant - not forgetting accessibility, of course.

Ken Taylor
(Confirmed non-conformist)

Posted By Geoff Burt
And was there a vertical line on the photo?

Posted By Ian Bruce
Not much experience of safety provision within churches, but do have some experience within a "multi-faith" centre in a prison. Modern building, single storey, lots of chairs rather than pews, alters etc.

Big issues were:
Fire safety - use of candles, josh sticks etc.
Lone working of the "priests" while they prepared services etc.
Violence (surprise, surprise), but this is an issue "on the out" as well where you have all sorts of people accessing the building or grounds.
First aid.

If you have a grave yard, I seem to remember reading somewhere that graves/cripts can hold viral infections or spores that pose a threat to health - this was a feature in SHP about 3 years ago, I think.

Question - is a ghost a hazard, or the result of the realisation of hazard upon an employee or a person affected by your work?

Posted By Arran Linton - Smith
For church towers which have bells that are rung, there must be a safe system of work in place to prevent any one going in to the bell chamber whilst the “bells are up” and if the bells are left up, the ropes must be raised secured with a locking mechanism to prevent non-bell ringer accidentally touching the ropes.