Health and Safety
Information to help PCCs ensure that the buildings and the people using them are kept safe
The incumbent and PCC are responsible for keeping their church and churchyard safe for church members and visitors. Achieving this needn't be burdensome: it simply requires PCCs to think things through in a logical way. Some practical points include:
Do follow published guidance on fire safety and means of escape
Consider all floor level changes and steps (including around fonts)
Review ladder access (including to clocks)
Don't ignore long-recognised hazards - you have a duty of care to visitors
Prominently display your church postcode to assist with calls to emergency services
Prominently display details of church officers to contact in an emergency
Don't go overboard! Commercial safety standards are often unreasonable to implement in a historic building. Your church church architect can advise you on what's appropriate.
Risk assessment
There's no simple, standard format for risk assessments: PCCs must identify and address the risks relevant to their particular church and churchyard. The increasing emphasis on wider community use of churches will bring in people who are not familiar with church buildings and associated risks, so PCCs need to be alert.
Further guidance
General
Churchcare - Church of England
Church health and safety policy - Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (EIG)
Risk management - EIG
Churchsafety - Useful, practical consideration of many issues
Risk Assessments
Introduction to how to carry out a risk assessment - Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
Example risk assessment - HSE advice on “village halls” is the nearest equivalent for churches
Suggested risk assessment form (word version) - DAC
Fire
Fire safety - HSE
Electrics
Electrical safety - HSE
Portable Appliance Testing ("PAT testing") - Recommend testing every 12 months)
Using ladders
Vertical ladders - EIG
Other
Construction (Design & Management) ("CDM") - a brief overview from HSE