Church Health & Safety Policy with guidance notes - Ecclesiastical ...

CHURCH – HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY & GUIDANCE NOTES 3This document has been produced byEcclesiastical to help you draw up yourown Health and Safety PolicyChurches are not exempt from health and safetylegislation. Local Authority Environmental HealthOfficers are specifically charged with enforcinghealth and safety legislation in churches.The Health and Safety Executive haveadvised that it is good practice for volunteersto be provided with the same level of healthand safety training and protection as if theywere employees. This means that churchesshould follow exactly the same regulations toensure the health and safety of volunteersand other persons using the church as ifthey were employees.Following the enclosed guidance will help toensure that you will have done all you needin order to satisfy the Environmental HealthOfficer should one call.We would suggest that you appoint someonewith responsibility for health and safety, andpossibly set up a sub-committee under theguidance of the Parochial Church Council.Then work through the outline health andsafety policy. Remember, this document isintended as a guide only. It is your policy. Youwill need to insert the details applicable toyour own church, delete parts that are notapplicable, and amend or add others.What does the law require?The law only requires those who employ fiveor more people to have a written health andsafety policy. This will not apply to the majorityof churches. However, you are required tomake adequate arrangements for health andsafety, and the easiest way to do this is to setthese out in writing.For every hazardous activity you undertake,you should have a written procedure.Remember the Health and Safety Executivesays that measures need only be matchedto the levels of risk. It may only be possibleto decide on your procedures once you havecarried out a risk assessment.The law only requires written risk assessmentswhere five or more people are employed,and then only the significant findings have tobe recorded.However, you need to ensure that your churchis safe, and the easiest way to do this is tocarry out systematic risk assessments of eachpart of the church and each activity.To help you do this, guidance is given on howto undertake risk assessments and how torecord them.A general risk assessment pro-forma isenclosed. Copy this form as often as you need.Further help and informationA number of detailed guidance notes arealso available from Ecclesiastical. Theseare available from your Insurance Consultantand Surveyor, by calling our Direct CommercialDepartment on: 0845 777 3322 or on ourwebsite www.ecclesiastical.comIf you have any queries at all, pleasecontact us or your local EcclesiasticalInsurance Consultant and Surveyor forhelp and guidance.