St Saviour's Church

Health and Safety

Health and Safety Policy

Fire and Emergency

·       The maximum capacity of the Church, is considered to be 280 with chairs, or 450 standing without tables or chairs, provided:

·       All emergency exit doors are clear of obstructions. Before allowing access to the public into the Church:

1.     The outer front doors to the main exit are secured in the open position.

2.     The side exit, both locks, are unlocked.

3.     The car park gate is unlocked.

·       The use of the emergency exits will be checked prior to every Service to ensure the exits are clear and safe for use.

·       The inner doors out of the Church whenever a Service or activity takes place with over 60 people present are:

1.     Secured in the open position

2.     Or Fire Wardens positioned to urgently open the doors in an emergency.

·       Fire Wardens are positioned next to the outer emergency exit doors and trained so that the outer door is immediately and urgently opened in the event of an emergency. The bolts are always open.

·       Fire Wardens or helpers ensure that buggies, pushchairs and similar are only placed in designated areas and all exit routes are kept clear of these and other obstructions.

·       During services involving the carrying of candles at least 3 Fire Blankets are immediately available to persons competent in their use (Fire Wardens).

·       Pending installation of emergency lighting, torches are provided to Fire Wardens during services after dusk to provide adequate lighting for evacuation of the main body of the Church should there be a power failure.

·       The Duty Manager for the service is responsible for ensuring all Emergency Exit routes are clear of obstructions and instantly useable.

·       The Vestry exit cannot be used by a severely ambulatory disabled person without assistance. Helpers of ambulatory disabled persons are to be advised that assistance will be required should an unplanned escape be necessary and if they cannot walk down the steps, then they may be left in the Vestry to wait for rescue by the Emergency Services. When known ambulant disabled persons are present the portable ramp will be deployed by the Fire Wardens to the front step when needed.

·       The maximum capacity of the Sunday School Room is considered to be 30 if standing without tables or chairs, or 20 if seated.

The above upper limits are provided all emergency exit routes are available and clear of obstructions.

·       The Group Leader is responsible for:

o   Ensuring all emergency exit doors and firefighting equipment are not obstructed when the building is occupied and;

o   For keeping a register of their Group, and ensuring all are safe following any emergency evacuation.

The Assembly point is the lamp post on the pavement outside the Church on Hanley Road. All key personnel are advised of its location and the need to report to the Incumbent at this location should an unplanned escape be necessary. There is no requirement for members of the public/ congregation to assemble here, unless requested to do so by their own Group leader.

Facility Management

·       Ground Salt is provided in the garage, and moved to the point of need using a spreader trolly. Ground salt is spread prior to, and during icy weather on entry and exit routes to the public footpath.

·       Parking is limited to the Church car park during the week, and on street parking within the limits of those imposed by the local authorities at weekends. Weekend use of the car park is limited to residents and their guests, the Clergy, and any person specifically authorised by the Vicar.

·       The Main Hall is out of use until renovated. The front rooms are in use.

·       The Offices in the Church are rented, and the Tenants are responsible for their own risk assessments and their own equipment.

·       The Kitchen in the vicarage is out of bounds to all children under the age of 12, and to those from 12 to 16 unless closely supervised by a responsible adult.

·       The Kitchenette in the Church is out of bounds to all children under the age of 12, and to those from 12 to 16 unless closely supervised by a responsible adult.

Equality

·       Escape from the Church stepped emergency exit will require Fire Wardens assistance for those unable to use steps.

·       A portable ramp will be deployed at the secondary exit of the Church if necessary in an emergency where Mobility Impaired persons require assistance. Fire Wardens are aware of and able to assist with escape when necessary.

·       A reserved space can be made available on request in the Church car park for the use of a severely mobility impaired driver. Where this is required for a passenger a drop off point can be made available and parking will be on-street within the limitations of the local authority.

First Aid

·       First aid boxes are kept in the Church kitchen for use by those using Church, and the Vicarage kitchen for those using the Vicarage. The Church Policy is that the Welcome Team, Duty Manager, and the Priests are aware of the location of first aid facilities in the Church, and Group Leaders are required to know the location in the Vicarage. Visitors to the Church and Hall complex will be permitted to use them on a self-help basis unless a willing trained first aider is present who will then administer first aid as required.

·       Accidents and near misses will be recorded in the Church accident sheets, and the Operations Manager will monitor the registers and ensure first aid boxes are kept up to date to BS8599-2019 standard.

·       Completed accident sheets will be removed and given to Operations Manager for investigation and long-term filing.

Electricity

·       Any equipment which is used in any building is required to have passed a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) within the past 12 months, or lesser time if high risk equipment.

·       Any new equipment will assume to have been tested by the manufacturer for the first year.

This will be written into the tenancy agreement for the Church.

COSHH (Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health)

·       Only hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial / viral spray, and washing up liquid are allowed in public places for everyday use, plus dish washer tablets in the Church kitchen area. All other COSHH related substances, including cleaning products will be secured preventing unauthorised use. Only the Operations Manager, or someone authorised by the Operations Manager will be given access, and permission to use the other COSHH related substances.

·       Where a fridge or freezer is provided for use of visitors then it will be maintained to current standards. This includes monitoring the temperature to ensure it does not rise above 5oC (fridge) or minus 15oC (freezer) for more than a few minutes after opening for access.

·       A system to ensure no perishable food or drink are left in the fridge/freezer after the user has vacated the premises has been adopted.

·       If any shower, tap, or toilet are unused for more than 1 month the water will be run for at least 5 minutes, and the toilet flushed.

Asbestos

·       Any suspected asbestos identified in any Church building will be sampled and analysed by a company competent to do so. It is then controlled or removed as appropriate. Until analysis is completed, if the risk is considered to be significant then the area will be sealed and put out of bounds.

·       Any contractors working in the areas where there is known or suspected ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials) will be informed of the hazard and this will be documented in the Permit to Work issued to them by the Incumbent, or their representative.

·       The asbestos register is consulted before contractors are permitted to carry out work to ensure they do not disturb it without suitable precautions.

Contractors

·       The standing policies are considered to be adequate for this section.

·       These include:

o    The need to ensure contractors are suitably qualified/competent to carry out the work.

o   The need to discuss Health and Safety with the contractor prior to them starting work.

o   The need to document any identified hazards, and who will be responsible for minimising the risk from those hazards. (Permit to work)

·       Policy is that if any significant risks are identified then a Permit to work will always be raised.

Manual Handling

·       To reduce the Risk of injury from the moving, placement and removal of music equipment in the Church no person who has not had manual handling training will be permitted to move the heavier items that require 2 hands to move.

·       To reduce the Risk of injury from the placement on and removal from shelving, or the moving of bulky, awkward or heavy loads the physical and mental condition of the person moving the items will be taken into account before asking them to perform that task. Despite their willingness, they will not be permitted to move the item if they are not considered to be competent.

·       As a general rule no item that cannot be lifted by one hand will be stored on a shelf above shoulder height unless there is a safe means of placement and removal, and the risk of it falling is very low. A step ladder is not considered a safe means of placement of heavy or bulky items.

Working at Height

·       Working at height is not allowed if there is a safer reasonable alternative.

·       The use of ladders is only permitted with the authority of the Operations Manager or his representative.

·       Permission will not be granted unless the person is deemed competent to use the ladder. Competence can be demonstrated through a variety of means including practical and theoretical knowledge, training and experience.

·       Permission will not be granted unless that ladder is the most appropriate equipment to access the height where work is to be carried out, the work is low risk, and of less than 30 minutes duration.

·       No person will work up a ladder unless a second person is supervising/ helping, and the ladder has been checked to ensure it is undamaged and fit for purpose.

·       Ladders will be secured to prevent unauthorised access and use.

·       The maintenance of the low level lighting in the Church and Hall will be by accessed by ladder with consideration to the above policies.

·       The high level lights are changed via a tower following a Risk Assessment to ensure competency. This is strictly controlled by the Operations Manager who will only give authority to those who have received appropriate training and information and are deemed competent to do so.

·       All bulbs are changed on a planned maintenance programme, and where possible to LED equivalents to reduce the frequency of working at height.

Young Persons

  • No person under the age of 18 are currently employed, voluntary or paid.

  • Should a young person (16-17 years old) be employed / volunteer working /Work experience, a basic risk assessment will be completed.

·       Should a Child (under 16) be employed / volunteer working /Work experience, a risk assessment will be completed, and parental permission obtained.

Training

·       Only persons trained and experienced in its use may operate machinery or any item where inexperience or lack of training may lead to an injury such as floor scrubbers/ petrol driven devices etc. Authority must be given by the Operations Manager, or their representative before allowing use of hazardous equipment.

·       Safe operating instructions will be made available via Manufacturers handbooks, or locally produced work instructions; or on-the-job training will be given.

Miscellaneous

Lone Working

Lone working is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

·       If Lone working is unavoidable the Operations Manager or nominated person will do a check at the end of the working day to ensure no person who is known to have been working alone is still in a Church building but have safely vacated it. Where keys have been issued then a check to see if they have been returned will suffice.

·       Should it be suspected that a person may still be in the building an attempt to phone the individual will be made or, if necessary, a physical check of the building.

·       All persons working alone will be required to carry a working mobile phone.

·       No person, despite the above, will be permitted to work alone if the task is considered to be of a significant risk eg working up the Tower, or with heavy equipment.

Storage

·       Storage areas are to be kept accessible, clean and tidy, and items no longer required will be disposed of. Electrical distribution cupboards will only be used for storage if space permits them to be sufficiently segregated from the electrical supply, preferably in metal containers, and the items are stored in such a way as they do not supply accelerants to potential electrical fires. Wet items will not be stored in Electrical Distribution cupboards.

·       No item that cannot be lifted with one hand will be stored above shoulder height unless suitable and sufficient means of placement and removal is provided, and the risk of that item falling is very low.

Pregnant workers / volunteers

·       No work activity has been identified which will require additional risk assessment if carried out by an employee or volunteer who is a female of child bearing age. Should an employee or volunteer inform the Parish Priest, or his representative, that they are pregnant, have given birth recently, or are breast feeding, the risks from current activities are not considered to increase significantly.

·       However, should any activity be identified via risk assessment where the risk would increase because of pregnancy, recent child birth, or breast feeding, then a new specific risk assessment will be completed for that activity and appropriate changes to protect the mother and child will take place.

Stress

·       Where any employee or volunteer experiences any stress related issues, whether or not that issue is related to work carried out in the Parish, the Church Leader will listen and advise on measures to resolve or reduce stress. Where it is related to work in the Parish, they will take action as far as is reasonably practicable, to reduce or eliminate the situation which has caused or increased that stress.

·       The Diocese have resources which can be accessed at https://www.london.anglican.org/clergy-wellbeing/

 

This policy was last updated in April 2023