Every year, a number of accidents occur in churches, church halls and churchyards. Not only does this cause pain and suffering to those who are injured, it can often result in disruption to the smooth running of the church and its various activities.
As well as the possibility that an injured person may look to make a claim against the church for compensation, in some circumstances it may be possible for a criminal prosecution to be brought under health and safety law.
In this context, managing health and safety properly can seem like a daunting task at first. Knowing where to start is a clear challenge, particularly if you are not familiar with what is required. But also knowing if you have done enough is useful if you take your obligations seriously.
Watch our short video to learn more about using our self-assessment tool to help you identify key steps when addressing your church’s health and safety.
A self assessment will help you get started by identifying the steps you might need to take, or simply check the adequacy of what you have already done.
It will also help to pinpoint some of the more common hazards where further action may be necessary. In this context, the question set provided is not exhaustive and you might have to consider other aspects to meet some of the other legal duties you may have. This will depend on your own particular circumstances and the guidance we have prepared will help you decide here.
Answer the 20 questions included in our self assessment questionnaire to find out how safe your church is and what is required from you next.
It is a good idea to review your health and safety arrangements periodically or where circumstances change. It may be useful to re-visit your responses to this questionnaire to help you do this.