Worship services Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Communicable disease transmission — Encourage hand hygiene at entrances, improve ventilation, and offer spaced seating options. Provide masks for those who wish to use them, clean high-touch points before/after services, and allow alternative practices for rites involving close contact or shared vessels.
• Building fabric and heritage hazards — Survey for loose stone, low beams, uneven floors, and fragile fixtures; cordon off defects, and schedule repairs via competent contractors. Use ‘‘mind your head/step’’ signage at historic features, keep loft ladders secured, and control public access to restricted areas.
• Slips and trips in public areas — Lay intact entrance mats, tape or reroute trailing leads, fix loose carpets, and clear clutter from aisles. Deploy wet-floor signs during rain, mop and dry promptly, inspect floors pre-service, and provide handrails at changes in level with adequate lux lighting along routes.
• Security and challenging behaviour — Position trained stewards near entrances, maintain clear sightlines, and agree a code word for discreet assistance. Provide de-escalation guidance, keep office access locked, and know when to call police. Avoid physical intervention unless trained and proportionate.
• Crowd movement and congestion — Schedule staggered arrivals and designate ushers to guide flow, keep aisles and doors clear, mark one-way routes where needed, and count capacity vs. safe occupant load. Brief stewards on pinch points, hold back entrances if bottlenecks form, and monitor with radios.