Worship services Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Weather exposure outside — Check forecast, provide a sheltered queue route, and set a heat/cold threshold for relocating or shortening outdoor elements. Offer water in hot weather, advise warm layers in winter, grit paths in frost, and move elderly/vulnerable inside promptly if conditions deteriorate.
• 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.
• Hot drinks service — Use lidded urns on stable surfaces with cord protection, provide heat-resistant gloves, and create a ‘‘service only’’ zone separated from queues. Fill cups away from passing children, decant near-boiling water slowly, and keep a burns kit and first-aider present at refreshments.
• Candles and open flames — Use enclosed holders on stable surfaces, keep flammables 1 metre away, place drip trays, and assign a verger to light and snuff. Provide sand bucket/extinguisher nearby, never leave lit candles unattended, and limit numbers during processions with adult supervision.
• 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.