Worship services Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• 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.
• Traffic and parking areas — Create a marked pedestrian route, use cones for drop-off, enforce 5-mph site speed, and post stewards at peak times with high-vis. Illuminate car park, grit in icy weather, and reserve bays near entrance for disabled users. Close gates when full to prevent reversing risks.
• 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.
• 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.