1. HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARENESS TRAINING
Common Sense
UNITED REFORMED CHURCH –WEST MIDLAND SYNOD
PRESENTED BY
NICK GRAY

2. Aims of the session today
Understand what is involved in church Health and Safety
What do we need?
What you need to consider ?
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3. Risk Assessments
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4. What tasks require a Risk Assessments and Why?
Any tasks undertaken need a Risk Assessment from lifting items to control of candles and everything in between
Enables everyone to be aware of Risks
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5. What does an RA do? Help to ensure individuals are aware of Risks
Helps to develop a sense of individual ownership
Allows the same legislation to be applied across the UK
Promotes involvement at all levels of the Church
Promotes continually updating/upgrading standards
Promotes a pro-active rather than re-active approach
Reduces the ‘leave it all to health and safety ’syndrome
Version totally bespoke for West Midland Synod (URC)
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6. The Risk Formula
Severity (of injury) X Likelihood (of the event) = RISK
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7. Tolerable if strictly monitored
Risk Assessment
Name of Person completing Risk Assessment
Dept / Position
School / Building
Date of Assessment
Location/Area
Date for Review
Activity / Details of Assessment
Severity
Likelihood
Risk
Severity = Level of potential Injury
Likelihood = Chance of injury
Severity x Likelihood = Risk
1 No action, delay only
1 Very unlikely
1 - 5
Acceptable
2 First Aid only, minor damage
2 Unlikely
6 - 10
Tolerable if strictly monitored
3 Minor Injury, illness, time off work, damage
3 Possible
but try to improve
4 Major injury, disabling illness, major damage
4 Likely
UNACCEPTABLE
5 Fatality
5 Very Likely - Imminent
PART A:- All staff who work in the area being assessed should complete the box below to confirm they have read and understood the contents of this Risk Assessment
NAME [please print]
DEPT
SCHOOL
DATE
SIGNATURE
NOTES/COMMENTS X =
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8. Risk Assessment (back sheet)
PART B: To be completed by the person carrying out the Risk Assessment
Hazard
Who Is At Risk? How many people affected(estimate)?
Potential Injury
Existing Control Measures
Residual Risk Score
Further controls proposed
Action
Signed Off
Severity
Likelihood
Risk
By Whom
Due Date
Further information
Assessor's Signature
Date
Notes:
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9. Fire
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10. What do you need?
All churches MUST have a Fire Risk Assessment completed within the last 2 years
Points on the Fire Risk Assessment need to have been actioned
Fire Extinguishers positioned in the church building and in date
Clear defined Fire exit routes and marked up
A designated assembly point if the need arises to evacuate the building
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11. Who needs to know? ALL USERS OF THE BUILDING
A contact number must be provided to third party users of the building
An information sheet to be provided to all third party users of what to do and who to contact
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12. Manual Handling
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13. Who does Manual Handling?
Before lifting consider the following;
Task
Individual
Load
Environment
If you lift anything you do Manual Handling !!!
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14. To Prevent injuries from Sprains & Strains
100 kg
Stooping
Twisting
Over-Stretching
Parallel hands & feet..

15. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
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17. What is covered by COSHH
Any items that is covered by COSHH regulations
Items can range from Acids to Bleach
All items need to be secured in locked cabinet (ideally metal) when not in use
Storage cupboard needs to be clearly identified
A Risk Assessment needs to be in place to cover the Risks and control measures in place
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18. Working at Height
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19. What is the problem?
More people are killed from working at height than any other cause when undertaking tasks
WADITW (we’ve always done it that way)
Of course I don’t need anyone to foot the ladder it wont move!!
It’s got to be sorted for Sunday worship!!
THE ANSWER TO ALL THE ABOVE IS NO IT HASN’T IF IT PUTS YOU AT RISK GET HELP!!!!!
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20. What can we do? Avoid: avoid working at height whenever possible;
Prevent: if working at height cannot be avoided, take all reasonable steps to prevent a fall; and
Minimise: where falls cannot be prevented, minimise the distance and consequences of any fall.
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21. Teamwork
No shame in asking or discussing task with other to get alternative view point
NOTE: it is very easy to miss the obvious because it is task you do day in and day out
If you are not sure
Contact Nick Gray or
Barry Goldsby at Synod office
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22. Thank You
Any questions
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