Risk Assessment: COVID-19

Applicable from 14/04/2022

The purpose of this Risk Assessment is to:-

prevent the spread of COVID-19 by reducing or controlling potential risks (as listed below)

promote the safety of individuals attending Bentley Reformed Baptist Church

enable those attending to feel safe and confident with the arrangements

comply with Government guidelines for places of worship

Preparations made for your safety:

Jeremy and Caroline Kent are the “venue managers” for the chapel and surrounding grounds, as defined by the Government guidance.

Potential Risks:

Worshippers coming into contact with COVID-19 sufferers

Persons should not attend the chapel if they are suffering from the symptoms listed below, although we request that you use your own discretion on this:

Adults

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a headache
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling sick or being sick

Children

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a headache
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling sick or being sick
  

Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 whilst at the chapel should go home immediately, and those who have been in contact with them should wash their hands thoroughly. Contact tracing will then come into effect and self-isolation or a rapid test is recommended.

Congestion should be avoided in the foyer or aisle. The kitchen is out of bounds.

We continue to have a reduced number of seats in the chapel, but are no longer observing the 2-metre social distancing rule.

Pairs of people from the same household will be asked to sit together.

If children need to leave the service, they should be escorted by an adult from their household

Cross-contamination from Surfaces

Hand sanitiser will be provided in the foyer to be used by each person on entering and leaving the building or when using the facilities.

Bibles can be provided, if requested. Hymn books and psalters will also be provided.

Maximum ventilation or air filtration via the air conditioning unit, will be employed.

Alcohol sanitiser wipes will be provided so the toilet can be cleaned after each use. Please could adults from the same household escort children under 12 to ensure this is carried out. After using the toilet, wash your hands with soap, dry with the paper towels, and dispose of the towel in the bin provided. Use a wipe to wipe the taps then the seat and put it in the pedal bin provided (not down the toilet). Do not lift the pedal bin lid by hand, for your own safety use the pedal. On exiting the toilet, please use the sanitiser gel.

All personal belongings should be taken home at the end of the service.

A box will be provided in the foyer for cash donations, which will be handled by one individual, and suitably cleaned. Please contact Jeremy or Caroline Kent if you wish to donate on-line.

Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using the hand soap in the washroom and the sanitiser provided.

Avoid touching your face.

Enhanced Airborne Transmission of the Virus

Disposable face masks are available on request (or bring your own), but are not mandatory.

When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or the crook of your sleeved arm (not your hands), and throw the tissue away hygienically immediately afterwards in the pedal bin in the washroom. Then wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds using the hand sanitiser provided.

Weather permitting, we will keep doors and windows open to improve ventilation.

Air-conditioner: we have checked with the manufacturer about the use of the air conditioner should we need to cool/heat the chapel. They have explained that only fresh air from outside the building is introduced into the chapel whilst used air is expelled. The filters in the machine will help to keep the air fresh and clean and we are fully up to date with the servicing schedule.

This Risk Assessment will be subject to continuous review in the light of prevailing guidelines and local circumstances.

The Government notice of withdrawal of the guidance for the safe use of places of worship from 29th March 2022 can be found here: COVID-19 GUIDANCE