A health and safety policy simply needs to set out how you will keep people safe and healthy when engaging with your church or in your church building. This should include information on when risk assessments are needed.
Below is a template for your Health and Safety policy, followed by a list of relevant legislation and guidance that you should be aware of.
NB. The policy template below is in Open Document format (.odt), which can be opened by all popular word processing software (e.g. Microsoft Word).
Downloads & Links:
Health and Safety Legislation and Guidance in Great Britain
Trustees are required by law to have suitable health and safety arrangements in place for the organisation. What is required is set out in the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974.
Information to support trustees in working this out in practice is available via the Health and Safety Executive’s website. In particular, the Health and Safety Executive has published a series of Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs), also known as the L-series. If you follow the practical advice they contain on a specific aspect of safety, you will generally be compliant with your legal duties in that area.
List of ACOPs likely to apply in a church context:
- L5: Control of substances hazardous to health
- L22: Safe use of (work) equipment
- L23: Manual handling
- L24: Workplace health, safety and welfare
- L26: Work with display screen equipment
- L74: First aid at work
- L146: Consulting workers on health and safety
The following ACOPs may also apply, particularly if you are responsible for a building:
- L8: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems
- L56: Safety of gas systems and appliances
- L132: Control of lead at work
- L143: Work with materials containing asbestos
- L153: Managing health and safety in construction (this also applies to maintenance and refurbishment works)
For some churches, the following ACOPs may also be relevant:
- L25: Personal protective equipment at work
- L108: Controlling noise at work
- L113: Safe use of lifting equipment
- L122: Safety of pressure systems
There are also several other pieces of legislation which govern health and safety in Great Britain and do not have an ACOP associated with them:
- Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
These lists are not exhaustive and are provided for information and guidance only. Please ensure you check and confirm all statutory duties that apply to your specific situation. For further help and support, please contact the advice line.
