Re-opening of the Sunday services at Westminster Baptist following the coronavirus lockdown: risk assesment output and gudiance for attendees

​1 July 2020, updated 21 August and 14 September

 The purpose of this Risk Assessment is:- 

1. To prevent the spread of Covid 19 by reducing or controlling potential risks (as listed below)
2. To promote the safety of individuals attending Westminster Baptist Church
3. To enable those attending to feel safe and confident with the arrangements
4. To comply with government guidelines for places of worship
   
   

Potential Risks-

Worshippers coming into contact with Coronavirus Sufferers

• Persons should not attend the chapel if they are suffering from raised temperature, new persistent cough, loss of taste or smell or other respiratory infection or if they are contacts of anybody with Coronavirus. The services will continue to be livestreamed for those who are unwell, vulnerable or in a household that is self-isolating.

• Others who have to use public transport to travel to the church will have the livestream available should it be safer for them to listen from home.

Services 

• Individuals can now attend the in-person services without booking but we will required both a name and contact details. We have a maximum capacity that if reached we will have to refuse entry but given the size of the building compared to the congregation this is unlikely at this time.

• All individuals will be requried to wear a face mask unless they are leading the service at a distance from the congregation, and unless they have a medical exemption.

 

• Congestion should be avoided in entrance and aisles. There will be a door steward who can direct you to an appropriate seat if needed and you are asked to maintain one metre plus distance from other groups in selecting a seat. It may be necessary to wait in a socially distanced queue outside the church as people enter the church.

 

• A one-way system will operate to avoid the need to pass other people. Only one outer door will be open on arrival at the side of the church (the blue door). The congregation will leave by the main entrance using the left door when facing the back of the church.*

 

• Door stewards can give directions to the individual toilets.

 

• To enable the 2 metre social distancing rule to be observed during the services it will not be possible to use all seats. The resultant maximum capacity of the main sanctuary is 35 persons in the church. This may be revised upwards as we refine our social distancing measures. The balcony will be used for those involved in streaming the services.

 

• Households will be asked to sit together.

 

• If children need to leave the service, they should be taken by an adult from their household to the downstairs Bible Study room where social distancing should be observed and only toys brought from home can be used. Other than this the downstairs hall and kitchen will be out of bounds for all non-church officers, and those who have been given specific jobs as stewards or cleaners.

• At the conclusion of the meeting the congregation will be asked to leave the building  swiftly as directed in a socially distanced manner. When outside you are asked to not gather in groups but leave the entrance area so people can exit without any difficulty and disperse to avoid gather in groups of over six people in accordance with the latest guidance. A steward will be outside to request you do not gather in groups.

Cross-contamination from Surfaces

• Hand sanitiser will be provided by the door stewards to be used by every person on entering and leaving the chapel.

• Chapel hymnbooks or Bibles will no longer be provided. Worshippers are welcome to bring their own Bibles provided they take them home after each service.

• All personal belongings will need to be removed from seats after the service.

• The small library will not be available before, during and after services.

• The kitchen will be out of bounds apart from cleaners and church officers under the current restrictions.

• In accordance with government guidelines no food or drink will be allowed in the services. Sweets will not be distributed to children during this pandemic.

• Wipes will be provided so the rear toilets can be cleaned after each use. DO NOT THROW THE WIPES IN THE TOILET BUT IN THE BIN (OTHERWISE THE TOILET WILL GET BLOCKED). Please could adults from the same household escort children under 12 to ensure this is carried out.

• Pew ledges, toilets, door handles and other contamination points will be cleaned after each service. Named people will have the responsibility for each section.

Enhanced Airborne Transmission of the Virus
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• In accordance with government guidelines we are not currently singing as a congregation. This may change if further guidance is issued.

 
*ln emergency this instruction will be superseded by the need to leave by the nearest available fire exit.
 This Risk Assessment will be subject to continuous review in the light of prevailing guidelines and local circumstances. 
It is hoped that these arrangements will only be necessary for a short period and that there will be a gradual lifting of the restrictions.