Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but with the special events and services, extra visitors and festive decorations in your church, it can mean a little extra planning in order to keep everyone safe.
Christmas lights can look lovely in your church but may introduce additional risks that need managing. Lights should be checked for defects and ensure power leads and cables do not pose a trip hazard.
Read more about electrical safety.
If your church has a tree, locate it well away from candles, ensure it is securely mounted to prevent it from falling over and make sure that the tree doesn’t block any exit routes from the building; this should be considered as part of your fire risk assessment.
Candles are an important part of worship at this time of year. We have developed helpful guidance on their safe use, setting out some simple measures churches should consider. Find out more about the safe use of cndles.
Extra lights, candles and Christmas trees can do wonders in making your church look festive but can also increase the fire risk. We recommend reviewing your fire risk assessment in advance. Find out more about fire safety considerations and download our fire risk assessment form.
Many churches hold special services, events, and concerts at Christmas. Most of the time, such activities represent little or no additional risk. However, larger events can present additional or more significant risks.
Consider any additional precautions that might be necessary. These will reflect the size and nature of the event, the size and location of your church or other venue, the number of volunteers involved, the number of visitors you expect to attend, and the nature of the activities involved in the event itself.
Preparing your church for the celebrations may mean completing tasks at height, for example, putting up lights or other decorations.
Our working at height information has plenty of tips on ensuring those helping this way are kept safe.
Slips and trips are the most common causes of injury in churches. During wintry weather, keep your visitors safe by maintaining footpaths and steps.
Our slips and trips guidance has tips on how to protect people at your church.