Southwell Cathedral Chapter takes the safety and wellbeing of its staff, volunteers, worshipers and visitors very seriously. We have completed comprehensive risk assessments and had them reviewed by an external Health and Safety Consultant. Chapter follows the guidance issued by the Church of England and the Government.
Our risk assessments cover our operating procedures, working practices, workplaces and the Cathedral. We have adopted a number of control measures to manage the risk of Covid-19. Where the risk cannot be controlled to an acceptable level we have closed certain buildings and stopped certain activities.
The following areas have been risk assessed:
• The Cathedral (this includes public acts of worship as permitted by the Church of England, and the Government)
• The Cathedral Shop
• The Minster Centre
• Spaces used by the Cathedral Choir
As a result of the risk assessments, Chapter have implemented (where reasonably practicable) a range of controls which include:
• Where risk of transmission cannot be controlled, buildings and activities have been closed or suspended.
• We have enhanced cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures in line with official guidance in all that we do.
• We have taken all reasonable steps to maintain a 2 metre or 1 metre plus with mitigation for social distance in the workplace. Where social distancing is not always possible, we have put in place measures to manage transmission risk including limiting the number of customers in the Cathedral Shop, there is hand sanitiser, a one way system and sneeze screens.
• Our shop staff wear face covering and we ask the public who come into our shops to wear face coverings.
• All those who enter the Cathedral are asked to wear a face covering unless there is a medical reason not to do so.
• We have increased the level of signage in the Cathedral, workplace and Cathedral Shop to ensure that social distancing and hygiene standards are observed.
• We have provided information, and instruction to all staff and volunteers to ensure they are fully aware of the precautions needed to control transmission.
• We have limited the number of staff working in the Minster Centre, where work can be carried out from home this is positively encouraged.
• As landlords we have completed risk assessments and put up signage relating to the use of communal areas.
• We also monitor the implementation of the controls to ensure compliance. The output is reported to Chapter.
• We collect personal data to support test and trace procedures. Information is retained for 21 days before being destroyed. When deleting or disposing of data, we do so in a way that does not risk unintended access (for example shredding paper documents and ensuring permanent deletion of electronic files).
Chapter will continue to review the impact of local restrictions and lockdowns and will amend risk assessments and guidance to ensure a Covid secure environment is maintained.