CANDLES/ THURIBLEEXAMPLERISK ASSESSMENT
Assessment by (Name/ Role): / ------enter name of person completing form ------Parish/ Building: / ------enter your Parish name ------
Date of assessment: / Date for periodic review: / - - usually annually, set/ enter a date for review - -
Hazard description / Who might be harmed
How is that harm brought about / What we should be doing now
(existing controls) / What else could we do?
(additional controls required?) / By whom / By when / Action completed
Y/N?
Use of candles in stands, holders and similar.
Also see ‘Fire Safety (General)’ Risk Assessment for further control measures. / Anyone in one of our parish buildings could suffer minor to fatal injuries from fire started by naked flame.
Injuries from minor wax on skin burns to fatality from property fire. / Identify location and use of candles i.e. static or mobile during services in each Parish.
Check that the sanctuary lamp is securely fixed and the fitting is in good condition or if free standing, is not in close proximity to anything else. If not renew.
Static candles must be placed upon/ in secure non-combustible stands away from drapes and other things which may catch fire.
Votive Candle stands (without an incorporated waste tray to catch falling debris) to stand upon steel or fire retardant base so falling debris cannot burn flooring.
Candle debris is regularly cleared.
The dedicated stand should ideally be a proprietary tiered design and have predetermined placement for candles to avoid flames merging. / Check all items in ‘What we should be doing’ column are done. / FR JOHN SMITH / MONTHLY CHECKING / ONGOING
Fire Blanket or suitable fire extinguisher should be readily available for use in case of fire spread. / FR JOHN SMITH / WITHIN 2 WEEKS / Y
Consider whether it’s necessary to extinguish candles (other than the sanctuary lamp) when leaving church unattended for long periods of time (with a snuffer or metal spoon; don’t blow out). Allocate a person to this role. / FR JOHN SMITH & SHIRLEY BASSEY (VOLUNTEER) ALLOCATED TO EXTINGUISH CANDLES. / ON CHURCH CLOSURE/ OR WHEN UNATTEND-ED / Y
ONGOING
If Parish building is to remain unlocked and a local threat of arson is suspected, contact the Diocesan H&S Co-ordinator so additional controls can be discussed. / FR JOHN SMITH TO CONTACT PROPERTY SERVICES OR H&S COORDINATOR / WHEN SITUATION ARISES / Y ONGOING
Use of hand held candles. / Anyone coming into accidental contact with flame, hot wax could sustain skin burn, or react by dropping candle onto their person, another person, or other flammable material. / Handheld candles must be provided within appropriate holder to reduce risk of hot wax falling onto skin.
Identify if additional, portable Fire Blanket or Extinguishers should be available near-by for use e.g. for Easter Vigil and other larger services, or if there are ample provisions already in place.
Allocate a person to think about use of candles and set control measures for other events such as use of candles by children. / Check all items in ‘What we should be doing’ column are done. / FR JOHN SMITH / BEFORE EACH USAGE/ SERVICE / Y
ONGOING
At larger services such as Easter Vigil it would be prudent to give safety direction/ instruction to members of the congregation using handheld candles i.e. recommend standing or sitting at a safe distance from the next person, not holding candles near hair or clothing etc. / FR JOHN SMITH / AT BEGINNING OF SERVICE / Y
ONGOING
Visual check by appointed person(s) that candles are being used safely and all candles have beenextinguished appropriately. / VOLUNTEER SHIRLEY BASSEY / VISUAL CHECKS DURING SERVICE / Y
ONGOING
Consider whether a sand bucket or appropriate method is required for parishioners to discard handheld candles safely after service. / SAND BUCKET KEPT AVAILABLE, PLACEMENT MUST NOT CAUSE TRIP HAZARD.
PLACEMENT BY DAVID WILLIAMS BEFORE SERVICE. / BEFORE SERVICE BEGINS / Y
ONGOING
Paschal Candle. / Primarily the responsible adult in control of Paschal Candle, who lights, extinguishes, or manoeuvres with it.
Also any other person coming into contact with Paschal Candle formally or accidentally, or in the vicinity of a fire caused by Paschal Candle flame.
Injuries from minor wax on skin burns to fatality from property fire. / Paschal Candle lit and extinguished by a nominated responsible adult with clear instruction on the process involved.
Only Clergy carry the candle and only Senior Server or Clergy lift/ place candle into stand. / Young servers should not extinguish the Paschal Candle unless they are of appropriate height and physical ability, and have a clear understanding of process (while it’s difficult to set/ suggest an appropriate age, Parish discretion should be used to judge competency of servers). / FR JOHN SMITH/ DEACON TOM JONES TO APPOINT A SENIOR SERVER CAPABLE OF TASK. / BEFORE SERVICE BEGINS WITH NOTICE GIVEN SO PREPARATION CAN BE MADE (I.E. TRAINING) / Y
ONGOING
Use of Thurible / Anyone coming into accidental contact with hot Thurible or hot charcoal debris.
Hot Thurible or charcoal debris could make contact with flammable material resulting in uncontrolled fire. / Ensure Thurible fit for purpose and in good condition.
Only a competent/ responsible person to use Thurible.
Ensure persons using Thurible have been shown how to use it so they do not to burn themselves or set alight surrounding property or persons. Ensure that those who prepare the Thurible with hot charcoals are responsible and know what they are doing.
Suitable ‘getting rid’ process for charcoals after use… i.e. not putting them straight into the bin before they have cooled properly. / Check all items in ‘What we should be doing’ column are done. / FR JOHN SMITH / SIMPLE VISUAL INSPECTION DURING EACH USE
Ensure safe placement of Thurible after use/ when cooling. As with candles, keep away from flammable materials, ensure base is secure and cannot topple, and place upon a non-combustible base so debris cannot scorch or set alight to flooring. / PERSON USING/ IN CHARGE OF USING THURIBLE. / AFTER EACH USE / Y
ONGOING
The risk assessment provided should be used as a guide to prompt further thought on Diocesan hazards and how they can be controlled in our Parishes/ properties/ grounds. The pre-written information has been offered so it can be added to, to make parish/ area-specific and should not be considered an exhaustive list. In unedited form it may not effectively control all Diocesan/ Parish risks.
For further advice contact the Clifton Diocese Property Services Department, Alexander House, 160Pennywell Road, Bristol, BS5 0TX.
0117 9025592 health&
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RA Template approved Sept 2015