COVID-19 Risk Assessment for re-opening Village and Community Halls and special hiring conditions– September 2020


Important Notes:

The COVID-19 Risk Assessment may need to be updated in the light of any new government advice that may be forthcoming.

This document should be read in conjunction with relevant legislation and guidance issued by government and local authorities.

 

·       The Hall is run by a group of Volunteers making up the Trustee Committee. A sub group of this committee has carried out this Risk Assessment.

·       There are no full-time employees of the Hall. It is impractical for the Hall to be cleaned before and after every group that uses the Hall.

·       Special COVID-19 hiring conditions have been issued to all users of the Hall (reproduced below); these require users to take their own cleaning precautions before and after use.


Users must carry out their own Risk Assessments about the use of the Hall and submit these to the Committee before hiring the Hall. If they have any doubts about safety of using the Hall they should not hire the Hall at the present time until they have satisfied themselves about any residual risks.



Special Conditions of Hire during COVID-19 – from September 2020


Note: These conditions are supplemental to, not a replacement for, the hall’s ordinary conditions of hire.

 

SC1:

You, the hirer, will be responsible for ensuring those attending your activity or event comply with the COVID-19 Secure Guidelines while entering and occupying the hall, as shown on the  poster above which is also displayed at the hall entrance, in particular using the hand sanitiser supplied when entering the hall and after using tissues.

 

SC2:

You undertake to comply with the actions identified in the hall’s risk assessment above.

 

SC3:

You will be responsible for cleaning door handles, light switches, window catches, equipment, toilet handles and seats, wash basins and all surfaces likely to be used during your period of hire before other members of your group or organisation arrive and to keep the premises clean through regular cleaning of surfaces during your hire, paying particular attention to wash hand basins and kitchen sinks (if used), using either the products supplied (which will be in a clearly accessible location) or your own ordinary domestic products. You will be required to clean again on leaving. You should not touch or close the curtains.

       

Please take care cleaning electrical equipment.  Use cloths - do not spray!

 

SC4:

You will make sure that everyone likely to attend your activity or event understands that they MUST NOT DO SO if they or anyone in their household has had COVID-19 symptoms in the last 7 days, and that if they develop symptoms within 7 days of visiting the premises they MUST use the Test, Track and Trace system to alert others with whom they have been in contact.

 

SC5:

You will keep the premises well ventilated throughout your hire, with windows and doors open as far as convenient. You will be responsible for ensuring they are all securely closed on leaving.

 

SC6:

You will ensure that no more than 6 people attend your activity/event, in order that social distancing can be maintained. You will ensure that everyone attending maintains 2m social distancing while waiting to enter the premises, and as far as possible observes social distancing of 1m plus mitigation measures when using more confined areas (e.g. moving and stowing equipment, accessing toilets) which should be kept as brief as possible. You will make sure that no more than ONE PERSON uses the toilets at any one time.

 

SC7:

You will take particular care to ensure that social distancing is maintained for any persons aged 70 or over or likely to be clinically more vulnerable to COVID-19, including for example keeping a 2m distance around them when going in and out of rooms and ensuring they can access the toilets, kitchen or other confined areas without others being present.  For some people, passing another person in a confined space is less risky, but for older people that should be avoided.

 

SC8:

You will position furniture or the arrangement of the room as far as possible to facilitate social distancing of 2m between individual people, seating side by side, with at least one empty chair between each person, rather than face to face.  If tables are being used, you will place them so as to maintain a distance of at least 2 metres across the table between people who are face to face e.g. using a wide U-shape.

 

SC9:

You are asked to keep a record of the name and contact telephone number or email of all those who attend your event for a period of 3 weeks after the event and provide the record to NHS Track and trace if required.

 

SC10:

You will be responsible for the disposal of all rubbish created during your hire, including tissues and cleaning cloths, ensuring that rubbish is bagged and taken away (There are no bins on this site)

 

SC11:

You will be responsible, if drinks or food are made, for ensuring that all crockery and cutlery is washed, dried and stowed away. You will bring your own clean tea towels, so as to reduce risk of contamination between hirers, and take them away. We will provide washing up liquid and washing up cloths.

 

SC12:

We will have the right to close the hall if there are safety concerns relating to COVID-19, for example, if someone who has attended the hall develops symptoms and thorough cleansing is required or if it is reported that the Special Hiring Conditions above are not being complied with, whether by you or by other hirers, or in the event that public buildings are asked or required to close again.  If this is necessary, we will do our best to inform you promptly and you will not be charged for this hire.

 

SC13:

In the event of someone becoming unwell with suspected Covid-19 symptoms while at the hall you should isolate them until they can be picked up by family.  Ask others in your group to provide contact details if you do not have them and then to leave the premises, observing the usual hand sanitising and social distancing precautions, and advise them to launder their clothes when they arrive home.  Inform the Committee’s Secretary Kate McDonal by email [hvmhsecretary@gmail.com]

 

 

SC14: Live performances e.g. drama, music is not permitted at present. This is in order to avoid risk of aerosol or droplet transmission. For the same reason you must take steps to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices to each other, e.g. refrain from playing music or broadcasts at a volume which makes normal conversation difficult.

 

SC15:

 Where a group uses their own equipment, you will ensure that any equipment you provide is cleaned before use.