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Towards Re-opening of Gurdwaras: Covid-19 Risk Assessment Checklist for Gurdwaras Re-opening in the UK This document provides a risk assessment template / checklist, with links to the relevant advice notes to assess the measures to be put in place. It relates to situations where there is limited access to Gurdwaras for the purposes of private prayer and funerals. The Government has issued guidance on 7th June 2020 that places of worship can open for ‘individual’ prayer on 15th June 2020, and is still to issue further guidance around this. This template relates exclusively to COVID-19 related risks, not general risks, in order to reduce the risks to both Sangat and sevadaars An updated version of this document maybe be produced when the further services (i.e. divans, kirtans, akhand & sehaj paath, langar and other) are permitted. At present no public access is permitted to any place of worship including Gurdwaras except under the 3 limited exceptions allowed under government guidance. As soon as lock down rules change Gurdwara Aid will look to revise this document or issue updates for Gurdwaras to apply. The Risk Assessment checklist below is adapted from one produced by Faith Associates, used with permission. Who makes the decision to re-open Gurdwaras to the wider public? Depending on what the UK governments easing of restriction guidelines are, the ultimate decision lies with the managing trustees and persons who have legal authority over the Gurdwara. • They need to be mindful of their legal responsibility to maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff, volunteers, visitors, and sangat. • Comply with the law and regulations stipulated by either national or local authorities. • To preserve unity as best as possible with local councils, residents and other local bodies. COVID-19 The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia). In some people, the illness may progress to severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a recently discovered virus, first identified in China. Transmission of COVID-19 is now widespread in many countries, including the UK. Page | 1 www.gurdwaraaid.com Version 1.1 - Issued 7th June 2020 How COVID-19 is spread From what we know about other coronaviruses, spread of COVID-19 is most likely to happen when there is close contact (within 2 metres or less) with an infected person. It is likely that the risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person. Respiratory secretions (droplets) containing the virus are likely to be the most important means of transmission; these are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. There are 2 common routes people could become infected: • Secretions can be directly transferred into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (within 2 metres) or possibly could be inhaled into the lungs. • It is possible that someone may become infected by touching a person, a surface or object that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes (such as shaking hands or touching door knobs then touching own face). How long any respiratory virus survives will depend on a number of factors, including, what surface the virus is on and exposure to cleaning products. Under most circumstances, the amount of infectious virus on any contaminated surfaces is likely to decrease significantly over 72 hours. Policies and Procedures Policies and Procedures developed for the Gurdwara during the threat of COVID-19 infection are there to reduce harm by limiting human contact with others and surfaces in the Gurdwara. Completing the Risk Assessment Checklist Go through the checklist, mark up what you need to do, what is not applicable to your Gurdwara and anything for further query. Once you have done this, discuss with your committee, sevadaars or any subcommittee to ensure risk assessment for your Gurdwara has considered all the relevant factors. Draw up a plan / action list with responsibilities and target dates to implement. Please contact us if you need further input and advice at [email protected]. SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT Page | 2 www.gurdwaraaid.com Version 1.1 - Issued 7th June 2020 Risk Assessment Checklist (COVID-19 is present and a risk to life) Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name Section 1. 1a) Entry & Exit Preparation Decide one point of entry & exit to the Gurdwara building, both clearly signposted / marked. It is preferable to have these as separate. Opening times – decide what these should be. Ensure you have sufficient personnel to manage this. 1b) Map out route of Sangat from entry to exit Have you looked at and/or mapped out and documented the route of sangat from entry, jora ghar, darbar hall and any other areas to the exit point. A one way flow of sangat is preferable. Do you know where the hotspots are, where the routes might cross, where the sevadaars should stand? 1c) System to manage numbers i) Flow – constant flow in and out upto to maximum calculated capacity in section 1d. ii) Booking – booking system to pre-book sangat coming to the Gurdwara. iii) Combination – e.g. flow on weekdays and booking over the weekend, or other. iv) Other system – ensure this is risk assessed. Note: The Government announcement on 7th June 2020 has suggested a risk assessment approach to be used to determine maximum capacity (section 1d). The Government will look to issue further guidance. Is the system you use clearly indicated and communicated. Page | 3 www.gurdwaraaid.com Version 1.1 - Issued 7th June 2020 Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name Is there a sevadaar at the entrance with a monitoring/counting device or similar, to monitor the numbers of sangat going inside and coming out, and has the ability to stop sangat going in when the capacity is reached, until sangat come out. 1d) Capacity and access to the Gurdwara Calculate potential maximum usage/capacity with 2-metre distancing rules, allowing space for sangat movement and flow – expect to lose 70-80% capacity of Gurdwara. Clearly indicate your maximum number of people allowed in the Gurdwara at any one time (communicate this to Sangat before opening the Gurdwara). 1e) Signage Mark physical distancing signs on both walls and floors at – Entrances & Exits Darbar hall(s) Corridors Other areas If possible direct all sangat to leave the building by a separate exit, avoiding contact with people coming in. If only door can be used for entrance and exit, have entry and exit managed by a door supervisor. 1f) Restricted Access areas Have you identified and clearly marked out the areas of the Gurdwara where access will be restricted for the time being. Page | 4 www.gurdwaraaid.com Version 1.1 - Issued 7th June 2020 Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name 1g) Sevadaars/volunteers Do you have a volunteer policy? Have you calculated the number of sevadaars that are needed? Do you have a register of volunteers? Do you/have you created a rota system? Do your volunteers need to DBS checked, especially those who come in contact with vulnerable elderly or children. Have sevadaars been trained in the Gurdwara reopening plan, the routes Sangat can follow, restricted areas, what to do if there is medical emergency, dealing with unhappy members of Sangat. Is there a lead appointed for each day the Gurdwara is open who Sevadaars can refer to. How will sevadaars communicate? Check the Gurdwara’s liability insurance to ensure there is adequate cover for the increase in sevadaars. 1h) First Aiders Do you / will you have first aiders on site? Do more individuals need to be trained as first aiders? 1i) Cleaning Gurdwara has had a deep clean with high concentration surface cleaner. Cleaning Protocol Page | 5 www.gurdwaraaid.com Version 1.1 - Issued 7th June 2020 Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name • Always wear disposable gloves while cleaning. • Turn off and unplug all electrical device whilst cleaning. • In a spray bottle, mix 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (or equivalent non-alcoholic alternative) with 30 percent water (per CDC* recommendations). Spray this mixture onto a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the surfaces to be cleaned. • Never spray disinfectant directly onto a device. • While cleaning, pay special attention to the surfaces commonly touched by users, such as handles, switches buttons, touchscreens, tray handles, etc. • Make sure all surfaces have completely air-dried • Discard disposable gloves after each cleaning and wash your hands after removing the gloves. *CDC- Centre for Disease Control All door handles and railings from the perimeter of the Gurdwara to the highest floor of the building. Go floor to floor – is checksheet signed/dated on each floor that there has been a verified clean. Surface clean Microphone, AV system, any screens & noticeboards Surface clean golak, obeisance/mahta tek area. Is there protective sheet or material that can be cleaned easily. Surface clean radiators, benches, shoe racks, remove shoehorns. Surface clean chairs/stools, other seating (for elderly people who cannot stand and are frail) Clean & restrict access to floors & levels deemed out of service Clean & restrict access to meeting, teaching & other rooms to public (lock or tape off) Clean the surfaces of any lifts.

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