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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
If applicable, clean and remove any movable water fountains/dispensers and close/restrict access to fixed fountains.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
Clean & restrict access to electric sockets to public (to prevent charging of devices)
Clean and restrict touch information screen displays. Update information on them.
1j) Air Conditioning & Ventilation If applicable, check and re service the air conditioning system
Professionally service and receive certificate of service (make sure Air conditioning system is not switched on during opening hours).
To help prevent possible legionnaire’s infection, it’s advised the AC units will be cycled in situ before opening.
If possible, windows and doors to be left open – benefit of this is a reduction of ‘touchpoints’ and increased airflow.
1k) Water / sanitary Ensure water systems are flushed through before use. See Government Guidance for organisations on supplying safe water supplies
1l) Electrical / heating Switch on and check electrical and heating systems if needed.
Professionally service and receive certificate of service.
1m) PPE Equipment Purchasing of PPE equipment for sevadaars, staff - facemasks and gloves (essential), sanitizers.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
Other equipment for consideration: automatic soap dispensers, disposable towels, disposal bags, bins for used PPE
Has training been provided on how to safely and correctly use PPE.
Is it clear where PPE is stored in the building?
Is there a procedure of disposal, and removal of used PPE.
1n) Laundry Are there freshly-washed rumals (male head covering) and chuniya (female head scarves) available each day.
Ask Sangat to bring own head covering.
If using Gurdwara head coverings, use single use / disposable where possible.
If using reusable, is there a return laundry box available for Sangat to place used rumals and chuniya for them to be washed.
Are these washed at high temperatures?
Are chaddars (cloth floor sheets) used, and are these changed daily.
If no chaddars are used, is the floor cleaned and sanitised adequately and regularly. Carpet will harbour the virus and can be difficult to sanitise. You may need another form of floor covering e.g. plastic sheet, disposable sheets, etc.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
Section 2. 2a) Content Communicating Developing content (information and procedures) for the Gurdwara for communication via - Changes of the Website use of the Social Media Platforms – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, WhatsApp Gurdwara Newsletter / email
2b) Notice Boards Information for notice boards and digital signage screen(s).
2c) Signage Signage for helping Sangat flow/ move around the Gurdwara, for directing people away from closed areas and general COVID-19 health and safety advice.
2d) Immediate communication Immediate communication of changes via email database and SMS/social media platforms, directing audience to website or other notice link.
2e) Contacts Update contact numbers of key appointed communication personnel to address any public or statutory enquiries.
2f) External notifications Confirm changes and opening / closing times with your local
Police NHS
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
Council emergency response team/HUB.
2g) Elderly / Vulnerable Sangat Those who have received high risk letters from the government should avoid going to the Gurdwara. The Government have sent around 1.5m of these letters. Communicate this to Sangat.
Prepare a team to respond to elderly members of Sangat, who are deemed by Government guidelines to be vulnerable and should isolate or avoid contact. These sevadaars should be DBS checked to comply with safeguarding laws.
2h) Track & trace Signage encouraging track and trace app download from NHS COVID-19 APP - https://covid19.nhs.uk/Information
Section 3. 3a) Training Safety, escalation Training and Procedure in place for sevadaars/personnel managing entry & exit of Sangat. procedures, Managing crowds at entrances/exits and dealing with unhappy members of Sangat. security and door supervisors, advice 3b) External contractors and training If using external contractors for door supervision, have all necessary PPE and insurance in place before duties commence.
3c) Local contacts Local Police and council emergency Hubs are aware of opening and closing times.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
3d) Good behaviour Clear signage that offensive and threatening behaviour by any member of the public will not be tolerated and will be reported.
3e) Evacuation procedures Queuing, movement, and emergency evacuation protocols in the Gurdwara are clearly defined and agreed with sevadaars/internal staff with regards safety and security.
3f) Visitors Agree protocols for supervised access for non-Sikhs or people unfamiliar with the Gurdwara e.g. media, contractors and similar.
Section 4. 4a) Entrance Specific areas of Is there signage at the entrance door highlighting COVID-19 guidance? the Gurdwara Are the entrance doors permanently open during opening hours to ensure that sangat (congregation) does not touch the handles? If these doors are fire doors, they cannot be left unattended. Any unattended fire doors should not be left open.
Is there a 2m marked queueing system outside the Gurdwara with clear one-way entrance and exit routes?
Is there a sevadaar (volunteer) monitoring the numbers of sangat coming into the Gurdwara at any one time, using a counter or another method?
Is hand sanitiser available at the entrance?
Is there guidance on the screens/notice boards inside?
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
4b) Darbar Hall (Congregation Hall) Clear signage to Sangat to wash/sanitise their hands before entering the Darbar Hall.
Leave entrance doors to the Darbar Hall permanently open during opening times to ensure that Sangat does not touch the handles. If these are fire doors, they should not remain unattended.
2m floor markings to queue before getting to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.
Donations Encourage the sangat to bring their money in an envelope or placed in bank money bags. • Encourage contactless/online/SMS payment where possible. Discourage sangat from bringing any offerings of food or drink items.
Obeisance • Encourage sangat to bow instead of touching the floor with their head (matha tek). • What precautions have you taken to ensure that the area for obeisance/matha tek is sanitised after each person / family to prevent the risk of cross contamination who do matha tek e.g. using a plastic sheet on floor & sanitized after each person/family, or a plastic sheet on a roll or other. • Will you allow Sangat to do parkarma (circumambulation) of Guru Granth Sahib ji? If yes, then what precautions that they do not touch anything, or if no, has this route been restricted?
Queue outside Darbar Hall should follow the Gurdwaras route map of flow of Sangat (Section 1), be marked out with 2m marking system for Sangat to follow.
Refer to route map flow (section 1) of how many and where the sevadaars are placed inside the Darbar Hall.
Is there a 2m marking for seating in/outside Darbar Hall for elderly/disabled.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
During busier times, the Gurdwara may need to apply a strict time restriction for Sangat inside the Darbar Hall to ensure sangat standing outside also have the opportunity to come inside.
Parshaad (blessed sweet) given to Sangat in pre-packed plastic bags – it is preferable for these to be picked up by sangat on the way out.
Sevadaar who is pre-packing the bags of Parshaad should be wearing PPE – gloves & fluid resistant facemask with visor.
4c) Sachkhand (separate room for Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji) On Prakash and Sukhassan, a maximum of 5 Sikhs should be allowed inside. Sangat should be asked to stay outside.
The cleaning regime should also be applied to these areas.
4d) Langar Hall The Langar Hall has a higher airborne and cross contamination risk.
Under current guidance, langar is restricted to langar outreach into the community and langar cannot be served until the Government issues further guidance easing restrictions currently in place.
If the Gurdwara is making langar as part of an outreach project, then langar can be taken away. This should follow the route map for flow of sangat decided in section 1.
4e) Kitchen Under current guidance, langar is restricted to langar outreach into the community and Langar cannot be served until the Government issues further guidance.
Restrict kitchen access to public (lock or tape off) clear signs indicating langar cannot be served.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
Outreach Langar If the Gurdwara is making langar as part of an outreach project, then Langar can be taken away.
If this is the case, then the Gurdwara should be following its food safety policy/system required to maintain its EHO hygiene rating which includes a cleaning regime, measuring food standing temperatures etc and completing the food safety system documentation.
Sevadaars should be wearing appropriate PPE (including Sevadaars in washing and cooking areas)?
Has the Lead Kitchen Sevadaar confirmed that all Sevadaars are free from COVID-19 symptoms and taken action if required?
Calculate the minimum number of Sevadaars in the kitchen and washing areas.
4f) Jora Ghar (Shoe storage area) Is there a 2m marked queuing system for sangat to give/take off their shoes?
Clear signage to sangat to wash/sanitise their hands before entering the Darbar Hall.
At busier times, is there a sevadaar monitoring the number of sangat coming into the Jora Ghar at any one time?
It is preferable to use disposable bags for packing shoes.
If using the same entry and exit route, decide if you will have Jora Ghar sevadaars (who should be wearing PPE) managing the Jora Ghar, or sangat help themselves.
If using a separate exit, decide if the Gurdwara sevadaars should move the shoes taken off at the entrance to the exit for collection by Sangat on way out.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name
4g) Offices & Classrooms Offices and classrooms should remain restricted areas to sangat, until the Government announces further easing of the guidance.
4h) Toilets There is a very high airborne and cross contamination risk (risk of transfer). It is preferable to discourage use of toilets.
Social distancing considerations
Many Gurdwara toilets -
a) may not be large enough to ensure effective 2m social distancing and b) typically there is only one entry/exit point making the 2m social distancing difficult to apply
This may necessitate queuing system outside with one out/one in, and this should be restricted where possible.
How will you monitor access to the Toilets?
Check to ensure the urinals and toilets flush, there sufficient soap/handwash, paper towels / hand dryers and sanitiser. No shared towels should be used. The toilet seat should be sanitized after each use, or a seat cover provided.
Toilets should follow the daily/regular cleaning schedule.
Communal footwear – where possible should be removed and Sangat asked to instead wear their own shoes.
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name Section 5. 5a) Cleaners Cleaning the Check all cleaners are not in a vulnerable group or self-isolating. Gurdwara after general use (no 5b) Incident reporting protocol Any incident, unusual activity or items left behind. Make sure cleaning staff are aware of the location known exposure of incident book/forms. to anyone with Coronavirus 5c) PPE Equipment symptoms) All cleaners provided with gloves (ideally disposable) to protect their skin from exposure to cleaning materials.
5d) Suitable cleaning materials provided Depending on materials and if historic surfaces are to be cleaned.
5e) Disposal protocol Protocols for disposal of all contaminated and waste materials are clear.
Does the Gurdwara use external bio waste disposal services to take away food and other waste materials. Ensure these services can provide you with waste disposal certificates.
Section 6. 6a) Quarantine Actions to take If possible, suspend services for 72 hours with no access permitted. This may become a priority when after known track and trace protocols are made available. Communicate your position to Sangat clearly. exposure to someone with
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Area of Focus Controls required (Walk through by the Trustees /Management of the Gurdwara) Action by Completed – Date and Name Coronavirus 6b) If quarantine not possible symptoms 72-hour quarantine is not possible then follow Public Health England guidance on cleaning in non- healthcare settings.
Public Health England guidance available here.
6c) Post quarantine If the building has been quarantined for 72 hours, then carry out cleaning as per the normal advice on cleaning.
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