Church Risk Assignment

1.????? Introduction

Every day, people face a variety of hazards such as floods, fire, and road accidents, among others. In the same way, potential risks are found within the Church and its compound. Like any other organization, the Church should have satisfactory methods of managing hazards. These methods should help the Church identify risks, assess the risks, and offer approaches to mitigating the threats. Once the risks are identified, considered, and, mitigated there is a need to constantly inspect and review the hazards to ensure control measures are doing the job. This essay will outline and discuss various risks that the church faces today and suggest what the Church should begin doing.

2.????? Risk Assessment

2.1 Sex Abuse

Sexual abuse is abuse where a child, a vulnerable adult, or a youth is used for sexual stimulation. It comprises persuading, forcing, inducing, and enticing these individuals to engage in sexual conduct.[1] It is the responsibility of the Church to prevent this abuse from happening. The Church should start carrying out audits about how well the Church is prepared to handle them, have a written set of policies and procedures, and remain alert regarding instances that may lead to sexual abuse.[2] These checklists will ensure that the Church is safe for youths and vulnerable adults.

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2.2 Safety

The engineers and the architects must adhere to the building codes to ensure the safety of the building. The regulations define how the doors open, the number of people the structure can safely hold, and the fire exits, among other factors. These factors are described in the National Fire Protection Association’s life safety code 101.[3] The majority of the churches do not comply with these codes, which risks losing insurance claims. The Church should allow the municipal to start inspecting the Church. These inspections will conclude with fire Marshall Inspection, professional safety inspection, and code compliance inspections.

2.3 Parking Lot Safety

There should be a parking lot patrol to offer security to the vehicles and protection of people. The security guards should be trained to detect unusual persons and activities. The security guards should be equipped with portable communication devices to make reporting to the central reporting point easy.

2.4 Lighting

According to Welch, lighting is one of the most ignored facility's safety features. Adequate lighting enhances safety, and that is why safety code compliances command that there should be battery-powered emergency lighting for large community spaces, stairwells, and hallways. According to Welch, the rule of thumb is to "take your Bible into a space or out into the parking lot.”[4] Hence, the Church should ensure adequate lighting for personnel movements such as toilets and foyers. It should also provide emergency lighting, exit lighting, and lighting in all enclosed spaces.

2.5 OSHA

The OSHA Safe Working Environment Laws of 1986 command that employers ensure a safe working environment for the staff. It requires that employers identify and assess the potential hazards and address them promptly.[5] These laws cover everything, such as chemical use procedures and lighting of the premises. The Church should offer safety and warning information and the provision of safety machinery in accidents.

2.6 Insurances Risks

The importance of having insurance covers is that the insurance company will compensate the insured claims in an accident. According to Welch, the Church can buy four insurances: liability, property, financial bond, and workers' compensation. [6]The Church should have general liability coverage to protect against situations such as when a worshiper gets injured on slippery church floors. The other scope is the Business Owners Policy (BOP), which protects church property and buildings.

2.7 Active Shooters Risk

The Church faces insecurity from active shooters or mass shootings. Mass shooting entails using firearms to injure or kill individuals at a place and time.[7]. The Church should hire uniformed officers to guard the Church during worship to deter potential criminals. It is essential to consider unformed police officers rather than private security guards because uniformed police officers receive specific pieces of training that are not offered to private security guards.

2.8 Medical Emergencies

The churches are now forming Emergency Reaction Teams (ERT). The teams are made up of experts in responding to emergencies such as intrusion to the occurrence of an incident and from health emergencies to crises. According to Welch, these teams should provide prompt assistance until professionals arrive.[8] The Church should ensure the following; there is ministry team activity in an emergency. There should be volunteers trained to promptly respond to emergencies, close coordination between the Church and the local emergency providers, and documented processes mobilizing emergency groups.

2.9 Risk of Accidents within the Church

There should be well-lighted sidewalks. The sidewalks should be dry and covered with non-slip materials. The playground equipment should be safe and well-maintained for the safety of the children. The walkways and the doors should be free from obstructions.[9] There should be no sharp edges, loose electrical power cables, carpets and runners, overcrowded seating, and unmarked steps.

2.10 Transport and Trip Dangers

The Church organizes different trips for its members and staff. There are documented instances where church buses are involved in accidents. Road accidents can be fatal where people get killed or seriously injured. The church vehicles should be constantly maintained. The Church should also employ qualified and sober drivers trained to drive buses and large vans. There should also be adequate insurance coverage for the vehicles.

2.11 Security Risks

Security risks involve theft, vandalism, and malicious damages. Theft can lead to valuables, feelings of fear, and increased vulnerability within the community. The Church must install a security alarm system, lighting system, security guards, security cameras, and perimeter walls.[10] The management should ensure that windows and doors are locked, valuables are placed out of sight of unauthorized individuals, money is not kept in the premises, and triple and double lock spaces.

2.12 Fire Damage

Fire incidents can bring down the entire church building. It can be caused by faulty electronic connections or arson (arson is the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to burn down property). The Church should ensure effective fire risk management procedures that help understand how the fire starts, how to use fire extinguishing equipment, and the proactive steps to prevent causes of fire. There should also be a fire alarm system and well-maintained fire sprinklers.

2.13 Child Abuse

The Church is responsible for the safety of the children. However, little is written about the Church's role in preventing child abuse.[11] In the Catholic Church, there are documented scandals about sexual abuse, which have affected the members' faith. Hence, the church leaders, the community, and the social service providers should collaborate to ensure the safety of the children because the pastors, teachers, or counselors alone have limited perspectives about the lives of the children. The Church should use a paging system to ensure that children return to their authorized parents. The Church should also do a background check regarding its workers dealing with children during church activities.

2.14 Damage by Nature Such as Storm

There are pieces of evidence of how a storm causes loss of property and life. It can cause severe destruction of the roofing, allowing water to drain into the building, and causing damage, rotting, and electrical damage. The Church should ensure that the roof is strong and in good condition; otherwise, the insurance company will risk having water damage claims denied.

2.15 Volunteer Workforce Risks

The Church needs to understand that it should spend considerable time and resources to recruit volunteers the same way it does when recruiting paid employees. It is risky for volunteers to perform tasks they did not train for. There should be a thorough screening of volunteers’ backgrounds because they will be working with children and other church members. The volunteers should also be supervised and trained regarding their responsibilities. There should be policies that cover volunteers’ activities. It is essential to have in place professional liability insurance.

3. Summary

In summary, this paper has outlined and discussed various risks that the church faces today. The paper has further offered suggestions regarding what the Church should do to enhance security. The Church should understand that failure to take control of the risks can lead to many types of risks that can damage the Church's reputation. These risks can include theft, fraud claims of abuse, among others. The role of the church risk manager is to oversee that the risk management program is effective by identifying possible hazards and controlling risks. Effective risk management will help prevent accidents, lawsuits, and injuries, among others.

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References

Canadian Baptist of West Canada, Canadian Baptist of West Canada. 2021. "Preventing Abuse??? In The Church." Abuse Prevention Policies And Recommendations. Canadian Baptist of? West Canada.

McClintock, Karen A. 2004. Preventing Sexual Abuse in Congregations: A Resource for? Leaders. Herndon, VA: The Alban Institute.

O'Neill, Erin Olson, Jodi Gabel, Stephanie Huckins, and Jeanette Harder. "Prevention of child????? abuse and neglect through church and social service collaboration."?Social Work &??? Christianity?37 (2010): 381.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2020.??? "MITIGATING ATTACKS ON HOUSES OF WORSHIP. " Security Guide. U.S.?? Department of Homeland Security.

Welch, Robert. H.?Church Administration: Creating Efficiency for Effective Ministry.?2nd.?????????? Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing?Group, 2011.