Risk Assessment September 2020 for Covid

Inhalation of

the virus

Virus Passing

through the mucous membrane of

the eye

Med

With taking risk mitigation: and following the appropriate  guidance  very low

All working in the grounds or  buildings

• General control measures
• Any worshipper wishing to wash before the service must do so at home before coming to the synagogue.
• All worshippers, staff and visitors must wear a face mask covering when inside the building.
• Use the hand gel at the main entrance when entering the building.
• Wash your hands or use hand gel at every opportunity throughout your time in the synagogue.
• All washing facilities except those in the toilets will be closed.
• If services are delivered in more than one room, the start and finish times must be staggered to avoid congestion at exits.
• Children under 12 years of age will not be allowed to attend.
• Children between 12 and 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
• Those who have been shielding should seek medical advice before attending.
• Those who are over 70 years of age should consider if they should attend.
• Items which are usually available for those who have forgotten their own, such as head covering, will no longer be available.
• At the end of the service, worshippers will be instructed to leave in small groups, section by section., to avoid congestion.
• Worshippers will be asked to leave the building and grounds as quickly as possible after the service has concluded, to avoid congestion.
• All those attending must leave their contact details, so they can be contacted in the event of a confirmed case of Covid-19 amongst attendees
• If there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 at a service, the community should inform both the United Synagogue and their local PHE Health Protection team (https://www.gov.uk/healthprotection–team).
• Attendees who were in close contact with the infected individual, will be contacted by the Test and Trace team.
• If there has been more than one confirmed case of COVID-19, the building should close for cleaning.
• All areas should be well ventilated, with fresh air where possible.
• If air conditioning is fitted that draws air in from outside and does not simply recirculate air, this can be used.
• Cloak rooms will be closed, and coats must be kept with the worshipper.
• Worshippers will be asked to clean their seat, bookrest, and any hand rails which they have used, with anti-bacterial wipes, before leaving the Shul.

Close all washing facilities except

those in the toilets

Establish a system to record

contact details

Check type of air

conditioning

Close cloak rooms

Ensure antibacterial wipes are available for worshippers

of relevant

PPE

• Cleaning
• Frequently touched places such as door handles, push plates on doors, hand rails and seating, should be cleaned after every use.
• Regular cleaning of the building should be undertaken. This is currently 3 times a week.
• If a confirmed case of Covid-19 has attended the synagogue, the area that they used must be cleaned in line with the government’s guidance for cleaning in non-healthcare settings outside the home. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid–19–decontamination–in–non–healthcare–settings
• If a screen is used, it must be cleaned between services and between service leaders using a disposable cloth and a combined detergent and disinfectant.
• Worshippers will be asked to clean their seat, bookrest, and any hand rails which they have used, with anti-bacterial wipes, before leaving the Shul.

• If a worshipper feels unwell or has an elevated temperature, a new dry cough, or loss of taste and smell, they must not come to the Synagogue.
• They must enter the ground on foot through the pedestrian entrance which will be opened for them. (no car parking in the grounds)
• They must stay within their family groups or social bubble.
• They must maintain social distance all times (2 metres) whilst in the ground / buildings
• Social distance markers will be placed on the ground toward the entrance to the synagogue.
• Face masks must be worn at all times whilst in the building. Face coverings will be available at the main entrance.
• The main door will be attended and opened for worshippers.
• Hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes will be available at the main entrance, all persons entering the building will be required to sanitise their hands.
• One-way systems will be in place in all public areas to direct worshippers through the building.
• Social distancing markers will be placed on the floors throughout the building
• Hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes will be available at the entrance to all public rooms.
• Signs will be in place above hand sanitiser stations.

Ensure there are sufficient supplies of face coverings, antibacterial wipes

and hand

sanitising gel

Place sanitiser stations at entrance to all rooms

• A one-way system will be in place which will direct worshippers to the seating areas. The first row of seating in front of the Bimah must not be used
• Seats which can be used will be signed so are easily seen.
• Rows of seats dividing worshippers will be closed by a physical barrier. Worshippers will be encouraged to bring their own prayer books
• Worshippers must take their prayer books home with them.
• Masks must be worn at all times
• If Function rooms are used for worship, seating will be placed at a social distance.

Arrange seating in any rooms that are to be used for worship.

individuals

number

entering  High

• The toilets are small, so only one person is permitted to enter at a time.
• Hand sanitiser will be located outside the toilet.
• A sign will be placed on the door, stating that only one person can use the toilet at a time.
• A hand washing instruction sign will be displayed in the toilet.
• Having used the facilities, worshippers must wash their hands, wipe the taps and basin with wipes provided.
• After exiting, they must use the hand sanitiser before returning to their seat.

Inhalation of

the virus

Virus passing

through the mucous membrane of

the eye

guidance

Med

With taking risk mitigation: and following the appropriate  guidance  very low

All working in the grounds or  buildings

• Worshippers must bring their own siddur. If they do not have one, they should ask a warden before touching anything on the bookshelves.
• As the Bimah is more than 3 metres from the nearest person the shaliach tzibbur need not wear a mask. When more than one person is on the Bimah everyone must wear a mask.
• The service leader should wear a face covering in Shul whenever he is not leading a service or when he is carrying a Sefer Torah.
• All prayer books will be divided into 2 groups. One group will be available for use; the other will be quarantined. These will then be rotated after each service. Books must remain in isolation for 48 hours
• Communal Tefillin andTallitot will not be available.
• If worshippers lack either, they must contact the Shul in advance to confirm if it is possible to arrange exclusive use of these articles.

Davenning 

• Davenning will take place from the Bimah. The Bimah will be covered with a clear plastic cloth (as is currently the position in the small Shul).
• At the beginning and end of each service, the Shaliach Tzibbur will be responsible for wiping the plastic covering with the antibacterial wipes provided.
•  

Check the separation between Bimah.

Obtain a plastic

cloth

Increased exposure of those handling Torah.

Passing of the virus between

individuals

All those handling

Torah

• The aim is to ensure that the absolute minimum number of people touch the Sefer Torah.
• Those who handle the Sefer Torah or any other ritual item other than books (e.g. the Yad) should wear a new pair of disposable gloves for the period that they are doing so. The gloves should be disposed of correctly
• The outer doors of the Aron will be opened before Davenning,
• Remain open throughout, and be closed after Davenning by the same person who opened them, who will then wipe the handles, with anti-bacterial wipes
• Whoever opens the Aron Kodesh will do so and leave the Duchan, cleaning their hands with anti-bacterial gel
• The person Leyenning will remove the Sefer Torah from the ark
• At the end of Leyenning (reading) and Hagba (lifting the Torah and showing it) the person delivering the reading will wipe both ends (Etz Chaim) with antibacterial wipes and return the Torah to the Ark.
• The Ark will be closed and the handles cleaned with anti-bacterial wipes.
• At the end of the service both pulls on the Aron are to be wiped, before the outside doors are closed and cleaned with antibacterial wipes.
• There should only be one person on the Bimah at the same time.
• As each person leaves the Bimah they should clean their hands with anti-bacterial hand gel
• Only the Leyenner should touch the Sefer Torah.
• Kissing the Sefer Torah is unnecessary, as are holding the Etz Chaim, and neither should take place.
• Two Sifrei Torah a week will be used in the following cycle.
• Week 1: Monday Sefer Torah 1; Thursday, Sefer Torah 2; Shabbat mincha,prar Sefer Torah 1.
• Week 2: Monday, Sefer Torah 2; Thursday, Sefer Torah 1; Shabbat mincha, Sefer Torah 2.
• This ensures that the Sefer Torah is “rested” for at least 4 days in order that virus contamination is minimized

Saying Kaddish

• Kaddish will be said from the worshipper’s seat. The practice of gathering in front of the Bimah is suspended.
• The Rabbi will say Kaddish on the Duchan for those who are not able to say it in person and will be visible on Zoom/Facebook.

He will also control the pace.

Ensure that there are sufficient antibacterial wipes. Hand gel and disposable

gloves at the

Bimah

Ensure that all those tacking part in any service are familiar with this risk assessment

Increased exposure due to congestion and reduction in social distancing

High 

service

All Taking part in the service

• In line with both Government and United Synagogue guidance, worshippers will not be allowed to sing. Indoors, there can be no singing other than from the service leader. Leaving the premises
• At the end of the service worshippers must take the wipes provided and wipe the seat, the armrests and the bookstand.
• Worshippers must then leave the building, following the one-way system (keeping to the left of the Mechitzah) and maintaining social distancing. They must go straight to their car.