Boundary walls
Following a notable increase in failing boundary walls and historic dry-stone dyke walls within the church estate, it has become necessary to highlight the hazards and risks associated with formed boundaries and walls.
The general hazards and risks associated with historic walls failing and the unpredictable nature of their structural condition and uncontrolled collapse carries the potential for fatality and serious injuries for anyone who may be impacted by a falling wall or boundary structure.
The hazards and risks are particularly prevalent around historic church buildings and cemeteries where the regulations for wall heights, ties and buttress supports were less likely to have been used during the historic construction of the walls. Extra caution should be observed to ensure we are suitably controlling the identified hazards.
Inspection reports and quinquennials
Presbytery Building officers carrying out inspections and external bodies tasked with producing the quinquennial reports on behalf of presbytery should ensure that they have suitably inspected and reported on the condition of the boundary walls and recorded their findings and recommendations to the congregations. The report should include the date of the inspection and include any perceived health and safety hazards and risks and any immediate actions taken to control the hazards identified if they are perceived to present a foreseeable risk. The General Trustees Safe Buildings Team should be notified immediately to ensure that the hazards and risks have been suitably controlled until a professional contractor has inspected the structure and the repairs have been carried out.
Safety considerations for those carrying out inspections
Any employees or volunteers carrying out inspections around the boundary walls which are above their head height or exceed 1.2 metres in total height should ensure that they are wearing suitable PPE (helmet, safety boots) and should ensure that they maintain a proximity which exceeds the approximate height of the wall + 2 metres to ensure that you are a suitably safe distance from the wall structure.
If you consider the wall to be in a perilous condition and foreseeable failure is likely, please do not approach the structure. Use equipment with a suitable zoom function to capture images from a safe distance.
Unsafe walls and boundaries
If any congregations or presbyteries are currently concerned about the condition, ongoing deterioration or possible failure of their boundary walls, please contact your presbytery building officer or the General Trustees Safe Buildings Team on 0131 225 5722 or email safebuildings@churchofscotland.org.uk.