Control of substances hazardous to health

The Charity Trustees must ensure that there is a suitable and sufficient cleaning and disinfection regime scheduled to minimise and control bacterial infections and cross-contamination of any biohazards in church buildings, such as moulds, human waste, pigeon and vermin waste, and bacteria and viruses such as the cold, flu or COVID-19.

It is important to consider congregational demographics, which are often made up of many vulnerable groups that could be immunocompromised, such as the elderly, disabled, and others who may be more susceptible to contracting bacterial infections and illness due to exposure to any bio-hazards.

Infection control is only one area of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Other areas that should be considered are detailed in the risk assessment section of this guidance.