Accidents and Incidents

Your safety is of utmost important to us. If you experience an accident or injury while volunteering, or on your way to or from your volunteer role, please inform your supervisor as soon as possible, even if the incident seems minor. It is essential that an incident report is completed to ensure proper follow-up and care. Reporting helps us maintain a safe environment for everyone and ensures that you receive the support you need. The ministry area’s insurance cover protects volunteers for injury or damage that result from work related activities.

Health and Safety

Creating a safe, healthy, and supportive environment is a shared responsibility. The Diocese of Swansea & Brecon and your Ministry Area is committed to ensuring that everyone, volunteers, clergy, staff, laity, and visitors feel safe and protected while serving or attending diocesan spaces.

Our Commitment to You

As a volunteer, you have the right to:

Work in an environment that is safe and free from unnecessary risk
Use properly maintained equipment and, where needed, be provided with protective clothing or gear
Receive clear guidance, training, and supervision to help you carry out your role safely
Be informed about any risks or hazards you may encounter in your work
Refuse to undertake any task you reasonably believe to be unsafe without fear of penalty

Your Role in Keeping Everyone Safe

We ask that you play your part in maintaining a safe environment by:

Taking reasonable care for your own health and safety and for the safety of others
Following any policies or procedures related to health and safety
Acting on instructions and guidance provided to you
Participating in any training or safety discussions offered
Reporting hazards, accidents, injuries, or near misses promptly to your supervisor

Working together, we can help ensure everyone is protected and supported.

Managing Risk

Risk management is about being proactive spotting possible hazards before they become a problem and putting steps in place to reduce risk.

The diocese provides guidance and support to your MA on:

Ongoing health and safety education and training
Clear processes for reporting hazards, accidents, or near misses
Regular audits and reviews to identify risks and take action

If you ever feel something isn’t safe, or if you have a concern, please talk to your supervisor straight away. You’re never alone in this; we’re in it together.

Emergency and Fire Procedures

Your safety, and the safety of others, is a top priority. As part of your induction, you’ll be introduced to the emergency procedures and shown the location of designated assembly points. These should also be clearly displayed at each site.

We encourage you to take a few moments to familiarise yourself with this information. In an emergency, others may look to you for guidance, and your calm leadership could make a real difference.

First Aid

As part of your induction, you’ll be advised where the first aid facilities are on site. These may include:

Clearly marked first aid kits
Trained First Aid Officers on-site
Accident/incident book

If you’re injured or have an accident while volunteering, please let your supervisor know as soon as possible. Prompt reporting helps us care for your wellbeing and ensures we can improve safety for everyone.

Hygiene

Infection control is all about protecting one another by preventing the spread of germs. Infections can be passed from person to person through contact with bodily fluids, skin, surfaces, or even through the air.

To help keep everyone safe, we ask that all volunteers please follow these standard precautions:

Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly
Use protective items where appropriate, such as gloves, aprons, masks, or eye protection
Handle and dispose of sharps and clinical waste with great care (use a sharps bin if available)
Clean and disinfect any reusable equipment properly
Help maintain a clean and safe environment, including dealing with any spills safely and promptly

These simple actions help protect those we serve, as well as each other.

Illness

If you’re under the weather, especially with anything like a cold, flu, or other contagious illness, please take time to rest and recover at home. This helps protect the health of others in our churches and community, particularly those who may be more vulnerable.

Let your supervisor know as soon as you can if you need to step back from your volunteering duties temporarily. Your wellbeing comes first, and we look forward to welcoming you back when you’re feeling better.

Insurance

The diocese and Ministry Area are committed to providing adequate insurance cover for volunteers whilst carrying out their voluntary roles that have been approved and authorised by the Ministry Area. To ensure this insurance covers you for any accidents or incidents that occur while you are volunteering with us, you need to report the accident or incident as soon as it has occurred to your supervisor. You are covered by the following insurance policies:

Personal Accident — insurance covers injury or death occurring to a volunteer during the course of their duties.
Public Liability — Volunteers are covered for public liability insurance, which pays compensation for personal injury and/or property damage caused to third parties as a result of the volunteer’s actions.

Manual Handling

Manual Handling means transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. It includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving loads. A load can be an object, person or animal. You should avoid manual handling whenever possible. You can avoid it by:

Redesigning the task to avoid moving the load
Automating or mechanising the process

Examples of these could be, sharing the load, splitting the load or using a trolley. Check with your supervisor to see if there is a risk assessment in place for the task. A risk assessment is a simple check of the hazard and guide to minimising the impact.

If you have any Health and Safety questions about the work you are doing please talk to your supervisor or the person listed on the HSE workplace notice in your location.

Health, Safety & Wellbeing