Information to aid Risk Assessment

Chester Cathedral is a Medieval building open to the general public. Health and Safety policies are in place and are regularly reviewed.

Risk Assessments are carried out regularly both in terms of Health and Safety and Child Protection. It is considered that visiting Chester Cathedral is a very low risk activity.

The Education Officer has CRB clearance and all staff, both paid and voluntary, have completed self-disclosure Child Protection forms. As of April 2004, all staff and volunteers have been subject to full enhanced clearance through the Criminal Records Bureau.

All steps in the Cathedral are in sound condition and are clearly marked. There is full access via ramps for wheelchairs except into the Education Room where there are four steps and the Lady Chapel which is accessed by one shallow step. Similarly, the Garth (Cloister Garden) is accessed by one step.

The stone flooring is sound and there are no trip hazards.

If maintenance work is in progress all hazardous areas are isolated and warning signs displayed.

There is no public access to high-level areas of the building.

Activities such as lighting of candles are always fully supervised.

Schools who visit the Cathedral must ensure that they have the statutory ratio of adults to children. Children remain the responsibility of school staff throughout the visit and accompanying adults must remain with the pupils at all times.

Adults and children are welcome to take photographs and there may also be visitors to the Cathedral taking photographs. We realise this may pose a problem if there are any children on the at-risk register but it is beyond our control.

The Cathedral is open to visitors at all times and so please be aware of the need for security for the children and for personal belongings.