SALTWAY QUILTERS Covid-19 Risk Assessment

Prepared by Elizabeth Baker

Reviewed by Shirley Price
Review Date: 12 July 2021
Reviewed by Elizabeth Baker - Shirley Price - Debbie Storey - Sarah Stilgoe
Review Date: 20 July 2021
Reviewed by: Shirley PRICE
Review Date: 3rd May 2022
Reviewed by: Shirley PRICE
Review Date: 4th August 2022

New venue: Droitwich Spa Community Hall, John Corbett Unit, Heritage Way, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire. WR9 8RF. (As from 10th August
2022)
Saltway Quilters is a club for like-minded people who enjoy and practise patchwork quilting. Traditionally this club has attracted women of a certain age who
therefore may be at particular risk should they come into contact with COVID-19. The following refers to members throughout, but members also include
visitors.

The injury severity is essentially “Very Severe” since most members are above 50 years of age, some significantly so with the outcome of an encounter with
COVID-19 is likely to be death in more cases than not. This may be mitigated by the very elderly members choosing not to attend during the pandemic. The
severity of any infection is significantly mitigated if members are double, triple or quadrupled vaccinated. The likelihood of harm depends upon local incidence
of COVID-19, which is currently “low”. Should a local hotspot occur then the risks would need to be re-assessed?

The club will follow Government Guidelines with respect to local lockdowns and the wearing of PPE, particularly facemasks. The club will respect an
individual member’s request to have members working in close proximity wearing masks. Members are asked to inform the committee on arrival if they wish
other members of the club to wear masks. Members who are exempt from wearing masks should inform the organisers of their exemption.

Any member who feels unwell, should not attend the meeting.
Any member who tests positive for COVID-19 after attending a meeting should let a member of the committee know as a matter of urgency, giving
the date of the test.

Potential Hazard Who might be harmed and Controls Required Risk Rating Action by who, when and
how? after date completed
mitigation
1. A local hotspot of Unvaccinated or particularly The club may decide not to meet, but this will depend on the None Committee members send out
increased incidence of vulnerable members of the club number of members particularly at risk through individual information by email as soon as
who could contract COVID-19 vulnerability or not being vaccinated. the decision to close is taken.

SIGNED Shirley Price DATE 4th August 2022

PRINT NAME SHIRLEY PRICE
 SALTWAY QUILTERS Covid-19 Risk Assessment

COVID-19 is with the risk of death or other All members to be informed as soon as possible of any Those who have no email will be
announced. serious complications. decision taken. contacted via phone.

Potential Hazard Who might be harmed and
how?
2. Attending a meeting Unvaccinated or particularly
brings members into vulnerable members of the club
contact with COVID-19 who could contract COVID-19
with the risk of death or other
serious complications.
Controls Required Risk Rating Action by who, when and
after date completed
mitigation
Local incidence of the disease should be checked by the Low Committee Members before first
committee. meeting.
Members showing any symptoms MUST not attend the
meeting.
Numbers of attendees to be assessed before the meeting and
kept below 30.
Committee members to check that the facilities are well-
supplied with soap / hand-detergent / sanitiser and the room
can be ventilated before the meeting.
Before the arrival of members / visitors, door handles and push
panels, tables and chairs set out for use must be wiped and
sterilized.
Guidelines on social distancing and other precautions to
be drawn up for sharing with the club members. This
should be sent out in advance but extra copies made
available for members as they arrive.
The treasurer’s table should be moved away from the door so
that members can enter the room safely and queue with social
distance to pay evening fees. (The entry door to be kept open).
Hand-washing / sanitising to be encouraged at the start of the
meeting. Members should bring masks and wear them if
requested to do so unless exempted.
Tables to be laid out so that each member sits about 2 m away
from another member.
Tables wiped down with a cleansing solution at the end of the
meeting.
Provision and use of hand sanitizers, members may bring their
own.

SIGNED Shirley Price DATE 4th August 2022

PRINT NAME SHIRLEY PRICE
 SALTWAY QUILTERS Covid-19 Risk Assessment

Potential Hazard Who might be harmed and
how?
3. Sharing of equipment Unvaccinated or particularly
brings members into vulnerable members of the club
contact with COVID-19 who could contract COVID-19
with the risk of death or other
serious complications.
4. The leader / instructor Unvaccinated or particularly
of the session helps an vulnerable members of the club
individual member / who could contract COVID-19
visitor overcome a with the risk of death or other
problem with their work serious complications.
bringing the member /
visitor and the
instructor into contact
with COVID-19
5. Sharing of transport. Unvaccinated or particularly
vulnerable members of the club
who could contract COVID-19
with the risk of death or other
serious complications.
Controls Required Risk Rating Action by who, when and
after date completed
mitigation
Where members can, they should bring their own cutting Low Committee Members and club
boards and cutters, craft irons and ironing mats, and extension members.
cables, and not share them with other members. Before the first meeting.
Tables allocated to individuals should be adequately large to
allow for additional resources brought from home.
Cutting boards and cutters, irons and ironing mats which are
for shared use should be disinfected before the meeting and
between use.
Wipes and hand sanitizers to be placed adjacent to the ironing
and cutting station(s).
Additional electrical extension cables may need to be supplied.
These should be sanitized before the meeting.
Both the leader / instructor of the session and the member Low Leader / Instructor of session
should wear a face mask and socially distance when giving and individual members.
help.
They should not touch the equipment of the member being
helped. If necessary, they “mock-up” the problem with
additional material to help explain the solution. (Blue Peter
reference may be appropriate.)
Sharing of transport should be discouraged because the Medium Individual members.
environment is very confined and social distancing is not
possible. When members choose to share transport they do so
at their own risk. The car used should be wiped down and face
masks used during the journey. Any member showing
symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend the meeting and
therefore should not share or provide lifts.

Potential Hazard Who might be harmed and Controls Required Risk Rating Action by who, when and
how? after date completed
mitigation

SIGNED Shirley Price DATE 4th August 2022

PRINT NAME SHIRLEY PRICE
 SALTWAY QUILTERS Covid-19 Risk Assessment

6. Sharing of food or drink Unvaccinated or particularly Members may provide their own food or drink. Low Individual members
brings members into vulnerable members of the club No sharing of food or drink is allowed.
contact with COVID-19 who could contract COVID-19
with the risk of death or other
serious complications.
7. COVID-19 is left on Unvaccinated or particularly All tables used and arms of chairs, door handles and pushes to Low Committee members and
surfaces of the room vulnerable future users of the be wiped down both at the start and the end of the evening. volunteers.
room and members of the club
who could contract COVID-19
with the risk of death or other
serious complications.

What are the hazards? Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What Further action is necessary? Action by who, when and date
and how? completed
Trips and falls – Sewing Members / Visitors Verbal announcement to ensure Continual reminder to members to secure Committee members present at
machine leads and members secure their electrical electrical leads. meeting.
electrical extension cables leads. Instructor taking workshop.
Extension leads are placed around
the perimeter of the room and
between tables (also against
perimeter walls) when placed in
groups of 4, 5 or 6.

SIGNED Shirley Price DATE 4th August 2022

PRINT NAME SHIRLEY PRICE
 SALTWAY QUILTERS Covid-19 Risk Assessment

What are the hazards? Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What Further action is necessary? Action by who, when and date
and how? completed
Equipment: Chairs / Members / Visitors Two members to carry each table, Continual reminder to members. Committee members present at
Tables when moving from when erecting / dismantling and If member unable to lift chairs onto stack, to meeting.
one location to another. putting back in storage location. leave to side of room.
Stack chairs safely. Ensure no member with any injury / lack of
balance carries equipment other than their
own personal items.
Slips Members making drinks and Two to three members allowed in If spillage cannot be cleaned immediately, Any member.
serving to members. small kitchen when tea / coffee are area cordoned off.
made.

Making Tea / Coffee in the Members / Visitors in room. Beverages are carried on a tray Urns to be left for cleaning staff the following Should any burn / scold occur by
kitchen. from kitchen and placed on a morning to empty when water is cold. Committee member (location of First
specific table in John Corbett Aid kit made aware to all members).
room, whilst member holds door Dependent upon extent of injury,
Water urn / Scolds / burns open. If necessary, concerns to be brought
etc. immediately to the attention of the ‘Care taker’ member to be taken to hospital or
Younger member to carry trays. and / or Town Hall following morning. family member called by committee
Once urn has been heated up, is member.
not to be emptied / moved by any
member.
Sharing of food or drink Unvaccinated or particularly
vulnerable members of the Any spillages on the floor are Committee member.
brings members into
club who could contract immediately cleaned up. (Key to
contact with COVID-19
COVID-19 with the risk of cleaner’s cupboard is known to
death or other serious committee members).
complications. Members may provide their own
food or drink. Any member / visitor.
No sharing of food or drink is
allowed.
Members / Visitors to stow Any member to make the immediate area safe Individual members
Bags / Coats on bag of personal property under their and free from obstruction.
chairs tables or to side of room, away
from the general thoroughfare of
members / visitors.

SIGNED Shirley Price DATE 4th August 2022

PRINT NAME SHIRLEY PRICE
 SALTWAY QUILTERS Covid-19 Risk Assessment

What are the hazards? Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What Further action is necessary? Action by who, when and date
and how? completed
Iron Members / Visitors Iron is left in specific area of the Ensure members / visitors know where the Committee member.
room with the hot plate facing fuse box is. How to switch electric off in an
towards the wall. Flex from socket emergency.
under table.
Electricity. Members / Visitors Not to use any item with frayed Ensure members / visitors know where the Committee member.
wires. Speakers to use items that fuse box is. How to switch electric off in an
have been PAT tested. emergency.
Extension cables Members / Visitors Extension cables are not left Extension cables laid into the corner of the Committee member.
across the room – Trip hazard floor and walls.
unless chairs are left over cable.
Cutting equipment Members / Visitors Remind members of best working Reinforce ‘Best working practice’. Instructor or any member seeing
practice. misuse of apparatus.
All rotary cutters to have their So as not to cause any accidental injury.
blade retracted into safety position
after immediate use.
Fire Members / Visitors or any Members are made aware of the Check member’s names at a meeting place Chair / Treasurer or any member
other Hall user at the time. location of the fire hydrants. outside the building, against the members list
for that specific evening.
Fire Marshall to take charge (Chair if present
or Treasurer), call the Fire brigade (unless fire
put out), then Care Taker.
Chair or other committee member to ensure
any other hall user is made aware of the fire.
Risk of harm to any Members / Visitors or any Other member present when Make contact with other organisers when Committee Member
member when Opening or other Hall user at the time. opening up and securing building. using the hall at the same time. Request that
Securing Building: John they secure main entrance door on leaving the
Corbett Room of the building.
Community Hall When other groups have left the building
ensure that the main entrance is locked to
prevent unknown person(s) entering.

SIGNED Shirley Price DATE 4th August 2022

PRINT NAME SHIRLEY PRICE