6 Top Safety Considerations for Church Christmas Celebrations 2021

December 10, 2021 - 4 minutes read

When it comes to planning church Christmas celebrations there is always plenty to think about – but even more so this year since we’re not yet out of the COVID woods!

So with only a few weeks to go until Christmas, now is the time to start preparing your church for any Christmas celebrations you are planning. Our guide below outlines some of the main considerations for this.

1. COVID restrictions

Currently in Victoria there are no limits on density or worship attendance where everyone present is fully vaccinated. However, if vaccination status is unknown or not being checked, attendance is restricted to one person per 4sqm up to a maximum of 50 people

It’s important to note that the rules are subject to change and differ between states and territories. You will need to check your state or territory authority for the latest information:

• Victoria
• New South Wales
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Queensland
• Northern Territory
• A.C.T.

2. Fire safety

Fires can be caused by what might seem to be fairly innocuous items like Christmas lights and candles.

For fire prevention, you should ensure that any Christmas lights installed are compliant with Australian standards and used according to instructions (such as not using indoor lights for outdoor purposes and so on).

If you wish to use candles, it’s far safer to use battery-operated ones or hand-held LED lights. That way you can get the atmospheric effect of candles without the fire risk.

3. Christmas tree safety

Christmas trees are sometimes prone to tipping over and causing injuries. If you do put up a Christmas tree, make sure it is fire-resistant and stable and does not cause any obstructions.

4. Child-safe online activities

With live-streaming and recordings happening in many churches, the safety of kids could be a concern. To manage the risks to kids you should ensure any images or film footage that could identify individual children is not shared online.

5 Live animals

Using live animals certainly adds a nice touch to a play or nativity scene, but it isn’t recommended as it comes with considerable risks.

If you are considering using live animals, you should discuss this with your insurer before going ahead.

6. Music copyright

Since most traditional Christmas carols and songs are in the public domain, they shouldn’t present an issue when it comes to copyright. However, if you are considering using other songs, including those that are more contemporary, you should check for copyright requirements. You can search online through APRA-AMCOS to find out whether a work is in the public domain or not.

One way to ensure you’re covered is by obtaining a church copyright licence from CCLI (Christian Copyright Licencing International). These can be purchased annually or for events – find out more here.

Make sure to update your insurance!

While the above measures are vital for keeping people and property as safe as possible, insurance cover provides financial protection in case things don’t go as planned.

For more information or to discuss your policy, call us on 03 9488 8800 or send an email to hello@cofcinsurance.org.au

Written by Tess Oliver

 

 

Tags: church event safety