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There are many items in use in Churches and Places of Worship that get hot and could burn. Things from heating systems and the hot water in wash hand basins could be a risk, and needs to be considered.
Heating Systems
All Places of Worship have some form of heating system, whether portable heaters, fixed central heating or storage heating systems. Where the exposed parts of the system are above 43 degrees Celsius, there is a risk that people could burn themselves.
If there is little chance of someone touching hop pipes and heaters, there might not be any need to do anything special. In your Risk Assessment, you need to consider if children and babies could be at risk as these are at a greater risk.
All exposed pipes should either be below the 43 degrees Celsius temperature or they should be covered or suitable covers installed. Special radiator covers are available called "Low Surface Temperature" (LST for short), and these are useful to cover hot water radiators.
Similarly, the surface temperature of any portable heaters needs to be below this temperature, otherwise the heaters should be operated where they will not be touched. In some situations, it might be necessary to use a metal "fire guard" type of assembly. These must be made for the purpose and home-made equipment should not be used.
Radiant heaters (such as bar fires) give off heat radiation and this can be uncomfortable at the very least. For reasons of fire safety, radiant heaters should be avoided. Similarly, LPG or liquid fuel heaters that produce large volumes of hot air (which are usually used to dry out the building after building works) should not be used when the public are present. Patio style heaters must not be used indoors.
Boiler systems also get hot. This equipment is usually in a locked place where people cannot get access, and those people who do access the boiler are aware of the temperature hazards. A sign should be on display outside the boiler room or out building informing people that only authorised personnel are allowed access.
Kitchen Hazards
In kitchens, there are many different items that could cause a hazard to the people who use the kitchen. To prevent others being harmed, especially children, access should be restricted to kitchens (there are also hygiene reasons for doing this).
Hot water for beverages is typically boiled using kettles or large water urns. While kettles might be adequate for use in small kitchens for staff use, the larger boilers and urns get very hot and are heavy. It is recommended that modern, wall-fitted heaters are installed as a replacement for hot water urns, especially when hot water is regularly needed. Such heaters are usually connected to the mains water supply and mains electrical supply.
Other equipment used in Kitchens can also get hot, including pots, pans, cookers, microwaves and the items being cooked. This heat source is not avoidable and some care us needed to ensure that people are safe. Oven gloves should be provided when people are expected to move hot items. People need to be aware that pans must be correctly balanced on cookers with the handle not projecting over the front of the cooker.
Hot Water
Warm water is needed for washing hands hygienically and effectively. Any wash hand basin should have a suitable supply of hot, or preferably warm, water. Boiler systems are usually set to heat water to very high temperatures to ensure that any bacteria are killed.
The water in wash hand basins should ideally be regulated using a thermostatic valve. This regulates the water to a more suitable temperature for hand washing. Where these are not installed, a simple warning sign should be displayed to ensure people know that the water is not temperature regulated.
How water signs should show the yellow 'warning triangle' symbol (see the Signs page for more information). The text should read "warning: hot water" or anything else suitable. Signs only need to be small and positioned next to the hot tap.
Other Equipment
Candles can form a central part of Worship in many Churches and Places of Worship. Care is not only needed to prevent a fire hazard, but people can be burnt by hot candles or fixtures. Candles must only be burnt suitable holders and never directly above people's heads to prevent hot wax dripping. Where possible, candles should be burnt within a glass cover that is large enough not to get too hot.
In some Places of Worship, stage lighting and similar equipment is used. This equipment, along with the control systems, can get very hot. For this reason, the lighting must be wired with heatproof silicon cable. The lights must be mounted high enough that people cannot touch them without using steps or a ladder. Some lights are designed to be used on the floor (sometimes called 'floor cans') and these would be considered unsuitable for use in the public areas of a Place of Worship.
Sometimes, for maintenance work, specialist equipment would be in use. Equipment such as heat guns, soldering irons and blowtorches must only be used when absolutely necessary and by competent persons. It is recommended that a 'permit to work' system is used to give permission to contractors and maintenance staff.
There are many different kinds of equipment in use in Places of Worship that could get hot. It is important that these hazards are considered in your Risk Assessment. Thermally sensitive items are available which change colour when hot, and these might be worthwhile where the temperature of something is not immediately apparent.
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