Conditions Of Entry at QBBC

• If you are over the age of 70 and/or have compromised health, and/or have a chronic health condition, it is the advice of NSW Health that you do not attend. You are welcome, however, if you are willing to accept the risk of entry.
• Presently, NSW Health is strongly recommending the wearing of masks at church services, but you are not required to do so, unless you choose to sing. (See the bottom of this sheet.)
• Abide by the signage and instructions of our workers.
• Maintain 1.5 metre distance between yourself and others who are not of your household.
• Practice good hygiene.
• Declare you have not travelled to a known hotspot within the past 14 days.
• Declare you have not travelled overseas in the past 14 days.
• Declare you are symptom free, that it has been 14 days since the onset of any sickness (cold or flu), and have no COVID-like symptoms.  If you have had COVID-like symptoms, you must be tested and have a negative test result from a doctor.
• Declare you have not been in contact with a person known to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
• If you choose to enter, your temperature will be taken (with a contactless thermometer. Anything over 37.5 is considered unsafe and cannot enter). your name will be recorded for contact tracing purposes (kept in a digital format in a secure folder), and we will need either your contact number or email address.
• If you have children, please supervise them at all times.
• You will be provided with a printed song booklet, if you wish.
• If you choose to sing with us, you will wear a mask (provided).

 

Covid Safe Plan

Document Information
Title COVIDSafe Plan
Revision 3
Organisation Queanbeyan Bible Baptist Church (QBBC), Inc.
Address 87 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620
Prepared By QBBC Committee
Approved By Senior Pastor
Next Review Date As soon as reasonably possible if requirements are changed, otherwise 1 October 2020
Revision Information
Revision Date Description
1 05/06/2020 Prepared for first return to services with up to 50 attendees on June 7th
2 01/08/2020 Updated in response to new compliance measures introduced in NSW on July 24th and refinement of processes since this plan was first implemented
3 29/08/2020

Introduction

This COVIDSafe Plan has been developed in response to the national coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and specifically to comply with NSW Government requirements for places of worship. From Friday 24 July 2020, certain restrictions have been tightened to limit total attendance to 100 people, subject to the one person per four square metre rule and a COVID-Safe business registration. This limit of 100 does not include the people necessary to conduct or assist in the service. For clarity, the maximum attendee limit based on the size of QBBC building is 65, not 100. This plan addresses how Queanbeyan Bible Baptist Church (QBBC) will comply with government requirements and help to keep church attendees safe.

This plan is arranged into the following four sections:

  1. Preparation and oversight - Outlines the actions taken by QBBC Committee prior to resuming services in June 2020 and responding to increased restrictions in late July, identifies the Lead Warden and provides a review process to ensure this plan is kept up to date;
  2. Response to requirements - Defines the actions that have been or will be taken in response to each specific requirement provided by the NSW Government. There are four primary areas to be addressed including:
    1. Wellbeing of workers, congregants and visitors;
    2. Physical distancing;
    3. Hygiene and cleaning; and
    4. Record keeping.
  3. Service checklist - Provides a simple checklist to ensure that key actions are taken prior to, during and after services; and
  4. Incident response - Outlines the process to be followed if a person reasonably suspects that someone may have COVID-19 or may have been exposed to it.

Following are key contacts and information sources:

  1. Senior Pastor - Kevin Beier - 0414 955 657
  2. Lead Warden - Determined on a week-by-week basis
  3. National Coronavirus Health Information Line - 1800 020 080
  4. NSW Government COVID-19 website - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
  5. Detailed COVID-19 workplace safety guidance on Safe Work Australia website - https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces

 


Preparation & oversight

Prior to resuming services in June 2020 and in response to increased restrictions in late July, the QBBC Committee has considered and reviewed COVIDSafe requirements and the way in which these will be addressed to ensure compliance. Key steps taken include:

  1. Change in configuration of services from normal pattern in order to comply with maximum numbers, provide services online, maximise safety of attendees and support efficiency of preparation and cleaning;
  2. Preparation of the building to assess and ensure appropriate physical distancing including installation of signs, removal of furniture as required, use of projection rather than physical hymn books and providing alternative methods for offering collection to avoid unnecessary contact;
  3. Establishment of COVID-19-specific cleaning protocols;
  4. Supply of resources including disposable gloves, masks and appropriate cleaning products;
  5. Communication to and training of workers who will be involved in facilitating services;
  6. Communication to all attendees to outline the key requirements with which they will be expected to comply; and
  7. Preparation, implementation, review and modification of this plan.

The nominated COVIDSafe Accountable Individual and Lead Warden will be determined on a week-by-week basis and is ultimately accountable to Pastor Beier.

This plan will be monitored and reviewed regularly to respond to changing requirements, improvement opportunities and especially as issues are identified early in the return to services. This plan is available from church administration.

Response to requirements

This section details the responses made by QBBC to the specific requirements provided on the NSW Government website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/industry-guidelines/places-of-worship

 


Wellbeing of workers, congregants and visitors

Physical distancing

Hygiene and cleaning

Record keeping

Record keeping

This section is a checklist of minimum requirements to be completed prior to, during and immediately after services.

Time Requirement
PriorPre-service communication to attendees on requirements has been provided Cleaning was completed after the last service COVIDSafe posters are displayed prominently at the entrance and in key locations COVIDSafe wardens are easily identifiable and are ready at assigned areas as required Greeting volunteers have been trained in screening Online registration is used by majority of attendees Attendees who have not completed an online registration are required to fill in a physical registration form, which in most cases is completed by a worker on their behalf Appropriate hand sanitation is set up throughout the building in prominent locations A seating plan is established at 1.5 metres apart Adequate plans are in place to ensure social distancing, such as 1 family per row
DuringWhen people arrive, they should wait in a line at least 1.5 metres apart if there is a queue On entry, all attendees are asked: If they have experienced any COVID, cold or flu-like symptoms in the past two weeks. If they have travelled overseas in the past 14 days. If they have travelled to any known hotspots. If they have had any contact with anyone confirmed with a case of COVID-19 If yes to any of these questions, they will be informed that they will be unable to attend. If no, attendees will have their temperatures taken via contactless device and recorded Use of printed materials will be handled by appointed workers and disposed of following services. Projection is used During the service, announcements may include updates on COVIDSafe practices, including: People should practise social distancing at a minimum of 1.5 metres at all times No physical greetings or exchanges such as handshakes or hugs Wash hands and maintain good hygiene practices Sneeze / cough into your elbow Other relevant COVIDSafe practices that apply COVIDSafe wardens monitor attendee numbers to ensure the maximum number of people is not exceeded in any given area. The exception is student classrooms, where children are following the NSW guidelines for schools There is a clear post-service plan to monitor and enforce social distancing practices
AfterThe attendee records register is stored confidentially for at least 28 days in the Senior Pastor’s Drive Post service cleaning is complete This COVIDSafe Plan is monitored, reviewed and updated as required

Incident response

This section outlines the process of responding to a suspected case of or exposure to COVID-19.

If anyone at QBBC - whether worker or church attendee - reasonably suspects that someone may have COVID-19 or has been exposed to it, they must notify the COVIDSafe Warden immediately, who will be responsible for overseeing the incident response plan.

QBBC is classified under Health & Safety laws as a workplace. Therefore, the process for a COVID-19 incident notification on site is:

  1. Notify the COVIDSafe Warden on duty immediately; and
  2. Secure the site as outlined in the following process:
Location of the person Step Actions
The person is on siteIsolateCall the National Coronavirus Health Information Line - 1800 020 080 Follow advice of public health officials
The person is on siteSeek adviceCall the National Coronavirus Health Information Line - 1800 020 080 Follow advice of public health officials
The person is on siteTransportEnsure the person has transport to their home or to a medical facility if required
The person is on siteCleanClean and disinfect the areas where the person and close contacts have been Do not use those areas until this process is complete Use PPE when cleaning
The person is on siteIdentify and informConsider who the person has had close contact with If instructed by public health officials, tell close contacts they may have been exposed and follow advice on quarantine requirements
The person is on siteReviewReview risk management controls relating to COVID-19 and review whether work may need to change Consult QBBC Committee and workers on WHS issues
The person was recently on siteSeek adviceCall the National Coronavirus Health Information Line - 1800 020 080 Follow advice of public health officials
The person was recently on siteIdentify and informIdentify who at the workplace had close contact with the affected person. If instructed by public health officials, tell close contacts they may have been exposed and follow advice on quarantine requirements
The person was recently on siteCleanClean and disinfect the areas where the person and their close contacts have been Do not use those areas until this process is complete Use PPE when cleaning
The person was recently on siteReviewReview risk management controls relating to COVID-19 and review whether work may need to change Consult QBBC Committee and workers on WHS issues