Keep your mission secure with these handy safety checklists
Don't let unexpected problems sabotage your ministry. Instead, proactively manage top trouble areas for peace of mind and more energy for your mission. Select a month below to reveal the checklist.
Stay well
- Stock your space with hand sanitizer and soap
- Post hand-washing reminders
- Promote a germ-free environment by encouraging sick people to stay home
- Safeguard others by sending symptomatic people home
- Practice prevention with healthy snacks and water
*January is also a great time to review all volunteers that need a background recheck.
January
Promote a wealth of mental health
- Review common mental health and suicide warning signs, plus intervention ideas
- Give stressed volunteers and staff permission to rest
- Model healthy work-life boundaries
- Encourage screen-free connection and activities
February
Cut clutter
- Review the recommended guidelines for how long to keep records and purge everything else
- Ensure that your financial and personnel records are accessible but safe
- Shore up potential privacy leaks by updating passwords and access levels for private information
- Back up critical files and store securely
March
Be welcoming and wise
- Make staff and volunteers easily recognizable with nametags
- Review, update, and communicate check-in and checkout policies
- Review your safety and security policies and procedures using the Safe and Secure Church training kit
- Vet volunteers by running background checks through Shepherd’s Watch®
April
Spring clean for safety and sanity
- Identify broken or hazardous objects and remove or relocate them
- Identify and remove unnecessary duplicates
- Identify items that haven't been used within the last year and remove the unnecessary ones
- Clean and organize what's left
May
Aid your first aid
- Ensure all first-aid kits are easy to locate, even for a visitor
- Review the contents of first-aid kits and restock supplies as needed
- Explore getting an AED (automated external defibrillator) and/or conduct AED training with all volunteers and staff
- Review and update CPR/first-aid certification requirements for your team
June
Plan to get away
- Review evacuation plan and share changes with your team
- Post evacuation plan for quick, easy access with helpful supplies like clipboards and walkie-talkies
- Schedule your next evacuation drill
- Schedule a drill follow-up to review areas for improvement
July
Safeguard safety
- Test smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries, and replace detectors that are older than 10 years
- Add or replace fire extinguishers
- Audit locks on all necessary doors and windows
- Review childproofing safeguards in all kid-accessible spaces
August
Secure your security
- Test or explore security cameras, alarm systems, and radios
- Have ministry volunteers train with the security team using the Safe and Secure Church training kit
- Run/rerun background checks on volunteers and staff through Shepherd’s Watch®
- Collaboratively plan your response to an active shooter event
September
From accident-prone to accident proof
- Stock up on snow and ice removal supplies
- Trim hazardous branches threatening entrances, windows, and power lines
- Audit and repair indoor and outdoor tripping hazards
- Audit exterior and interior lighting to maximize visibility
October
Prepare for the unexpected
- Review FEMA emergency preparedness recommendations and stock supplies as needed
- Replace old batteries and expired food in existing supplies
- Update your “in case of emergency” protocols and contact information
November
Amplify allergy awareness
- Provide easy labeling supplies for potlucks
- Plan for allergy-free food options
- Audit your first-aid supplies for allergy response
- Review your allergy-alert policies, especially for kids