6 Tips to Identify & Address Environmental Barriers in Your Place of Worship

Copyright © 2015 Prepared Response, Inc. All rights reserved.

6 Tips TO HELP IDENTIFY & ADDRESS

ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS IN YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP



Environmental safety is an

important aspect that can be

overlooked in a place of worship.


Can you identify

what environmental

barriers are on your

property and how they

hinder or help you?


Adequate Lighting


Adequate Lighting

Make sure your parking lots are well lit at night. It not only

gives those walking to and from their vehicles peace of mind,

but people are less likely to be violent or take part in illegal

activity if they know they can be seen. For areas that are not

accessed often, consider installing a motion censored flood

light.

01


Responder Access


02

Responder Access

How easily first responders can access your facility is critical during any emergency. Precious time can be lost if your entrance is hard to navigate, or if there isn’t enough space for their large vehicles to park. Consider removing shrubbery, or re-painting parking spaces to make more room for your first responders.


Safety Teams

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03

Safety TeamsUtilize your safety team to provide an extra rung to your safety ladder. Your safety team can patrol your grounds before your congregation arrives and after they are dismissed, during afterhours meetings, and assisting securing your childcare areas. Have them check less accessed areas that could be used for hiding places.


Entrances & Exits


04

Entrances & Exits

Have well marked entrances and exits to help with navigation. Painted arrows and evacuation lights will increase the flow of foot and vehicle traffic and help prevent accidents and delays during an evacuation or when emergency vehicles need to enter.


Shrubbery & Fencing


05

Shrubbery & FencingLandscaping not only provides an aesthetically pleasing and inviting place to worship, but it can also be used for your religious center’s safety. It can help direct the flow of traffic and also keep outsiders from crossing boundaries. Some landscaping that you might consider is fencing, shrubbery and slightly taller bushes.


Building Maintenance


06

Building MaintenanceStay up to date on maintenance for your temple grounds. If a place looks disorderly, it tends to attract more disorderly behavior that can turn into violent acts. Graffiti, broken windows and doors, and old lights should be taken care of in a timely manner. Visible graffiti can give the impression that the building is not occupied and old lights that no longer work provide a hiding spot for unwanted visitors.


By identifying your environmental barriers, you are preplanning

for emergencies and taking the steps needed to quickly and

successfully respond to any type of emergency.

Have more questions?

Contact us at: 206.315.9851

[email protected]

6 Tips to Identify & Address Environmental Barriers in Your Place of Worship

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