The Houses of Worship share the mission of serving their respective communities, strengthening the faithful and others with matters of faith and other needs. Despite the importance of the institution, the facility may face sudden closure due to an unexpected calamity.
How do members of the church, mosque, and synagogue protect themselves from the risk of loss, other than prayer, of course?
Of course, tailored insurance coverage is a must. But, in addition to that, instituting proper risk management policies can prevent and / or reduce the potential for loss from any of the various dangers that exist.
Follow below to see how a house of worship can combat exposure to related risks.
Most common responsibility of houses of worship:
Slip and falls are the leading cause of liability for any business or non-profit organization, such as a religious center. To prevent or reduce risk, make sure cracks in facility parking spaces and sidewalks have been repaired and winter snow and ice removed. In addition, caution signs should be posted next to the wet floor, with dangerous areas cordoned off. If a spill occurs, it should be cleaned up immediately.
The corresponding insurance should include general liability and incorporate any outreach, charity or special events. Members of the house of worship must be included in the coverage.
Sexual abuse lawsuits are another major issue that board members need to be aware of. To avoid such cases, house of worship officials should select volunteers and employees carefully, focusing on background checks and evaluations of reference characters. Due to the prevalence of incidents, no adult should be alone with a minor and all volunteer and employee activity should be reviewed.
Related sexual harassment and abuse insurance must include general liability coverage.
Counseling risks are part of the course when the ministry or clergy offers this service, usually at no cost. House of Worship counselors should be on the lookout for cases that require a professional referral. Failure to refer a client for professional advice or medical intervention could result in a lawsuit for errors and omissions, as well as discussing matters that were reported confidentially.
The applicable pastor’s professional liability insurance must be purchased in conjunction with general liability coverage.
Most common property problems
Lightning can do a lot of damage to a house of worship building along with the items it contains. It should be noted that lightning can pass through pipes and power lines, as well as telephone lines. This can cause fires, along with power surges and shock waves, which can lead to damage.
The related insurance is presented in the basic form and in the coverage of special causes of loss.
Storm damage is another big concern for places of worship. To mitigate the potential for losses, board members should be aware of maintenance and repair work. Special attention should be paid to roof problems, overgrown tree branches, and security at points of entry should be maintained, while sandbags should be placed in strategic areas when there are flood threats.
The applicable insurance should include replacement costs and wind and hail insurance.
Burglary and burglary is one of the problems to note because thieves constantly steal copper from air conditioning units. This can cause serious breakdowns and costly repair and / or replacement costs. Supervisory personnel should cover the air conditioning unit with a cage and musical instruments can be protected against theft by installing a burglar alarm at the central station heard by the police.
The related insurance covers churches, mosques, synagogues, and other places of worship.
Unfortunately, winter and pipe explosions are a reality that places of worship should be well aware of because the resulting damage can be devastating. Preventive measures include sufficiently insulating the pipes, along with a plumber’s repair and maintenance program.
Applicable insurance must include water damage in places of worship.
Last, but certainly not least, is the risk of fire in a house of worship. Since candles are often an integral part of services, this is a real show. Using smokeless brand candles will eliminate this risk. Additionally, faulty and outdated wiring and the risk of arson must be considered. An electrician’s repair and maintenance program is an important aspect of prevention.
Related fire damage insurance should be included in basic and special loss cause insurance.