Your First 90 Days as a Church Safety Officer

Four minute read

Your first 90 days as a Church Safety Officer set the tone for your ministry. This practical guide walks you through a three-month action plan—listening, organizing, and training—to build a strong foundation for safety in your church.

Why the First 90 Days Matter

Your first 90 days as a Church Safety Officer are your launchpad. This is when you’ll set expectations, build relationships, and lay the foundation for your safety ministry. Churches that start with a clear plan are better prepared for emergencies and more engaged in ongoing safety initiatives like Safety Sabbath.
The following step-by-step plan will guide you through your first three months in the role.

Days 1–30: Listen and Learn

Objective: Understand your church’s current safety posture. 

• Meet with Your Pastor and Key Leaders – Learn about past incidents, current concerns, and leadership priorities. 
• Review Existing Policies – Locate emergency plans, evacuation maps, first-aid resources, and volunteer screening protocols. 
• Walk the Property – Check entrances, exits, classrooms, and high-traffic areas.
• Start Your Safety Binder – Gather contact lists, floor plans, and any existing safety documents.

Best Practice Tip: As seen in From Eight Minutes to Thirty-Nine Seconds (Solutions Newsletter), even well-meaning teams overlook hazards. A property walkthrough often reveals hidden risks.

Days 31–60: Build Your Team and Your Plan

Objective: Organize your people and begin structured planning. 

• Form or Revive the Safety Committee – Include deacons, children’s ministry leaders, medical professionals, and security-minded members. 
• Assign Roles – Identify leads for different emergencies (fire, medical, missing child, severe weather). 
• Draft an Annual Safety Calendar – Schedule inspections, drills, and training. 
• Set a Target for Your First Drill – Aim for Safety Sabbath if it’s upcoming.

Best Practice Tip: In “We Had No Warning” – Real Lessons from Wildfire and Hurricane Emergencies, churches that pre-assigned responsibilities responded more quickly and effectively.

Days 61–90: Train, Test, and Communicate

Objective: Prepare your team and congregation for action. 

• Conduct a Drill or Tabletop Exercise – Test your plans in a safe, controlled setting.
• Host a Volunteer Training Session – Train ushers, greeters, and children’s leaders.
• Inform the Congregation – Use announcements, bulletins, or short videos to explain upcoming safety initiatives. 
• Debrief and Adjust – Gather feedback after exercises and refine your plans.

Best Practice Tip: The Gurnee Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Safety Sabbath drill (From Eight Minutes to Thirty-Nine Seconds, Solutions Newsletter) showed that consistent practice builds both skill and confidence.

Keys to Success

1. Build Relationships Early – Trust leads to better teamwork.
2. Stay Mission-Focused – Safety supports ministry.
3. Document Everything – Keep thorough records in your binder.
4. Leverage Available Resources – Use ARM’s guides, templates, and training videos.
5. Aim for a Milestone – Let Safety Sabbath be your first big win.

Next Step: Mark Safety Sabbath on your church calendar, share it with your committee, and begin using this 90-day plan as your roadmap to readiness.