We are delighted you would like to take part in our litter picks. They are carried out with the help of the London Borough of Croydon’s ‘Don’t Mess With Croydon’ initiative, which provides equipment and back-up, including litter bag collection.
Regular volunteers may wish to become a Croydon ‘Street Champion’
To comply with our public liability by insurance we have to provide a risk assessment. This obliges us to identify potential risks and take action to avoid them. For your own safety and the safety of others, all volunteers must be made aware of the risks and follow safety advice. Volunteers take part at their own risk.
All volunteers must read the risk assessment and follow its advice in order to take part.
ALL volunteers must:
- attend a safety briefing prior to the pick.
- wear tabards at all times.
- use the equipment provided.
- supervise children and vulnerable adults in their care at all times.
- never allow children to pick litter from the road.
- never approach or challenge members of the public for littering.
- never trespass on private property.
- never pick litter on railway lines or bridges.
- report any injuries to organisers. Any serious injury, cuts or piercing should be dealt with immediately by a medical professional or at A&E.
- wear appropriate clothing, jeans or thick trousers (no shorts), sturdy footwear (no flip-flops or similar), gloves, eye protection.
- take precautions for weather conditions – sun hat, sun cream, waterproofs, warm clothing.
Hazards and risks to volunteers
High to Medium:
TRAFFIC & VEHICLES
- Traffic and vehicles: risk of injury by moving traffic especially where no footpaths.
- Crossing roads, warn others of approaching vehicles
- Do not pick litter on the road
- Restricted visibility – blind bends and narrow lanes.
SHARP ITEMS, BROKEN GLASS, SYRINGES, MEDICAL & HUMAN WASTE
- Do not touch any of the above items. Let organisers know where it is for safe removal.
- Do not pick up broken glass. Let organisers know where it is for safe removal.
- Urine – in bottles, especially plastic ones, often contain urine – do not touch them with bare hands or open them – treat them as a hazard.
Medium to Low:
TRIPS, SLIPS & POKES
- Uneven roads, paths and overgrown areas.
- Muddy, wet, slippery, rocky areas.
- Risk of falling – beware or climbing banks or falling onto ditches.
- Tree and shrubs, hazardous plants – the risk of eye pokes or deep scratches from branches and brambles is a common one. Don’t reach under bushes in to get litter.
- Avoid nettles, Giant Hogweed and plants that are an irritant or poisonous.
ANIMALS & PESTS
- Dog / fox faeces – common on our picks. Avoid. Don’t use pickers. Warn others
- Awareness of nesting bees, wasps, ticks.
- Aggressive dogs – no eye contact – look down, pull in limbs to body, avoid by slowly moving away.
LIFTING
- Do not overfill bags, carry only one bag at a time.
- Do not attempt to move heavy items found whilst picking.
FLY-TIPPED MATERIALS / HAZARDOUS ITEMS
- Fly tipped materials should be reported to the organisers / council workers to be removed safely. Be aware fly-tipped materials could contain asbestos or hazardous chemicals.
- Do not touch potentially toxic or hazardous items – in drums, packages, bags or cans. If you have suspicions, report it to the organisers / council environment officers as soon as possible.
- If it looks suspicious – DO NOT TOUCH – report it.
INJURY
- All injuries must be reported immediately to organisers.
- Any cuts, piercing or deep scratches should be dealt with immediately by a medical professional or at A&E.
- Inform Police of any serious incident.
Nearest medical assistance
Minor Injuries – Purley War Memorial Hospital, 856 Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey CR8 2YL
Minor injuries unit – Caterham Dene Hospital, Church Road , Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5RA
01883 837500 – Open Sunday 08.00 – 20.00
A&E – 24 hours – Croydon University Hospital 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE
Contact: KENDRA LITTER PICK ORGANISER – PAUL 07480 123645
email: litter@kenleyra.org.uk
Thank you for volunteering. Please take care and keep safe.
The above assessment of likely risks is based on the Keep Britain Tidy Risk Assessment. A copy can be seen on their website keepbritaintidy.org