Health & Safety

HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR ADOPT A STREET CHAMPIONS

We want your experience of litter-picking to be enjoyable and your health and safety is equally important to us, hence why we ask our volunteers to follow these guidelines:

GENERAL

• Be watchful of traffic and when crossing roads

• Do not work when it is dark or unsafe

• Do not work when you are tired

• Follow COVID-19 safety guidelines if in force (e.g. social distancing)

CLOTHING

• Wear robust footwear and clothing appropriate for the weather

• Wear a high-visibility jacket or vest at ALL times

• Wear protective gloves at ALL times

HYGIENE

• Do not touch your face with your hands during a litter-pick

• Wash hands thoroughly after each pick and before eating and drinking

• Clean your gloves and litter-picking equipment either at the end of a litter-pick or when you get home

• Ensure all cuts or abrasions are clean and covered with a waterproof plaster

LITTER

• Use a litter-picker to pick up litter at ALL times

• Make sure you can easily identify any item you pick up

• Do not attempt to lift heavy items on your own or place your back under strain

• Remember that during or after rain, objects become heavier than normal. Never forget ‘straight back, bent knee!’

• Do not attempt to pick up anything that looks suspicious.

• Fly tipping, hazardous material and sharp objects (e.g. needles/syringes/asbestos) dumped on public land/road/footpath should not be picked up. They should be reported to Birmingham City Council (BCC). Either via the Fix My Street or call 0121 303 1112 option 6, or use their online form https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/xfp/form/577

RUBBISH BAGS

● Be careful when compressing rubbish using your feet as you could accidentally puncture your skin

● Do not overfill your bag, tie it up securely and either put with your household rubbish or leave next to a street bin for collection

● Make sure any bags left for collection do not block the pavement and are not left close to the road