Health & Safety

HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR ADOPT A STREET LITTER PICKERS & COMMUNITY GARDENERS

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

GENERAL

• In order for minors (anyone under 18 years old) to join a community litter pick/gardening session the parent/guardian must arrange and provide a responsible adult (a person over 18) to accompany and supervise the minor/s at all times. 

• Be watchful of traffic and when crossing roads

• Do not work when it's dark or unsafe 

• Do not work when you are tired 

• Follow any government health guidelines 

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 session

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

• We suggest you clean your equipment regularly  

• Ensure all cuts or abrasions are cleaned and covered with a waterproof plaster before and after a session

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 app or call 0121 303 1112 option 6, or use their online forms  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