This is where you’ll find all the advice and information you need to get out there and start making a difference while keeping yourself and others safe.
Please note, Keep Wales Tidy cannot be held legally responsible for any personal injury or damage suffered or incurred as a result of participation in a litter pick or any other activity.
Before you start any activity, it is important to visit the site and carry out a risk assessment. This will help ensure any risks are identified and then eliminated or controlled appropriately.
When thinking about your risk assessment, remember:
A hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as road traffic, sharp items, working from height etc;
The risk is the chance, high or low, of somebody being harmed by the hazard.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advise following a simple, five-step approach.
Take a look at your proposed work area and identify possible causes of harm or danger. Prioritise the hazards, concentrating on those that could cause the most harm or affect several people.
Young people, first-time volunteers, people with pre-existing medical conditions, new or expectant mothers could be at greater risk. Don’t forget to consider members of the public who may also be present in your proposed area of work.
Put simply: how likely is the hazard to cause harm and what do you need to do to reduce the risk? It’s important to recognise that some risks can remain after putting all the control measures in place.
You need to prioritise the risks that are high and remain aware of those that are medium and low. Risks should then be controlled by using the following:
You must record your findings. We have created templates to help, including a blank risk assessment and an example risk assessment that covers general hazards encountered when litter picking. Just click on the links below to download the templates.
You must also share your findings with everyone taking part in your event. The risk assessment will form the basis for your event safety briefing. Scroll down for more information on safety briefings.
During your event, things might change which will impact your risk assessment (e.g. a change in the weather). The risks should be constantly under review and actions taken to minimise changing risks. If the risks become too high, then the event should be finished early.
An event briefing is the perfect opportunity to provide safety advice to all participants, and to highlight the risks identified in your risk assessment.
It will ensure that everyone is aware of what they should be doing to maintain their own safety along with others who may also be impacted, such as any passers-by. It can also be a useful tool to promote the work you are doing and to seek support for similar activities.
We’ve put together a template safety briefing and checklist to help.
Litter picking is not without its risks, but with some planning and careful consideration these risks can be controlled and the likelihood of an accident happening can be minimised. Below are some common considerations that should form part of your risk assessment and safety briefing.
You can also scroll down for guidance on specific types of litter picking events, including working near roads, coastal areas and on waterways.
Getting the right equipment Litter pickers must be used for collecting litter, and with a little practice it is possible to pick up most types of litter. However, it is important not to over stretch or overreach. Although it can be frustrating, some litter may have to be left if it is not possible to remove it safely. Wherever you are in Wales, you can visit our Litter Picking Hubs to borrow equipment for free.
Hygiene While litter picking, you should try to avoid touching your face with hands and be aware that the equipment will already have been used. You should thoroughly wash your hands when finished, especially before eating and/or drinking. Any existing cuts or broken skin should be covered with a waterproof plaster to reduce the risk of infection.
First aid It is highly recommended that you carry with you a first aid kit for minor accidents, and you should have access to a telephone in case of emergency.
Sharps/needles Care should be taken to avoid any sharps and/or needles, especially those that may be hidden by other litter or vegetation. Sharps should not be placed inside your rubbish bag as it could cause injury to you or whoever collects the bags later. Needles must not be picked up/collected and the local authority should be informed so that they can deal with it.
Working outdoors It is important to adjust your activity according to weather conditions, and to make sure that participants are suitably dressed. For example, if it is cold and wet you might consider shortening the length of activity; wet weather can reduce visibility and make the ground slippery; hot weather can lead to dehydration, sunburn and/or heat exhaustion; and wind can cause problems with holding rubbish bags.
> Download advice on working near or on roads and highways
> Download advice on working in coastal areas
> Download advice on working around waterways
Manual handling Care should be taken not to overfill bags and ensure that the weight is manageable. If an item is too large to fit in a bin bag you should check the local arrangements for collection before attempting to move it.
Plants/animal bites It is useful to know if any volunteers have a known allergies (this can be asked as part of the event briefing). Care should be taken around plants and wildlife to minimise the risk.
Disturbing wildlife It is important that wildlife isn’t disturbed during your event. This is even more important at certain times of the year, for example when birds are nesting. Litter that has been in the environment for a long time may house wildlife, so care must be taken.
