Love where you live

Community volunteer litter pickers

Volunteer litter pickers help us keep the district a clean, safe and green place to live, work and visit.

We are extremely grateful for the work they do.

Before you start

Community litter picker checklist

We take Health and Safety very seriously and are committed to the safety of all our staff and residents. Individuals and groups acting as volunteer litter pickers can be exposed to a number of easily avoidable hazards. This guidance has been produced to help volunteers identify these hazards, making their involvement safe and enjoyable. It should be followed by all volunteers.

Before your litter pick

Choose an area for your litter pick – ensure that you do a risk assessment.
Select a time for your litter pick. Ensure visibility is good and pick daylight hours.
Check the weather and wear appropriate clothing.
Arrange a collection for your litter.
Request any equipment needed

During your litter pick

Please wear safety equipment – Hi Vis waistcoat, gloves, strong shoes.
Always use a picker and gloves when collecting litter. Avoid direct contact.
Do a safety briefing – discuss risk assessment and get all members to sign the agreement.
Ensure there is a first aid kit and a first aider. Make sure to clean and cover any cuts or abrasions. Seek medical advice if the condition deteriorates.
Be aware of your surroundings, stay clear of steep slopes, water, rocks and large areas of mud.
Follow local rules and guidelines such as safe and lawful parking.
If you find a weapon please call the police and let them know the location.
Do not attempt to remove dead or live animals. If dead report to WFDC If alive report to the RSPCA.
Do not pick up needles or drug paraphernalia, report to WFDC.
Do not pick up any items that are not identifiable and could be deemed hazardous, for example asbestos or chemicals like battery acid. Report to WFDC
Do not turn your back to traffic. Be aware of traffic at all times and make sure you do not work in the highway.
Do not overfill bags and avoid lifting heavy objects or sacks alone.
Do not compress bags as it can result in cuts and abrasions.
Do not approach any one you do not know or anyone who is littering to ensure you avoid confrontation.

After your litter pick

Please make sure to clean your hands thoroughly using wipes, gels or by washing.
Inform WFDC of any issues you may have encountered.
Place rubbish bags in an agreed collection point

Guidance when completing your risk assessment

The lead organiser of the volunteering activity will need to complete a risk assessment before the day of the event. The risk assessment should take no longer than 10 minutes. This is a simple way to ensure you have considered any safety issues for the group and taken the necessary precautions to prevent them, as far as is reasonably practical. Ensure you use the risk assessment when addressing the volunteers in your safety brief.

We have provided a list of potential hazards with their possible risks. This form will help you to think about the area you are litter picking and which hazard and risk might apply to your risk assessment.

Potential risks and hazards
Hazard	Risk	Control	Action
Broken glass, sharp/rusty edges	Cuts and infections	Use litter pick to pick up sharp litter Up to date tetanus	Seek medical or first aid attention if needed
Needles	Cuts and infections	Leave and contact WFDC for removal	Seek medical or first aid attention if needed
Heavy/awkward rubbish	Pulled or strained muscles	Take care when lifting – use good lifting practises and share the load If an item or bag is too heavy leave it and report it to WFDC	Stop if feeling discomfort. Seek medical if persists
Batteries, Asbestos and miscellaneous chemicals	Potentially dangerous depending on condition	Do not approach or remove any potentially hazardous waste. Report it to us.	Seek medical attention if exposed. Record labels
Ground condition	Sprains, muscle damage and broken bones	Avoid dangerous areas and choose safest route Wear sensible footwear	Seek medical or first aid attention if needed
Highways, cars, and motorbikes	Collision with vehicles	Avoid proximity to cars and roads Be aware and look out Do not litter pick on roads with more than 40mph speed limits	Seek medical attention if needed
Lone working	Physical or verbal assault	Be aware of aggressive individuals Do not get involved in a conflict Have a phone and let someone know where you are	Seek medical attention if needed
Animals – domestic and wild	Lyme disease	Beware of dogs Avoid contact with animals and faeces	Seek medical attention if bit or scratched
Weather		Stop work in adverse weather Dress appropriately for	Seek medical if needed
Dog faeces	Toxocara canis	Do not touch dog faeces Always wear gloves	Seek medical if needed
Steep slopes	Sprains, muscle damage and broken bones	Stay away from these areas Avoid litter picking on steep slopes	Seek medical if needed
Electric fences	electrocution	Always assume the fence is live Do not touch the electric fence	Seek medical if needed
Water, marshes and bogs	Hypothermia drowning	Avoid banks especially if it appears to be unstable and work in pairs Be aware of surroundings Non swimmers must not be near the water	Seek medical if needed
Hedges, fences, walls and ditches	Falls, cuts and sprains	Take care when climbing stiles particularly in wet weather Avoid climbing walls or fences	Seek medical if needed
Tools and equipment		Volunteers will be shown how to use the equipment appropriately Use appropriate protection Have a first aider and first aid kit	Seek medical if needed
Trees and shrubs	Trips, cuts and eye pokes	Be aware of hazards and risks Be aware of branches and roots	Seek medical if needed
Irritants and dangerous plants	Poisoning, skin irritation and allergic reactions	Wear gloves Be aware of dangerous plants and possible reactions Wash hands thoroughly	Seek medical for any unusual symptoms
Weapons	Cuts and infections	If you find a weapon please call the police and let them know the location.	Seek medical if needed

Before the litter pick make sure all volunteers:

Have correct equipment – litter pickers, bags, shovels and brushes.
Are dressed weather appropriately with gloves, hi-vis waistcoat and sensible footwear.
Know the work area, how to report incidents, where to get first aid, where to meet at the end, where to deposit bags and how to mark sharp item (glass or jagged plastic) bags.

After the event make sure all volunteers:

Clean their hands thoroughly.
Check their wounds have been cleaned, disinfected and dressed – all volunteers should carry out a personal inspection for cuts.
Have reported any hazardous waste and identified any bags containing sharp materials (such as glass or jagged plastic).
Have reported back to the leader and all equipment has been returned.
Have placed rubbish in the agreed place for WFDC to collect.

You can download the Work/Safe Risk assessment from our website. Please ensure you fill it in and send it back to WFDC

Website feedback

Was this page useful? ^Required

Yes No

Consent for storing submitted data; ^Required

Yes, I give permission to store and process my data

Please tell us how we can improve the page;

Your email address;

Please complete;