Risk assessments and health and safety
Once you have chosen your area to carry out litter picking sessions, you should carry out a risk assessment and share it with everyone who will be volunteering with you.
You can find a template for risk assessment on the CleanUpUK website.
If you are a registered member of Birmingham Open Spaces Forum (BOSF), you have access to their Public Liability Insurance.
You can visit the BOSF website for more information and guidance and register as a member.
How to stay safe while litter picking
When volunteering, make sure you:
- let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be home
- carry a mobile phone in case of emergencies
- use gloves and litter pickers when collecting litter
- wear reflective or light-coloured clothing and solid boots or shoes
- are aware of your surroundings
Make sure that you do not:
- handle any needles or sharp objects; instead, report any needles you find to the council
- pick up discarded face masks or gloves with your hands
- carry out litter picking sessions on or near any busy roads and in or near watercourses
- lift heavy objects
- work when it is dark or when you are tired
- approach strangers
Page last updated: 17 May 2024
