Health & Safety Guidelines for Schools

Best Practice Health and Safety Guidelines

Schools should follow their schools H&S policy at all times. The following health and safety measures should be adhered to when organising an event.

· Once your group has selected an area to carry out your volunteer work you should carry out a risk assessment before the event and examine the possible risks that could cause harm to your volunteers.

· Each local TLC event should have a Risk Assessment.

· You should look out for the following types of hazards: Unidentified cans or canisters, oil drums, poisons, insecticides, clinical waste, other hazardous substances, broken glass, condoms, syringes, etc. Deep or fast flowing water, dangerous currents or tides, steep, slippery or unstable banks, sharp rocks, mud holes, derelict buildings, electric fences etc.

· For each hazard identified you can decide what precautions are needed.

· If you do find any items you consider dangerous (including/syringes or sharps) make a note of their location and inform customerservices@limerick.ie or 061 - 556000. It will be logged as a case for the attention of Limerick City & County Council to follow up as appropriate.

· No one should put themselves or any other person at risk during any Team Limerick Clean Up event. If you think a littered area is too dangerous for you or your group of volunteers then it is! Take note of the exact location of the area and email to customerservices@limerick.ie or phone 061 - 556000. It will be logged as a case for the attention of Limerick City & County Council to follow up.

· Always work in pairs.

· Talk to your volunteer group and update them on the safety guidelines outlined in this document before you start your litter pick.

· Ensure there is a minimum number of 2 charged mobile phones available per group.

· At all times children involved in all TLC events are the responsibility of their parents or guardians or a ‘responsible adult’ nominated by parent/guardian. No more than FIVE children to any one nominated responsible adult are advisable. A minimum of 2 ‘responsible adults’ should always be present with any group of children.

· Do not climb and do not use ladders.

· Hands should be washed before and after handling litter. Do not eat or drink without washing hands thoroughly.

· Use the safety equipment provided. Wear the gloves and high viz vests. Use the signage.

· Weil’s disease is a bacterial disease which is spread mainly by the urine of infected animals, especially rats. To prevent the spread of the disease volunteers should wear strong waterproof boots and gloves.

· Any cuts or grazes should be carefully covered up before the clean-up event with waterproof plasters

· A first aid kit should be present at all clean-ups. Water

• Do not plan a clean-up on a river, near deep mud, steep, slippery or crumbling banks, or polluted water. Roads Working near Roads and Lay-bys

· Motorways and all access slip roads to motorways are out of bounds.

· Do not go on a roundabout.

· Restrict groups to work on footpaths and verges with a 60 KM per hour speed limit or below.

· No one should work on a carriage way – (area where cars travel)

· Risk assessment to be submitted to teamlimerickcleanup@limerick.ie in respect of any site area with higher risk

· Children under 16 should not pick up litter by the roadside.

· Volunteers should wear hi-visibility clothing and warning signs should be placed at either end of the stretch of road while work is in progress.

· Volunteers should obey normal rules of the road for pedestrians and work in the direction of traffic.

· On the Day appoint an event coordinator who will: – Brief on emergency procedures; – Organise volunteers into teams; – Distribute and collect equipment

· Collected litter should be left at designated collection points. Collect towards that point not away from it.

· All relevant/appropriate rules of the road must be followed at all times. Protect Local Biodiversity

· Clean-up events should not adversely affect local biodiversity (flora and fauna)

· Please consider local wildlife. Spring is the time of year when many animals are nesting and plants are making new growth, so extra care needs to be taken

· Keep gates closed and avoid cleaning up natural materials such as logs, stones and weeds. They may look untidy but they are often home to animals and birds. Weather warnings Yellow Orange and Red

· In the event of a Yellow weather warning TLC7 will only proceed on Friday 15th April 2022 with the approval of the major emergency planning committee.

· In the event of an Orange or Red Weather warning all TLC7 volunteer activities will be postponed.

· An alternative day will be planned for, details of which will be made available only in the event of TLC7 having to be postponed as a result of a weather warning. When the clean-up is complete Please return litter pickers and any excess supplies to your group leader Ensure you remove your gloves and wash your hands thoroughly in hot water before eating or drinking. In the unlikely event of a major accident or emergency on during your clean up event.

· Phone the emergency services on 999 immediately.

· Secure/ make safe the scene

· Administer first aid

· Follow this with a phone call to the TLC Good Friday Control Room (number to be confirmed by text to each group leader closer to the event).

· TLC Good Friday Control Room phones will be staffed between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm