Below you will find advice on how to stay safe while on the towpath on a Rage Against Rubbish litter pick. We really appreciate your help during our litter picks, but it is VERY important that you stay safe at all times.
Do:
Ensure you are suitably dressed for the weather conditions and prepared if they should change. Consider layering up so you can adjust during the litter pick.- Have a spare change of clothes/shoes should you fall in or get wet.
- Carry a mobile phone for EMERGENCY use.
- Make sure that all children in your party are supervised at all times. They are your responsibility.
- Be aware of other towpath users such as cyclists and walkers.
- Do make a member of the RAR crew or IWA aware of any full/heavy rubbish bags so they can be collected.
Don’t:
Over reach on the bank to retrieve rubbish – this may cause you to fall in the water.- Attempt to retrieve very heavy items from the water or bank – remember to adopt the correct manual handling technique. Lift with your legs and keep your back straight.
- Pick up sharps with your hands, please use a litter picker.
- Panic if you fall in the water. Raise an alarm so that others are aware.
- Leave rubbish bags on the towpath causing an obstruction.
Please click here for more information about Weil’s disease.
All our volunteers are covered by the Canal & River Trust public liability insurance while carrying out a Rage Against Rubbish litter pick activities. This is providing you are working within the Health & Safety Guidelines set out by Rage Against Rubbish and you have signed the specific Risk Assessment on the day of the activity. For more information, please speak to Dan Perry, Chairman for Rage Against Rubbish.