Health and Safety Guidance for Volunteers

Thank you for helping Corstorphine in Bloom. We want volunteering to be enjoyable, sociable and safe. Most of our activities are low risk, such as planting, weeding, watering, tidying planters and litter picking, but everyone should take sensible care of themselves and others.

1. General approach

Please only do work that you feel comfortable doing. If something looks unsafe, too heavy, too difficult or unclear, stop and ask the organiser.

Volunteers should:

follow any guidance given by the session organiser
use the right tool for the job
look out for other volunteers and members of the public
avoid taking unnecessary risks
report accidents, near misses or hazards

2. Clothing and personal protection

Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor gardening work.

We recommend:

gardening gloves for planting, weeding, litter picking and handling soil
a high viz vest (usually kept on location)
weather-appropriate clothing
sturdy footwear, ideally boots or strong shoes
sun cream and a hat in hot weather
knee pads or a kneeling mat if kneeling may be uncomfortable

Gloves should always be worn when handling soil, sharp-edged plants, litter, tools, wood, stones, glass or other rough materials.

3. Tools and equipment

Only use tools that are suitable for the task and in good condition.

Please:

carry tools carefully, with sharp edges pointing down
keep tools away from children and the public
do not leave rakes, forks or sharp tools lying where people may trip
do not use damaged tools
do not use power tools unless this has been specifically agreed and risk assessed
ask for help if you are unsure how to use something

No one should feel under pressure to use tools they are not confident with.

4. Lifting, carrying and moving items

Planters, bags of compost, water containers and barrels can be heavy.

Please:

do not lift anything that feels too heavy
ask for help with awkward items
bend your knees, not your back
keep the load close to your body
avoid twisting while lifting
make more than one trip rather than carrying too much

Heavy items should be moved by more than one person or with suitable equipment.

5. Litter picking and sharp objects

When litter picking, wear gloves and use a litter picker if available.

Do not pick up:

needles or syringes
broken glass with bare hands
dog mess
chemicals or unknown liquids
anything that looks dangerous

Please report hazardous items to the lead organiser so they can be dealt with safely.

6. Working near roads, pavements and car parks

Some planters may be close to roads, pavements, cycleways, driveways or parking areas.

Please:

stay on the pavement or safe working area
do not step into the road to work
be aware of traffic, cyclists and pedestrians
wear a high-visibility vest if working near traffic
keep tools, bags and plants out of pedestrian routes
leave enough space for wheelchairs, prams and mobility aids

Roadside work may need cones, signs or additional supervision. If these are not in place, do not work in a risky location.

7. Watering

Water containers can be heavy and slippery.

Please:

use smaller containers if needed
avoid carrying too much water at once
take care on wet grass, paving or slopes
do not drag hoses across paths where people may trip
coil hoses away after use

8. Weather and comfort

Please dress for the weather and bring a drink, especially in warm weather.

In hot weather, take breaks, use sun cream and avoid overexertion.

In cold, wet or windy weather, the organiser may cancel or shorten the session. Do not continue if conditions become unsafe.

9. Lone working

Volunteers should ideally work in pairs or groups.

If someone is working alone by exception, they should:

have a charged mobile phone
tell someone where they are working
agree when they will check in
avoid higher-risk tasks such as lifting, roadside work or using sharp tools

10. Children, dogs and members of the public

Children must be supervised by their parent, carer or responsible adult. We are not insured to look after children.

Please keep tools, compost bags and water containers away from children and dogs. Be friendly to members of the public, but stop work if the area becomes too busy to continue safely.