4.2 Safety considerations of your green space

List any hazards you come across such as litter, barbed wire, steep paths, slippery slopes, overgrown shrubbery, deep water, protruding branches, poisonous plants, and air, soil, or water pollution.

The presence of electricity pylons, gas pipes, drainage ditches, power lines, service pipes and other potential dangers such as subsidence should be recorded.

It is important to carry out a general risk assessment. Identify any potential hazards and who will be at risk. Realistically consider what injury a person could suffer. Also consider the likelihood of an accident occurring.

For example it is important to be aware of dangers on site such as carrying out tree felling without hard hats and the possibility of catching diseases such as Weil’s disease. It is also common sense to check and ensure that you and your helpers have an up to date tetanus inoculation. The following is an example of a risk assessment template, as used by Sheffield Wildlife Trust. One of these is filled out every time a practical task takes place and everyone is given a copy so that they are aware of the risks they are taking and what to do to avoid accidents. It is worth taking the time for the task leader to go through the contents of the assessment with everyone involved, before work starts.

Remember. It is essential that your group obtain insurance cover before organising any activities. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), offers the cheapest and most popular affiliation insurance scheme for local groups. Group membership of BTCV is £25.00 and for an additional £30 they can offer your group basic insurance.

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Be aware that owners of contaminated land are responsible for cleaning it up, often at great expense.