Health and Safety Guidelines for Volunteer Surveyors working on sandy shorelines
Health and Safety is a partnership between the Society and the volunteer. The RSPB assesses the risks to which we are exposing our volunteers, as far as is reasonably practicable. We ask you to follow the safety guidelines that we have produced and not to put yourself or anyone else at risk while you are carrying out the survey for us.
· Insurance
Public liability
Our public liability policy protects the RSPB and so our volunteers against legal liability to third parties for accidental damage, loss of or damage to property or for death, injury or illness. You are protected whilst carrying out any business on behalf of the RSPB anywhere in the UK.
If someone can demonstrate/prove that your negligence whilst carrying on the business of the RSPB, caused bodily injury and/or loss or damage to third party property, our insurance protects you. Cover is provided to a maximum of £10,000,000 per claim.
Personal accident cover
All volunteers up to the age of 75 are covered for accidental death, injury resulting in the loss of limbs, eyes, etc, and permanent disablement whilst carrying out any business on behalf of the RSPB anywhere in the UK. If you are aged 75 or over please contact your Beached Bird Survey organiser, as you will need to complete a special form to ensure you are still insured.
Additional protection is provided for certain volunteers between the ages of 16 and 65 for Temporary Total and Temporary Partial disablement from usual occupation, whilst carrying out any business on behalf of the RSPB anywhere in the UK. The exact amount varies depending on the age of the injured person and the nature of the injury.
The only personal accident cover provided for volunteers aged 75 to 85 is death benefit.
No personal accident cover is provided for volunteers aged over 85.
Your Personal Possessions
Regrettably, it is not possible for the RSPB to provide cover for loss of or damage to your personal possessions in the course of your volunteering.
Advice
You may wish to consider taking out additional insurance, obtainable from any insurance broker, to cover the following:
· Personal accident cover, which provides compensation if you are injured in the course of your volunteering.
· Personal possessions - especially for valuables such as binoculars which may not be covered by a Home Contents policy when outside the home.
· Motor insurance, which is a legal requirement for any vehicle on a public highway anyway.
· Clothing
You should always carry appropriate clothing and be prepared for the worst potential weather. Carry a compass on intertidal shores where fog or mist is common. Snow and high winds are likely in winter- you may like to carry spare clothing just in case. Clothing must be warm and waterproof. Gloves and a woollen hat should also be carried.
Strong boots or wellingtons should be worn, depending on the nature of the terrain - ordinary shoes are inadequate and may be dangerous on slippery surfaces.
· Equipment
You are recommended to carry a first aid kit. Protective gloves or a plastic bag in the event a corpse needs to be handled are also essential. If you are unfamiliar with the area, you are urged to carry the relevant 1:50000 (or 1:25000) OS map. A notebook and pencil may be needed to record your observations or you may be provided with a specific recording card. You may also wish to carry a modern field-guide to help identify anything you find. A watch, some food and a hot drink may also be welcome if you are in a remote area.
· Operating a report-back procedure
Leave word of your route and expected time of return with someone responsible. Check in with them when you have finished.
· Survey paths/routes
Some surveys, for example the beached bird survey, involve a walk of up to a few miles along the coast. For some counters this will be a sandy beach at the edge of town, for others it will be a more rugged course perhaps little-visited at this time of year.
There are potential dangers in all situations. Common sense is the best precaution. You will have to assess dangers and how they are to be overcome or avoided. If you are in any doubt about the safety of what you are about to do, please do not do it.
· Hazards
Every eventuality cannot be covered here and you must assess the risks involved in a particular situation. On unfamiliar territory, consult local information sources, for example the Coastguard.
However, particular hazards to beware of are:
· quicksands
· falling from cliffs, or from rocks, or into creeks: beware of slippery vegetation and paths.
· being cut off by the incoming tide: check tide tables and plan your survey to take account of these.
· crossing minor streams and ditches: use a bridge where possible. Occasionally you may have to jump or ford very minor streams but if you have any doubts about safety, don’t do it.
· rock climbing: this is not necessary and should not be attempted.
· you are urged not to touch large ailing birds such as gannets unless you know how to handle them without risk of being stabbed.
· protective gloves/bag should be worn if birds need to be handled.
· ensure your tetanus vaccination is up to date.
· vehicles. Remember you are far more likely to be run over by a car on your return journey than any of the above hazards. Be alert to traffic, keep to the side of the road and face oncoming traffic except on right hand bends.
· Handling objects found on the beach
All sorts of dangerous objects may be found washed up on beaches - flares, syringes, UXB, drums of chemicals, lumps of oil, unexploded ordnance etc. Do not touch these objects. If you are concerned about a particular object, report it at once to the Police or Coastguard.
If you need to touch bird corpses, you should handle them as little as possible as they can potentially carry dangerous diseases. Take a large polythene bag, which makes a good protective glove and can be used if you have to handle a corpse, or disposable gloves (available from chemists). Avoid touching the mouth, eyes or bills of dead animals and birds and always wash hands and forearms thoroughly before eating, drinking or smoking.
Finally, please do not let all these points put you off the survey, they are really just common sense.
Thank you very much for your help.