Environmental Cleanup Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Sun exposure and heat illness — Provide shaded breaks, schedule water stops, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with consent, rotate tasks to reduce continuous exposure, and move groups to shade when heat stress signs appear so participation remains safe in sunny conditions.
• Public interactions and safeguarding — Keep pupils in identifiable groups, brief on declining gifts or requests, avoid photographing members of the public, and escalate any concerning approach to a supervisor while recording time and description so community engagement stays positive.
• Repetitive strain and overexertion — Rotate tasks between picking, sorting and carrying, set micro-breaks each 20–30 minutes, encourage stretching of hands and shoulders, and reduce total duration for younger groups so participation remains comfortable and sustainable.
• Manual handling of bags and bulky items — Limit bag weight, double-bag heavy or wet debris, use team lifts for awkward items, keep loads close to the body, and set down before re-gripping on uneven ground so pupils build safe technique without straining backs or wrists.
• Contaminated soils and legacy hazards — Avoid digging in suspect soils near old buildings or roads, use litter pickers only, wear gloves, prohibit hand-to-mouth actions, and require thorough handwashing before eating so engagement can continue without soil contact where contamination is possible.