Yatton and Congresbury Wildlife Action Group (YACWAG) will provide and maintain healthy and safe working conditions, equipment and systems of working for all volunteers and will put in place measures to safeguard the health and safety of everybody who may be affected by its activities.
Practical conservation work can be particularly hazardous. Under Health & Safety legislation, everyone (including volunteers) has a responsibility to be aware of safety for themselves and others.
YACWAG does not encourage lone working but anyone lone working must adhere to the Lone Working Policy.
Aims:
- To ensure that all practical work is planned for safety and is based on effective risk assessment.
- To provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and ensure that this and all work equipment is used correctly.
- To give information, instruction, training and supervision that is necessary for safe and effective work.
- To follow guidance, procedures and codes of practice as recommended by the Trust for Conservation Volunteers (TCV) at tcv.org.uk for organising practical conservation work.
- To maintain affiliated membership of TCV in order to obtain revised and updated information on environmental, health and safety matters including opportunities for training.
- To seek expert external advice whenever advice and guidance within YACWAG is not considered sufficient for the task. This must be approved beforehand by the YACWAG Chairperson.
- Leaders of work parties must adhere to the Group Leaders Guidance Note
Date Approved: October 2025
Next Review: October 2028