Large volunteer projects have many inherent hazards. Often these projects involve large numbers of volunteers with limited or general knowledge in construction, home repair and landscaping. It is important that every Volunteer Resources Manager (VRM) address these safety considerations with volunteers to ensure that everyone has a safe and productive time at the agency.
Painting, Staining and Sanding
For their protection, volunteers should use gloves and a dust mask when working on painting, staining and sanding projects. Work should be conducted in a well-ventilated area. Also, let volunteers know whom to contact if they experience dizziness or nausea.
Caution should be used if you suspect that the paint may be lead-based. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5055.html) warns consumers that lead-based paint should only be removed by professionals who are trained in hazardous material removal.
Bug Bites, Minor Injuries and Allergic Reactions
Have a first aid station identified on your project site. A staff member should be designated as the contact person for all injuries. By designating a staff member as the first aid contact, volunteers know whom to turn to when an emergency arises. Also, the staff member will be able to provide accurate location information to emergency personnel should a severe injury occur. Consider having several staff members complete the American Red Cross first aid course so that these duties can be rotated or shared. A well-stocked first aid kit is necessary for the many small injuries that occur during projects.
Through Traffic
Volunteer projects are sometimes focused at several sites within a particular neighborhood. This often means that volunteers will be crossing busy streets to move between individual project locations. Give volunteers a map of the project site and ask them to use caution when moving around the area. For busy intersections, consider stationing an off-duty police officer or security person to assist volunteers. Finally, as you are planning the project site, carefully consider the traffic flow through the area. For instance, if volunteers will be arriving in multiple buses, be sure to allow a safe path for the buses to maneuver and drop volunteers off, as well as, adequate space for them park and/or turn around if needed.
Police Support and On-Site Staff
For projects that involve large numbers of community volunteers, it becomes essential that security or off duty police support be available during the event. Their physical presence, coupled with that of staff members, provides an added layer of security and safety. On-site staff are also able to answer questions, provide support and give direction as needed.
Clothing
Prior to any event, give volunteers the event dress code and ask them to dress appropriately for the project site. This should include avoiding long earrings, expensive jewelry, and short shorts, for example. Given the nature of large projects, volunteers should also be reminded to wear closed toed shoes. These minimal restrictions are important safety reminders that can prevent the loss of expensive personal items and protect volunteers from cuts and scratches.
Fire Safety
On the project site map that is distributed to staff and volunteers, mark the fire extinguishers and fire exits for each building. During your pre-event walk through, ensure that emergency evacuation routes are clearly posted and your staff understands the routes. Again, designate a staff person who will have the authority to communicate with emergency personnel should the need arise. Finally, during projects that involve a large number of volunteers to work in a single building, consider the number of volunteers that you are assigning to a particular area. For smaller spaces and corridors, decrease the number of volunteers to ensure smooth traffic flow through the site. This is not only important for volunteer safety but will help their work to proceed more comfortably.
Tool and Project Safety
Many of the tools used in projects, such as shovels, trowels and paint scrapers have sharp edges. Remind everyone to be aware of the other team members who may be working in the same area. This reminder can prevent many small accidents. Also, direct volunteers to ask staff members if they are unsure about how to complete a project safely. It is much better to stop and ask a question about procedure than to get into a potentially unsafe situation. If prep work that requires large equipment can be completed prior to the event, it is best to get skilled professionals to complete that work.
Volunteer Safety
Volunteers often work on projects at agencies that are in neighborhoods that they are unfamiliar with. Therefore, it is important to remind volunteers to be aware of what is going on around them. Most of the time, you should ask them to stay in the project area and not wander away from the work site. Most agencies also have a policy that states that adults are not allowed to be alone with minors unless it is their own child or to transport other volunteers. These policies protect both the volunteers and the agencies that are involved in the project.
Ladder Safety
Most volunteers feel very comfortable using ladders. However, because of this it is important to remind them of certain safety considerations such as ensuring that the feet of the ladder are well stabilized and that a team member is steadying the ladder while it is in use. This can often be accomplished during the scheduling process by simply scheduling two volunteers to work on each task that requires a ladder.
Stray Animals
Finally, remind volunteers that stray animals around the project site should not be petted or fed, as they constitute a health and safety risk. For many animal lovers, this is a difficult request but remind them that the goal is a safe and fulfilling volunteer project for everyone.
This may seem like a very lengthy list of safety “don’ts” but in reality, brief procedural guidelines can be developed and distributed to volunteers prior to their arrival at the project site. The project director may also decide to give a few reminders on the day of the event. It is important to remind both volunteers and staff that policies are not whims. They are in place so that everyone can have a great time, feel productive and safely accomplish their goals while are serving their community.