GUIDANCE FOR BEACH CLEANS

Thank you for organising a Beach Clean. Here are some guidelines to help with your planning. Please contact us if you have any further questions.

PRE- Beach Clean – You need to give some thought to the organisation of your beach clean. Have a provisional date in case the weather makes it necessary to postpone

1.    It is advisable to take out Public Liability Insurance – This can be done free of charge through Surfers Against Sewage beachcleans@sas.org.uk . This is for the safety of all beach clean volunteers and, as an organiser you are liable for any injury or illness that occurs. If you are a school or a formalised organisation, you may already be covered by your insurance but please check. SAS have a simple form which needs to be completed so that you are eligible for their Public Liability Insurance and this needs to be sent in no later than 2 weeks prior to your planned event. (contact Clean Coast Outer Hebrides for a copy)

2.    You will need to do a Risk Assessment – please see the SAS Template (contact Clean Coast Outer Hebrides for a copy)

3.    You need to notify the Council/ Beach Owner that you will be carrying out a Beach Clean. This needs to be done by letter. We can advise you who to contact for your area/beach.

Environmental Considerations:

Check the tidal conditions for the time of the Beach Clean. Volunteers should collect refuse at a distance of 10 metres from the water line.

Advise volunteers of any hazards that are specific to that particular beach (slippery rocks, wet sand, water feeding into the sea, unstable sand dunes etc).

Advise volunteers to disturb wildlife and plants as little as possible.

BEACH CLEANING KIT        You will need to have a Beach Clean kit which contains:

•    First Aid kit – Beach Clean organisers must provide a basic First Aid Kit

•    Hi-Vis vests for children

•    Gloves – it is advisable that no volunteers handle refuse material without hand protection

•    Litter grabbers (optional)

•    Bags/tubs for collecting refuse

•    Wet-wipes/ hand sanitizer

•    Scales to weigh collected refuse

•    Camera to record the collected refuse and the beach clean activity (check that no-one objects to having their photo taken)

Clean Coast Outer Hebrides has a Beach Clean kit which can be borrowed.

All children under the age of 16yrs must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Parents leave their children at the Beach Clean at their own risk. Children to stay in pairs and adults should supervise.

Volunteers should be advised to wear suitable clothing and footwear to protect themselves from the weather and terrain and to avoid exposure to injury or infection. 

Sunscreen is advisable on sunny days.

Check that there is a suitable parking area and advise volunteers of where to park safely.

ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY

Volunteers should be advised not to handle sharp objects (broken glass, syringes, sharp or rusty metals). A ‘Sharps’ box/ Tupperware container can be provided if Beach Clean organisers choose to collect sharp items at their own risk. 

Volunteers should be advised to wear gloves for hand protection.

Beach Clean organisers and Stewards need to have access to a mobile phone (with signal)

Where appropriate Coastguard/ Lifeguards should be notified of the Beach Clean.

Emergency Services including the Coastguard can be contacted using 999 emergency line.

You can book a skip for your collected refuse at:

ZERO WASTE WESTERN ISLES          01851 709900   recycling@cne-siar.gov.uk (Stornoway)

                                                              01870 604998   recycling@cne-siar.gov.uk  (Uist and Barra)

Please sort your refuse if possible and weigh it – plastics and non-plastics

Let us know how much you have collected and please send us your photos.

THANK YOU

Have a great Beach Clean – You are really making a difference!