Contents
11. Health & Safety Checklist
A helpful printable checklist for your gleaning days. More detailed information can be found in Chapter 7.
Before the Gleaning Day
Equipment for all gleaning days
- Adequately stocked First Aid Kit
- Harvesting equipment
Knives (if being used for this gleaning day)
- Enough safety gloves for every volunteer using a knife
- Knives stored in a safe container – eg. a box with a clip-down lid
- Knives have been checked for sharpness, and sharpened if required
Essential information
- Volunteer list with details of any medical conditions or allergies
- The farmer has agreed to give an introductory talk on health and safety and site-specific risks; or I have all the information I need to give this talk
- Address of the nearest accident & emergency hospital
- Farmer’s mobile number
- Any under 18s attending are accompanied by a responsible adult
- Site-specific risk assessments for the day
- Volunteers have been briefed on appropriate clothing
During the Gleaning Day
Introduction: ALL volunteers have received a talk covering:
- Site-specific risks / potential hazards on the farm
- Safe use of harvesting equipment
- Safe heavy lifting
- What to do in the event of an accident or injury
Before gleaning begins
- Assign suitable tasks ability / fitness
When gleaning is underway
- The First Aid kit is nearby and accessible
- Volunteers are harvesting safely
- Gloves are worn when using knives
- A suitable container is nearby to store the knives when not in use
- Heavy lifting is being done correctly; heavy objects are not being carried far
- All volunteers have enough water and are taking regular breaks
At the end of the day
- All volunteers are accounted for
- Equipment has been returned and counted; and is safely stored
- Produce is divided and redistributed to recipient organisations
- The farmer is aware the glean is finished
After the gleaning day
Important information to complete
- Gleaning data record
- Any accidents, incidents or near missed recorded in accident log
- Knives are cleaned, dried and put away in a secure box
