Safety Guidelines
One-Time Cleanup Safety Guidelines
As much as we value our state’s beauty, we value our citizens even more. Please review the following safety procedures before each cleanup.
- Group Leaders shall review the safety guidelines with the group members prior to each cleanup.
- Everyone participating in the cleanup must wear an orange safety vest at all times. Long sleeves, long pants, leather shoes or boots, and gloves are recommended. Keep the Midlands Beautiful will supply vests, gloves, litter grabbers, and trash bags.
- Alcoholic beverages and intoxicated participants are prohibited on a cleanup.
- Don’t try to handle hazardous litter, such as: discarded syringes/needles, car batteries, and so on. Inform the county’s Resident Maintenance Engineer with the South Carolina Department of Transportation or law enforcement to let them handle these kinds of problems.
- Work together as a group and walk facing oncoming traffic. Work on one side of the highway at a time.
- Take along a first aid kit and cell phone.
- In warm weather, take frequent drinks of water, frequent breaks, and take steps to prevent sunburn.
- Be very careful handling broken glass. Be careful not to step or kneel in areas where there might be hidden broken glass.
- Be alert and ready to react to traffic.
- Do not pick up trash from the pavement. Stay at least five feet away from the edge of the road.
- Do not engage in horseplay.
- Demonstrations are not allowed.
- Watch out for bees, wasps, fire ants, snakes, poisonous plants, and other potential natural hazards (especially if some individuals have allergies). Always look before stepping.
- If youth groups are involved in the cleanup, adult supervision is required at all times.
- Stay off of steep slopes.
- Don’t wear music headsets. These could interfere with hearing traffic.
- Don’t wear hats that could obscure your vision or keep you from seeing an approaching hazard.
- Don’t try to compress trash into the bags, as sharp objects could cause injury.
- Don’t bring knives, machetes or similar tools that could cause accidental injuries.
- Work will only be performed during daylight hours and never during inclement weather.
- Volunteers that are under the care of a physician (i.e. has had surgery, etc.) or has been prescribed medication (pain, etc.) that alters normal reactions should not participate until they are able to do so safely.
