Volunteer Safety

At Keep Durham Beautiful (KDB), volunteer participants are the heart of our mission. The health and safety of our volunteers and our Durham community is of utmost importance to our organization.

We provide safety guidelines and waivers to all volunteer group leaders and expect these to be reviewed with participants before each volunteer service project.

General Volunteer Safety Guidelines

Clothing & Supply Recommendations

  • Utilize KDB-provided hi-visibility safety vests when working near traffic

  • Wear light-colored clothing that covers arms and legs when working in tall grass or woods

  • Wear sturdy shoes or boots - no open toed shoes

  • Dress for the weather and bring a hat for sun protection or warmth

  • Bring a small backpack to carry personal items

  • KDB has first-aid kits available upon request, or bring your own

  • Bring insect repellent, sun screen, and poison ivy treatment as needed

surroundings awareness

  • Conduct outdoor volunteer work only during daylight hours

  • Stop work in the event of thunder, lightning or other hazardous weather conditions

  • Move with caution on slippery or icy surfaces

  • Park vehicles in legal safe areas away from traffic

  • Avoid construction zones and heavy traffic

  • When crossing the street or stepping off the curb, be aware of any traffic or oncoming vehicles

  • Do not work alone in isolated areas

  • Call 911 immediately if you encounter anything that you feel constitutes a danger to public safety

Litter collection guidelines

  • Do not attempt to squeeze bags to make room for more trash (injuries can result from broken or jagged objects)

  • Do not remove dead animals or hazardous materials - contact KDB

  • If you find needles, notify KDB, or if you are comfortable, Durham County Health Department recommends placing them carefully into a plastic or glass bottle with a cap and dispose in the trash (NOT recycling). KDB provides sharps containers upon request

  • We encourage volunteers to dispose of litter bags in appropriate dumpsters or trash & recycling carts if possible

  • If appropriate on-site disposal is not possible, make prior arrangements with KDB and follow these instructions:

    • Do not put debris in the street or in front of another person’s property without permission

    • Do not put debris within 5 feet of a trash bin, telephone pole, tree or other obstruction

    • Pile debris in separate piles: litter in black bags, recyclables in clear or white bags, bulky items, tires, and brushy debris

    • Place yard Waste either in City Yard Waste Containers or with prior permission of Keep Durham Beautiful, in appropriately placed piles away from overhead lines or trees

Tree Care and gardening Guidelines

  • Use proper lifting and bending techniques (knees, not back)

  • Lay all unused tools with the tines or sharp edges facing down on the ground or propped up

  • Do not put your hands in a hole if someone is using a tool to dig there at the same time

  • Be aware of how you are holding/swinging your tools at all times – watch for other volunteers around and behind you

  • When using sharp tools like a knife or pruner to remove tags from trees, cut away from your face and hands

  • All planting sites have been checked for utility lines, but if you hit something hard like cement or pipe while digging, stop, check with staff and move to a new spot

  • If interacting with residents who don’t want trees or have concerns, do not plant the tree there and check with staff - it is okay if the tree does not end up getting planted

  • Collect and properly dispose of all planting material refuse (wrapping, containers, tags) - do not leave on the ground at the site

Youth Volunteers

  • All volunteers under 18 must have a parent or guardian complete a waiver for youth participation

  • Youth under 16 must have a parent, guardian, or chaperone present during the service activity

Covid-19 Safety Precautions

We are embracing an innovative spirit to develop updated procedures for our community events that will allow us to continue important work while staying safe. Please find KDB’s current COVID-19 event safety protocols HERE.

We understand the current situation is constantly changing and we are committed to an ongoing process of assessing and amending these guidelines as we all continue to navigate each day together.

Volunteer Etiquette

Please remember that when participating in a KDB beautification project volunteers are highly visible ambassadors of their organization and Keep Durham Beautiful. Please use consideration while volunteering. Volunteers must obey the law at all times and may not use or posses alcohol or illegal drugs while volunteering.

THANK YOU for helping us all keep safe while keeping Durham clean, green, and beautiful!