Health and Safety: ideas for safe working
Your own safety is the primary concern, if the road is clearly dangerous, or has poor visibility, DO NOT attempt to rescue any toads. Likewise, if you have any health conditions that might make you more vulnerable to traffic, please keep yourself safe and do not take on any exposed patrolling without support.
Road safety:
- Where there is no footway or verge, walk in single file along the right-hand side of the road.
- Cross busy roads in a group, and if applicable, at the point designated by the Patrol Manager.
- Wear reflective clothing —when picking up toads, kneel sideways on to the road to ensure that the high-visibility strips are visible to both sides of traffic, and where possible, make sure that your reflective clothing is not covered by coats and/or bags.
- Wear good, solid shoes so you don’t slip or trip.
- Carry a torch and/or a head torch. This is to help you find toads and to warn approaching traffic. Take spare batteries or a spare torch just in case. DO NOT shine your torch directly at drivers as this could cause an accident.
- Be sensible and remain aware of your surroundings.
- Keep your ears open – do not use headphones or your mobile phone in the road.
- If traffic is coming towards you and a toad, encourage the driver to slow down with your torch before rescuing. If the driver does not slow down, please move out of the road. DO NOT shine your torch directly at drivers as this could cause an accident.
- Please remain courteous and professional to drivers, neighbours, and each other.
Other safety measures
- Make sure you have someone with you, or that someone knows where you are
- Stay in touch – If possible, carry a mobile phone and the numbers of other patrollers if you are in a group.
- Wear a warm, waterproof coat and trousers with gloves if it’s cold. – toads like wet weather more than we do!
- Make sure you know where the safe place to release toads is.
- Keep safe from germs – You may want to wear disposable gloves when handling amphibians. We recommend single use disposable gloves (powder-free vinyl gloves if possible). Wash your hands thoroughly after a patrol. Please do not use hand sanitiser before patrolling as amphibian skin is sensitive to this.
- Be careful of cuts and scratches- use plasters on these if appropriate. Avoid contact with dirty water. If patrolling away from home, carry a first aid kit.
- Some patrols may find it appropriate to place advance warning signs for drivers to help protect both the toads and you – these might be provided by the Council, or homemade. Please see the Patrol Managers section on signage.
Follow any additional safety instructions from your Patrol Manager which may be verbal or written.
Make sure you fill in and return a Patroller Declaration Form, which will ensure you are covered by our insurance. Please return it to your Patrol Manager so they can enter your details onto the Toads on Roads portal.
You are under no obligation to undertake or take part in a Toad Patrol. If you are uncertain or have concerns about undertaking or taking part, under no circumstances should you continue.