Short Term Mission Teams



1 Introduction to Habitat for Humanity 3

1.1 The picture now: 3

2 Health and Safety 5

2.1 Everyone has a health & safety responsibility 5

2.2 Responsibilities of Team Members 5

2.3 Responsibilities of the Team Leader 5

2.4 H&S policies: 6

2.4.1 General Safety 6

2.4.2 Personal Protection 7

2.4.3 Transportation 7

2.4.4 H&S Briefings 7

2.4.5 In-country orientation 7

2.4.6 Small Groups 8

2.4.7 Communication across sites 8

2.4.8 Fall protection 8

2.4.9 Digging Holes 9

2.4.10 Working at Height - Roofs 9

2.4.11 Site Tidiness 9

2.4.12 Ladders and Scaffolding 9

2.4.13 Electrical Equipment - General 10

2.4.14 Concrete Mixers 10

2.4.15 Water Pumps 10

2.4.16 Sewerage Contamination 10

2.4.17 Tools 10

2.4.18 Chemicals 10

2.4.19 Asbestos 10

2.4.20 Demolition 11

2.4.21 Animals, snakes, scorpions etc 11

2.4.22 Flu Pandemic 11

2.4.23 HIV/AIDS 11

2.4.24 First Aid 12

2.4.25 Fluid Intake 12

2.4.26 Hygiene 12

2.4.27 Recreational Activities 13

2.4.28 Personal Safety 13

2.4.29 Accommodation and food 13

2.4.30 Personal health – information sources 13

2.4.31 Team information booklet 14

2.5 Site Safety Signage 20

3 Risk Assessments 21

3.1 Carrying out a Risk Assessment 21

4 Emergency Management 23

4.1 Emergency Management Plan 23

4.1.1 Being Prepared 23

4.2 Emergency Management Plan - Process Flow 24

4.2.1 Minor Injury/Illness 25

4.2.2 Serious Injury/Illness 25

4.2.3 Catastrophic Events 26

4.2.4 British Embassy 27

4.2.5 Consular Services 27

4.2.6 Consular Fees 28

5 Complaints 29

5.1 Team Members 29

5.2 Team Leaders 29

6 Debriefing and Evaluation 30

6.1 Team Debrief 30

6.2 Evaluation 30

6.3 Trip Report 30

Appendices

Appendix 1, Global Village Kit List 31

Appendix 2, Global Village Expense Accounting Report 33

Appendix 3, Global Village In-Country Cash Expenses List (Host Country) 35

Appendix 4, Global Village In-Country Cash Expenses List (2nd Country) 36

Appendix 5, Global Village Credit Card Expenses List 37

Appendix 6, In-country dollar Transactions 38

Appendix 7, Travellers Cheques Record 39

Appendix 8, Insurance 41

Appendix 9, Accident Report Form 42

Introduction to Habitat for Humanity

Many team leaders will be asked about Habitat for Humanity on the trip. This brief introduction may help you to answer some of the questions that you will get.

1 The picture now:

▪ Number of houses built in 2006/7 48,000

▪ Number of countries where Habitat for Humanity operates 92

▪ Number of people taken out of housing poverty by end 2007 1.5 million

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Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian housing charity which seeks to eliminate housing poverty from the face of the earth. The charity works with people in need regardless of their race, creed, ethnic background or nationality. Habitat for Humanity is a hand up, not a hand out. Most of our projects require prospective home-partners to contribute many hours of their own labour – “sweat equity” - towards each building project, helped by neighbours and other volunteers, sometimes from overseas. We work with many other organisations to achieve our aims. In fact, partnership arrangements with other NGOs and aid organisations are becoming an increasingly important part of Habitat for Humanity’s global remit.

The Habitat for Humanity vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. You can see from the numbers above that we are building a lot of houses but nearly 1 billion people are still living in urban poverty alone. To achieve our vision we need to work with other organisations, governments, the UN. Working together, we can eliminate poverty housing from the face of the earth.

The principles underpinning our work come from our Christian ethos, but we are not a proselytising organisation. We will work with anyone who shares our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. In Great Britain our patrons include a Bishop and the Chief Rabbi.

Volunteering plays an important part in Habitat for Humanity. It starts with the sweat equity of the homeowner and extends to the neighbours as well as other people from the broader community. International volunteers have much more impact on the programme than their numbers would suggest. While the actual numbers of houses built by international volunteers are small (compared with the total number of houses), their contribution is enormous. As well as hard work, they bring vital funds to the host country, they bring laughter and entertainment for the children, they increase motivation, and more importantly they show that the West has not forgotten the East, the North has not forgotten the plight of those living in housing poverty in the South.

A bottom-up organisation. Our approach in the countries in which we work is to establish strong national offices and local projects with their own leadership. Four regional offices support the national offices. So it should be no surprise that our house building varies according to context. In every location our aim is to build culturally appropriate homes that will cope well with local conditions: for example stilt houses in Papua New Guinea, earthquake-resistant houses in Indonesia, hurricane-resistant homes in the Caribbean.

House funding methods also vary according to location. In Britain we are developing shared equity schemes whereby the home partner takes on a commercial mortgage for an affordable amount while Habitat for Humanity owns the rest of the house but charges no rent for it. We also work with other organisations to help them with their development projects: for example, we recently co-operated with the Salvation Army to convert staff accommodation into a halfway house for residents moving on from one of their hostels for the homeless in London.

Some countries have a programme where the houses are sold at cost with a low-cost mortgage. In others we operate a Save and Build scheme which enables us to offer simple, decent homes to people on very low or intermittent incomes.

Loan repayments go into a revolving fund to fund the construction of more houses. But to begin the process, and expand our house building activities, we need the support of donors. This comes from the contributions of international volunteers as well as grants from governments, other charities, individuals, corporations….

Other projects operate a give-away programme especially in disaster response programmes and in Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s projects (usually the parents have died of HIV/AIDS (see partnership projects below)

Some projects don’t even involve houses! We work with people to gain the title to the land they live on and own. Having the title provides the motivation to begin investing in a house.

Partnership projects. Partnership projects with other NGOs and aid agencies usually exist to meet the needs of specific groups, whether they be people living with a disability, or a medical condition such as leprosy or those affected by AIDS. For example, in three African countries we are currently developing pilot projects to house children orphaned by AIDS. Working with partner organisations who manage the care component, we are building clusters of homes for orphaned siblings grouped around a conventional family home where the adults can also act as foster parents for the orphans. Another option is to extend the homes of foster parents who are willing to take in AIDS orphans. As there is no one to repay a mortgage, all these projects need external funding. Comic Relief is one of the first group of funders.

Health and Safety

Although H&S is everyone’s responsibility, the Team Leader has a special role in ensuring that your team has a safe, rewarding and productive experience. There are many degrees of Health & Safety within the HFH world. This guide is written from the viewpoint of a rural African build where it is likely that the Team Leader will have to be more interventionist in his or her approach.

There are off-site aspects of H&S as well as on-site aspects and one can impact on the other. E.g. if team members get drunk the night before they may well be a danger to themselves and others on site the following morning.

1 Everyone has a health & safety responsibility

The following pages outline different responsibilities and how Team Leaders can take a proactive approach to improving H&S for their team.

2 Responsibilities of Team Members

Each volunteer is responsible:

▪ To work in a safe manner, and to bring any safety concerns to the attention of Habitat for Humanity.

▪ To adhere to the safety rules as outlined in the Site Safety signage.

▪ To assess any task before carrying it out. Think first, avoid putting themselves or others in danger.

▪ To always follow the instructions given by the Habitat For Humanity site staff and the Team Leader and not to take chances. If they are unsure they should ask the Team Leader or the site staff.

▪ For asking Habitat for Humanity site staff if they do not know how to complete a task or use a piece of equipment.

3 Responsibilities of the Team Leader

▪ Lead by example. You need to fully understand and agree with the health and safety policy.

▪ Ensure that Site Safety notices are given to each team member and that one is attached to the wall of the tea room or another place where all volunteers can see it.

▪ Familiarise yourself with Global Village Risk Assessment.

▪ Carry out your own daily risk assessment. Assess the off-site and on-site situation on a daily basis for hazards and work with your team to minimise these. E.g. If site is cut into a bank and there is a substantial drop, take the initiative and put up fencing or do not allow volunteers to work on that part of the building. If there is a deep open well at ground level, it may need boarding over, fencing off, taping off with caution tape, or walling around. Likewise you will need to assess off-site activities. A football match on a coral beach will lead to a lot of cuts. Do you want this?

▪ Ensure that volunteers receive a daily H&S briefing. Briefings should cover off-site and on-site activities. If an on-site briefing is not provided by HFH staff, or is incomplete, you as Team Leader should provide or add to a briefing. This will also include demonstrating good practice such as lifting techniques, or emphasising the need for water breaks. H&S is an attitude of mind as well as specific actions. To maintain H&S as an attitude of mind, Team Leaders will need a drip-feed approach to H&S. See page 36 for a sample H&S briefing for the site.

▪ Ensure that personal protection equipment is used by the volunteers. Remember, our expectations may well be higher than local customs. And volunteers will always say “Its too hot!” or “My feet are sore”. If they do not see the locals wearing eye protection it may not occur to them that they should….

▪ Appoint volunteers to be crew leaders if necessary (maybe you have some volunteers with H&S experience or building experience) and appoint people with specific responsibilities on site – such as site tidiness.

▪ Liaise with the local staff to ensure that the health and safety policy is carried out. This may need some gentle explaining: “HFHGB have said that we are not allowed to do that….”

▪ Intervene as necessary. This may involve:

• Adding to an existing H&S briefing

• Negotiating with the local staff on a H&S issue

• Using your contingency fund to rectify a H&S issue. (e.g. scaffolding may not have any grab rails, or sufficient planking. In some situations you will need to be proactive and go out and buy some more wood!)

• Asking the local HFH affiliate to provide a different bus because the current bus has bald tyres.

▪ If there is an accident, complete an Accident Report Form (in the Appendix) and give a copy to the local HFH affiliate and a copy to HFHGB. The report should be compiled as far as possible by the person affected and signed, but if the affected person does not wish to do a report. it should be done by the Team Leader In any event, the Team Leader should comment on the report. If the situation warrants it you can also contact HFHGB, via the Emergency phone.

▪ Should a person arrive on site unfit for work (e.g. they have been drinking until the wee small hours) the Team Leader may deny them access to the site for their own protection and the protection of other colleagues.

▪ If you have a query relating to Health and Safety you can always ring Lisa Stead on +44 7983 471 131, Ian Pearce on +44 7984 788 516, or ring the HFHGB emergency no. +44 7984 530 627.

▪ In achieving your H&S responsibilities, you will need to adhere to the following

4 H&S policies:

1 General Safety

o TEAM LEADER TO ADVISE TEAM MEMBERS TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY to s/he any accident, near miss or anything that could lead to an accident to them.

o TEAM LEADER to advise Habitat staff of any accident, near miss or anything that could lead to an accident to the team.

o ASSESS any task before carrying it out. Think first; avoid putting yourself or others in danger. If in doubt, speak to the Habitat staff.

o USE the correct tool or equipment for the task you are carrying out. Visually check any tool or equipment before using it; never tamper with it and report any defects found to a member of the site staff. Volunteers will be instructed in the use of various site tools and equipment.

o DO NOT throw materials to each other to save time. Always work in a chain.

o DO NOT indulge in horseplay or cause distractions to anyone on the site.

o FOLLOW instructions given by the Habitat for Humanity site staff. If you are unsure, ask a member of the site staff.

o NO ALCOHOL or drugs are permitted on site at any time. Volunteers who need prescribed drugs (Inhalers, etc) should make sure they have a sufficient supply on site.

o TAKE REST AND WATER BREAKS and these should be regular. Dehydration can be a problem in hot climates. E.g. when the temperature is over 35oC you will probably need to drink at least 5 litres of water during the working day.

o IF VOLUNTEERS FEEL UNWELL at any time during the Challenge; they should speak to your Team Leader.

▪ IF YOU AS TEAM LEADER FEEL UNWELL at any time during the challenge please speak to the Habitat for Humanity staff.

▪ REMEMBER: you are in a new environment, be that your host country or a building site. Don’t take things for granted – always be prepared to question – if it does not feel right, it probably isn’t!

2 Personal Protection

There are mandatory items of personal protection for a Global Village trip. They are, hard hat, dust mask, eye protectors, hard hat and gloves. Please refer the H&S signage for usage.

3 Transportation

▪ The roads are perhaps the greatest risk to the well-being of all volunteers. Volunteers should not ride in the back of trucks as far as is practically possible. Other means of seated transport must always be considered as a first option.

▪ Wearing of safety belts is required where they are fitted.

▪ Coaches/minibuses should be used for transporting volunteers as far as practically possible. In situations where volunteers do ride in the back of trucks, they can only be used within sites or:

o On village roads or tracks.

o At speeds of no more than 5mph.

o With a Team Leader or designated team member sitting beside the driver.

o If the Team Leader has any concerns about the state of the vehicle or the driver, they must exercise their judgement as to whether their team should proceed with the journey. The local HFH representative must be notified of such concerns as soon as possible.

4 H&S Briefings

▪ Safety briefings are a vital part of the day. Every day should begin with a safety briefing that relates to the work about to be undertaken. (See below for a sample briefing)

▪ General safety considerations are to be reinforced at safety briefings and specific issues covered. All hazards, or potential hazards should be identified and action should be taken to prevent potential accidents on site. In particular items that can kill need to be emphasised such as electrical hazard (if electrical items are to be used), and holes.

▪ If volunteers feel uncomfortable doing a task they lack competence in, they should undergo more training or be moved to a different task.

▪ Training should be given in appropriate lifting techniques. Keep the back straight, and use the leg power to lift.

▪ Carry a H&S notebook with you at all times. Jot down any points that need covering in the briefing. This way you will always have a record of what was covered in the H&S briefing.

5 In-country orientation

▪ The incountry orientation is the first briefing the team members will receive in-country. It MUST cover the following issues:

• Child protection

• Hotel safety

• Road safety

• Personal security

• Hygiene

• Behaviour expectations

• Limits to travel insurance cover

• Injuries and first aid provision

• Emergency actions

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6 Small Groups

▪ Volunteers should not be put into an isolated group of less than three people, with at least one team member being male (this will not be possible in an all women’s team).

7 Communication across sites

▪ Small teams should carry a mobile with a local chip so teams that are separated into smaller groups can maintain contact. Local SIM cards can be purchased for these phones. Team leaders should carry sufficient additional airtime credit in the case of ‘pay as you go’ since the site may be remote from shops.

▪ If you are taking a spare phone for this purpose, make sure it is “unblocked”. You can generally do this at a market stall for about £5.

▪ Mobile telephones will also assist first aid provision.

▪ Mobile phones must not be used on site for any other purpose.

8 Fall protection

▪ Cover or fence off all significant holes (e.g. a pit latrine) holes .

▪ Be careful with tools and loose materials, particularly when working on the roof or at height. Be sure to block off an area on the ground if you will be throwing materials down from above.

▪ See the section on scaffolding.

9 Digging Holes

▪ Holes can be very dangerous places. Deaths do arise from cave-ins and in the UK, 63% of those deaths arise from unsupported excavations.

▪ Volunteers are to dig no deeper than 1 metre.

▪ Once dug, holes should be marked off with safety tape and filled up as soon as possible.

▪ Volunteers should only dig holes with a supervisor present.

10 Working at Height - Roofs

▪ Volunteers need training in the safety implications of working at height. Volunteers should not be left to work at height unsupervised.

▪ Volunteers should never be in a position where there is no scaffolding underneath them. E.g. volunteers should not be laying tiles over eaves without scaffolding below. Volunteers are not to work within 5.2 metres of any overhead power lines.

11 Site Tidiness

▪ Untidiness causes many tripping accidents on building sites, some serious.

▪ Tidying the site should be the first and last job that volunteers do every day. This will reinforce the need for tidy sites. As a general policy, one volunteer should be given specific responsibility in this area, so

that hazards are moved, tidied, or covered.

▪ Volunteers are responsible for keeping their area tidy and remove any unwanted materials or tools to avoid accidents occurring.

12 Ladders and Scaffolding

▪ Scaffolding must be in good condition.

▪ Scaffolding should be grounded to the satisfaction of the HFH Team Leader before it is used by volunteers.

▪ If the scaffolding is of a make-do variety, it must not be over 4 feet (1.3 metres) above ground level.

▪ All scaffolding should have a grab rail. If scaffolding is of a make-do variety, Team Leaders may have to organise a make-do grab rail, additional wood for planking, or to make sure the scaffolding is stable. (Team leaders can use their contingency fund to purchase additional materials if necessary).

▪ Volunteers should never work underneath scaffolding.

▪ Kick boards should be used on scaffolding. Again these may have to be make-do.

▪ Scaffolding and ladders should be placed on even ground. If ground is uneven, dig a hole for one leg. Do not pile bricks and materials under a leg to level it.

▪ Ladders should only be used if they are in good condition.

▪ Ladders should be tied down at the top.

13 Electrical Equipment - General

In humid or wet conditions electrical equipment can be very dangerous.

▪ Generators should not be operated by volunteers.

▪ Training in electrical equipment must be provided before it is used by volunteers.

▪ Team Leaders should check electrical equipment for obvious hazards (such as damage to sockets or no plugs). If it looks unsafe, volunteers should not use the equipment.

14 Concrete Mixers

Mixers are not often used on Habitat for Humanity sites. When they are used:

▪ No tools or human appendages are to be inserted into the mixer while it is turning.

▪ Mixers should not be overloaded.

▪ The base for the mixer needs to be firm to avoid possible tipping. E.g. the mixer should not sit on a pile of unmortared concrete blocks.

15 Water Pumps

▪ Pumping water with electricity is inherently dangerous. Water should be pumped as far as possible with a petrol-operated pump. If an electrical pump is used on site, volunteers should keep away from the pump, which should ideally be taped off with caution tape.

16 Sewerage Contamination

▪ Volunteers should not be put into situations where there is sewerage contamination i.e. the contaminated water needs pumping out before volunteers can get involved.

▪ Sewerage contamination can be a particular problem when there is a high water table. Exposure to sewage or its products may result in a number of illnesses.

17 Tools

▪ Sometimes the availability of tools has been an issue. HFH staff will do their best to ensure that tools are available. But the quality of local tools is often not up to European standards and many volunteers will exert much more pressure on the tools than the local people. Please be aware that some will not be to the quality that you are used to.

18 Chemicals

▪ Chemicals such as creosote are still used in some developing countries, yet banned in Europe and North America. Unless a chemical is known to be safe, it is not to be used by volunteers. Creosote is not safe to use.

o Chemicals known to be safe should only be used by a volunteer wearing a face-mask, eye protection and long-sleeved shirts and trousers.

o If there is any doubt, do not use the chemical, or contact HFHGB. See page 5 section 2.3

19 Asbestos

▪ Asbestos, while not used on HFH sites, is still widely used in many parts of the world. Undisturbed asbestos is not necessarily dangerous. It can be found in many roofs in the UK. Asbestos becomes dangerous in its dust form - if asbestos-containing materials are present and being processed, simple masks will not offer protection. The material will contaminate clothing and skin and will be released as the material looses moisture.

▪ Asbestos may be used on an adjacent site. Particularly dangerous are workmen cutting the material with a grinder. This creates a lot of dust. If the wind is blowing towards the HFH site it must be vacated immediately and another sight sought. If there is any evidence of dust the site must be vacated.

▪ Asbestos may also be found in soil, especially when a demolition has occurred. If the odd shard is found, it should be carefully removed. if every spade full has shards, volunteers should not be handling the material, or digging foundations, moving earth….

20 Demolition

▪ Demolition can pose greater hazards than construction.

▪ Demolitions need to be well planned by HFH staff members.

▪ HFH staff need to supervise the demolition process at all times.

21 Animals, snakes, scorpions etc

▪ The general rule is that team members should stay away from animals, even seemingly domesticated animals. It is worth reminding the team that animals won’t receive the same treatment as they would in the UK.

▪ Snakes are a hazard in many countries, especially in bushed areas.

▪ Snake awareness needs to be part of the Health and Safety briefing process.

▪ If you have to move a pile of rocks or other materials on site, hit or kick it first, so any creatures can move away.

▪ If possible, move items ”away from you” so that anything sheltering underneath has an escape route.

▪ Avoid long grass or overgrown areas and report any sightings to Habitat for Humanity staff.

22 Flu Pandemic

▪ Swine Flu. Act as for any other medical issue – contact ACE Assistance and follow advice.

▪ In the case that isolation at the guest house/hotel is possible and recommended, please appoint a ‘flu friend’ with the aim of preventing spread of the virus to the rest of the team and the local community. The Team Leader and First Aider MUST NOT fulfil this role. The flu friend should ideally be someone who is vaccinated (available from Sept 09) and protect themselves with a P2 or P3 face mask, gloves (in the first aid kit), and eye protectors. If the flu friend has a beard, then he should shave it to the extent that the mask is in contact with the face, not the beard.

▪ Bird Flu is a potential hazard. At present bird flu is just a bird-related disease, although there have been a few cases where the virus has crossed over to humans, especially when there has been very close contact.

▪ The received advice at present is to avoid contact and keep your distance from live and dead birds, both wild and domestic. Cooked birds (e.g. chicken) do not represent a threat to humans as long as they are hot and well cooked.

23 HIV/AIDS

▪ Many places where we send teams have a significant HIV/AIDS problem. Indeed many HFH houses are built for the victims of HIV families. Team members will, therefore come into contact with people who have the disease.

▪ There are obvious precautions such as the avoidance of sexual relations with local people. Team members should contact ACE Assistance immediately if sexually assaulted.

▪ The disease cannot be passed on through everyday social contact, insect bites or dirty food and crockery. Nor can it be passed on through kissing, coughing and sneezing.

▪ Other areas for concern are:

o Contact sports. Any team member (on either side) with an open wound should not be included in a team.

o Dental treatment at a local dentist. There have been incidences in the west when the disease has been transmitted through contaminated dental instruments.

o Hospital equipment. It is important to use a hospital referral provided by ACE Assistance. Such hospitals are scrutinised by ACE Assistance and screened blood is used where available (it is conceivable that a life threatening situation may necessitate the use of non-screened blood).

o Tattoos, acupuncture treatment or body piercing – these activities should be avoided.

For further information:

24 First Aid

▪ Every team must have at least one qualified first aider.

▪ HFHGB provide Team Leaders with a minimum of 2 enhanced First Aid kits

▪ All team members should be told where the first aid kits are, and who is responsible for first aid administration.

Personal first aid kits

We encourage all volunteers to have a handy supply of basic first aid and medical supplies for their own personal use. These could include:

▪ Anti-bacterial handwash

▪ Anti-malarial tablets (if required)

▪ Insect repellent

▪ Eye wash

▪ Sunscreen and lip balm

▪ Regular medication

▪ Painkillers

▪ Rehydration sachets (e.g. Dioralyte)

▪ Plasters, bandages

▪ Dental kit (optional)

25 Fluid Intake

▪ Adults require an average of 2 litres of fluid a day (excluding caffeine and alcohol). This requirement increases with hot weather and hard physical work; therefore it is vital to ensure the team are getting enough to drink.

▪ Provide advice to team members on fluid intake :

o Aim to drink a minimum of 2 litres of water a day when working on site. If it is hot, this should be 4-6 litres.

o Carry a good water container (minimum 1 litre) when travelling or away from your base.

o Monitor your urine colour - the darker your urine the more dehydrated you are.

26 Hygiene

▪ It is not inevitable that you as Team Leader or a team member will get diarrhoea when you are away but it is the most common travel-related illness. The most effective way to avoid diarrhoea is through scrupulous attention to hygiene.

o Hand washing facilities should be provided at the site.

o Volunteers should be reminded of the importance of washing hands after using the toilet, and before eating any food.

o We recommend all volunteers bring with them some antiseptic hand-wash. If you are unfortunate enough to get diarrhoea, you should:

▪ In the event of diarrhoea team members should:

o Replace lost fluids and salts using an oral rehydration solution.

o Seek medical attention if the diarrhoea is very severe or lasts longer than 5 days, there is blood or mucus in the diarrhoea and the diarrhoea is accompanied by vomiting and are unable to keep fluids down.

▪ Remember diarrhoea is contagious, so be even more scrupulous about washing your hands after you use the toilet.

27 Recreational Activities

The team leader must be confident that recreational activities are safe. For example, because locals do not wear helmets when riding a horse, this does not mean our teams should adopt local standards. A risk assessment should be carried out for all activities and necessary actions taken to reduce any risk involved. If the recreational activity is anything but low risk, please inform MasterPolicy of the proposed activity. Please also read the policy and be aware of what activities (like motorcycling) are not covered by the policy.

Swimming

▪ Swimming in contaminated water may result in skin, eye, ear and certain intestinal infections, particularly if the swimmer’s head is submerged.

▪ Risk Assess that safety of swimming in the sea, or in a pool.

Advise team members that they should never swim in the dark, alone or when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and never dive into an unfamiliar body of water.

28 Personal Safety

• worldwise) gives information country by country to help you prepare and plan for safe travelling. It tells you about basic health, safety, visa and currency requirements as well as things you should know about local codes of dress and behaviour. You will need to advise your team about:

• Appropriate dress. - Don’t wear expensive-looking jewellery or watches. Conceal essential valuables (including your mobile phone) and documents. Don’t put valuables in easily accessible pockets or backpacks.

• Being extra vigilant when out on the street – look out for bag snatchers, pickpockets and scam artists

• Ensuring team members tell someone if they are going out. Do not

• Not wandering off alone, especially at night.

• What to do if confronted - give up your valuables. None of your valuables are worth more than your own life.

29 Accommodation and food

▪ Hotels can be dangerous places yet the assumption is often that there is nothing to worry about.

o Advise volunteers to count the doors to the nearest fire exit.

o Check that fire exits are not locked or obstructed.

o Check that fire equipment has been serviced. (there should be a service date on the equipment).

▪ Food and Water.

o Advise team members about water safety - Drink bottled water. In restaurants always ask to open the bottle yourself; checking the seal is in place. If in doubt stick to carbonated water – and make sure it fizzes! Use bottled for cleaning your teeth. Don't open your mouth in the shower.

o Advise team members about food safety. Hot, well cooked food is much safer than raw food. Avoid ice-cream, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurised milk, shellfish, soft cheeses, lukewarm food, ice in drinks, fresh salad and unpeelable fruit. Cooked food that has been allowed to stand for several hours at ambient temperature provides a fertile breeding ground for bacteria and should be thoroughly reheated before serving. Consumption of food and drinks from street vendors has been associated with increased risk of illness.

▪ If you are offered food or drinks by a host family that you are not sure about, it is better to point to your stomach and decline.

30 Personal health – information sources

• InterHealth

InterHealth is a charity based in London offering a wide range of services including telephone advice, medicals and first aid products.

Tel: 020 7902 9000

Email: info@.uk

Website: .uk

• MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers)

This is an information service provided by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. A health brief giving a list of recommended vaccinations for the country you are visiting can be purchased via the website or by leaving a message on the premium line telephone. All Global Village Challenge participants will be sent a health brief during the registration process.

Tel: 09068 224100 (60p per minute)

Website:

• Foreign & Commonwealth Office

This is the UK Government department responsible for foreign affairs. They work through their London headquarters and their network of embassies, high commissions and consulates throughout the world. The website provides up to date information and advice for foreign travel including travel advisories.

Website:

• Other websites:

travelhealth.co.uk an excellent website with good links to other sites.

fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk the NHS public access website on travel health.

the World Health Organisation.

• Host Coordinator

The Host Coordinator should also able to give you a realistic picture of the health situation and what facilities are available. They will also be able to give you an indication of the type of accommodation; distance and manner of transport to get to the affiliate, what state the roads are in as well as whether water will need to be treated prior to drinking.

31 Team information booklet

HFHGB will provide all team members with details of each team member’s medical history as they have put down on their application form. This information is there to help you manage the team and deal with any emergencies.

Please remember that this information is sensitive personal information and should be kept with you but should not be available for others to look at! It may only be used for the purpose of managing the trip and insuring a safe experience for all.

You will receive a ‘Trip Box’ a month before your GV Challenge containing some items that you will need as a Team Leader.

It will contain:

❖ Items for you personally like t-shirt, orientation manual, in-country manual (if available), flight information (if applicable)

❖ A Team Emergency Information booklet (This will contain confidential information that you may need regarding allergies etc of team members)

❖ Expense Forms

❖ A Site Safety check list for Team Leaders (Following page)

❖ A confirmation of Health & Safety Briefing list for the team members to sign to say they have had a briefing and they understand about site safety

❖ First Aid kit/s

❖ Emergency cards containing contact numbers for all team members to keep on their person

❖ Health & Safety signage for the site and each team member

❖ Evaluation Forms for the team to fill in after the trip

|TEAM NAME |

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|PROJECT DATES |

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|TEAM LEADER |

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|VOLUNTEER NAME |SIGNATURE |DATE |

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CONFIRMATION OF HEALTH & SAFETY BRIEFING

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|VOLUNTEER NAME |SIGNATURE |DATE |

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SITE SAFETY CHECK LIST FOR TEAM LEADERS

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|WORKING |Risk – working ‘off the ground’ greatly increases the risk of serious injury from falls |

|AT | |

|HEIGHT |NO volunteers to work on roofs unless the correct scaffolding |

| |(see scaffolding below ) is in place at roof level & adjacent to the work areas |

| |NO volunteers to work on roofs unless supervised by an experienced builder |

| |NO work at height in strong winds, rain or icy conditions |

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|SCAFFOLDING |Risk – falls from height or injury from falling objects |

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| |ALWAYS inspect scaffolding daily before use |

| |It must be safe, stable, with grab rails above waist height, kickboards & preferably be attached to|

| |the building itself |

| |Never work beneath scaffolding that is in use |

|WORKING | |

|AT |Risk – working ‘at depth’ increases the risk of side wall collapse & serious injury |

|DEPTH | |

| |NO volunteers to work in holes deeper than 1m |

| |Any holes on site must be safely marked off with hazard tape and covered as soon as they are not in|

| |use |

| | |

|MACHINERY |Risk – faulty machinery or unsupervised work with machinery can lead to serious injury |

| |ALWAYS inspect & assess any machinery before using it on site |

| |If in any doubt about its safety do not use it |

| |No volunteers to work with machinery unless it is safe, they are supervised by an experienced |

| |builder & are wearing the appropriate protective equipment |

| |Always check that there are safety guards on the equipment |

| |Always check that any electrical supplies are safe |

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| |Risk – incorrect lifting techniques or repetitive tasks an lead to injury or loss of concentration|

|MANUAL WORK |ALWAYS brief volunteers on correct lifting techniques |

| |Rotate jobs where roles are repetitive |

| |Work in a ‘chain’ where it saves time & energy |

| |On-going supervision |

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| |Risk – faulty tools or their incorrect use can lead to injury |

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|TOOLS |ALWAYS inspect tools before use |

| |Mend or replace any broken tools |

| |ALWAYS give training & on-going supervision on tool use |

| |Always use the correct tool for the job |

|CHEMICALS | |

|& |Risk – injury from burns, inhalation or skin irritation |

|FIBRE GLASS INSULATION | |

| |ALWAYS read instructions for the use of any chemical |

| |If you are unsure or can’t read the instructions don’t use them |

| |Never mix chemicals |

| |Always use the appropriate protection when handling chemicals or insulation materials i.e. gauntlet|

| |gloves, goggles, mask, protective suit etc |

| |Always supervise the use of chemicals |

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|SITE TIDINESS |Risk – injury from ‘slips & trips’ |

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| |ALWAYS keep a site tidy! |

| |‘A tidy site is a safer site’ |

| |Where possible keep materials stacked tidily away from work areas |

|PERSONAL | |

|PROTECTIVE |Risk – injury due to absence of, or improper use of Personal Protective Equipment |

|EQUIPMENT |IE: Hard Hats, Steel-Toe Capped Boots, Goggles, |

| |Dust Masks, Work Gloves |

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| |ALWAYS brief volunteers on the correct use of their PPE |

| |Always make sure volunteers have the correct PPE for the job they are doing |

| |If they don’t have the protection then they don’t do the job! |

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|ALCOHOL |Risk – injury due to loss of control |

|& | |

|DRUGS |ALWAYS brief volunteers on the dangers of misuse |

| |NO drugs, alcohol or hangovers on site at any time |

5 Site Safety Signage

|Site Safety |

|( |Wear sun cream of a suitable factor, reapply throughout day |

| |Drink copious quantities of water – in very hot climates, 4-6 litres per day |

| |Check water bottles have unbroken seals, and do not share water bottles |

| |Politely refuse any water offered elsewhere |

|[pic] |Wear head protection when: |

| |Work (e.g. building a wall) is higher than shoulder height |

| |Working off the ground, near or on scaffolding |

| |Working under coconut palms |

| |Carrying out a task for which the use of hard hats is required |

|[pic] |Wear gloves as appropriate |

| |Locally-made bricks can have sharp edges |

| |Cement will suck moisture from your hands |

| |Plants can have very sharp thorns |

|[pic] | |

| |Wear ear protection when using the compactor, any power saw, or other equipment that may cause damage to the ears |

|[pic] |Wear a face mask when: |

| |Painting lime wash, |

| |Using chemicals |

| |Mixing cement |

|[pic] |Wear eye protection when: |

| |Using hammers and chisels, |

| |Using power tools |

| |Using limewash, chemicals or mixing or pouring cement |

| |Working above head height (i.e. your hands are working above your head) |

|[pic] | |

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| |Always wear steel toe cap safety boots when on site, with no exceptions |

|[pic] |Lifting – stand in front of item with your feet slightly apart. |

| |Bend the knees, keep the back straight |

| |Lift with the legs, not the back |

| |When setting down, reverse the procedure |

|[pic] |Your first aider is: |

|[pic] | |

| |A messy site is an accident-prone site. |

| |Keep your area tidy and remove any unwanted materials or tools. |

|[pic] | |

| |No mobile phones on site (except for Team/Crew Leaders or communicating across site) |

Risk Assessments

Habitat for Humanity only sends volunteer teams to countries that can demonstrate that they are able to take teams. Part of this includes paying close attention to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office updates, which detail everything from terror risks, disease and weather. If necessary, Habitat for Humanity will cancel a trip without hesitation if it is unsafe. If a dangerous situation develops while the team is in-country, Habitat for Humanity will do whatever is necessary to extract the team safely.

HFHGB has developed a risk assessment for Global Village trips. Team Leaders are required to familiarise themselves with this RA and to look for other risks not covered, and assess those risks themselves.

Risks relate to all aspects of the trip from recreation to building activity. The aim is to bring your team home in good health, after having had a rewarding experience.

1 Carrying out a Risk Assessment

o Identify the types of incident likely to be encountered.

o Assess the severity of the hazard – the harm outcome if this incident occurred. Score 1 for a minor injury or illness, 2 for a significant injury or illness and 3 for death or a major injury or illness.

o Assess the risk – the likelihood of the incident occurring. Score 0 for n/a, 1 for unlikely to occur, 2 for a frequent occurrence and 3 for a high certainty of occurrence.

o Assess the effect of the incident on the team. Score 1 for a minor influence on trip, 2 for a significant influence on trip and 3 for a total trip breakdown.

o Multiply the 3 numbers together to give an assessment score. See table below for significance of these numbers.

o Identify methods to minimise and manage the risk.

o Continually assess the risk and make amendments to these methods where necessary.

|Assessment |Action |

|Score | |

|27 |Do not do activity. Consider cancellation of trip. |

|6-18 |Modify activity if possible. Ensure that methods in place to manage/minimise risk are |

| |strictly adhered to. |

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