Beautification

Because volunteers are so important to the AAH program, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) requires that certain safety measures be taken and offers other safety tips to AAH participants. The following list is a SUMMARY of the rules and safety tips offered by ODOT. AAH applicants will attend a safety training session and receive a safety brochure outlining the precautions they should take. This list is not a substitute for that information.

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Requirements:

Remember, you are working in a dangerous environment - a public highway. Due to the dangerous nature of the work, crew members must possess the following qualifications to participate in the cleanup:

• Good physical condition, including sight and hearing
• Mental alertness
• A sense of responsibility for the safety of the public and crew
• Must be at least 11 years old
• Youths between ages 11 - 16 must be accompanied by one adult for every eight young participants.

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Safety Tips:

• Do not attempt to compact (squeeze) trash sacks to gain room for more trash. Injuries from broken or jagged objects often result from this practice. Fill the sack with what goes in easily, and then get another bag.
• Park all vehicles clear of the roadway and at least ten feet from the shoulder’s surface.
• Keep vehicles on the same side of the highway as the volunteers.
• Work one side of the highway at a time.
• Car pool to the site to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
• Do not cross traveled sections of the roadway!
• Work during daylight hours and discontinue work in inclement weather, especially when visibility is reduced and roads are wet or icy.
• Avoid using headsets, which could interfere with hearing oncoming traffic or other potential hazards.

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What to wear:

• Light-colored clothing and your safety vest (which is provided by ODOT)
• Heavy gloves - DO NOT PICK UP DISCARDED SYRINGES, HYPODERMIC NEEDLES OR OF UNIDENTIFIED LIQUIDS OR MATERIALS!
• Watch your footing : Wear substantial shoes or boots with ankle support. Stay off riprap and steep slopes.
• Wear a hat and long sleeves to avoid sunburn. You also may wish to use a sunscreen on some days.

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Be aware of your surroundings:

• Do not attempt to remove known or suspected toxic or hazardous substances. Notify ODOT or the police of the location of such items immediately.
• Avoid places where snakes may be located, such as around old logs and in tall grass. Also, watch for stinging insects, especially fire ants.
• Avoid areas with poison ivy, poison oak and other noxious weeds. Also, avoid areas where herbicides were applied that day
• Do not enter the roadway or its shoulder areas, paved or unpaved, to pick up trash!