Safepoint discusses risk in environmental and conservation work

Whilst agriculture is often touted as one of the most dangerous sectors in the UK, less attention is paid to environmental and conservation work, which have some vitally important similarities.

Safepoint recently wrote an article for Countryside Jobs,  a ‘one-stop-shop for everyone in the countryside, conservation, ecology and wildlife sectors’.

Safepoint have been talking about the value, and the associated risks, of outdoor work for a long time and we were glad to be able to discuss with Countryside Jobs how the environmental and conservation sectors fit into this.

Workers in this sector face many of the same dangers those in agriculture do, such as frequent lone working, working at height, and working with animals or with vehicles. What’s more, many of these risks are impossible to cut out of the role.

Of course, some risks can not be avoided. A ranger cannot stop working on uneven ground, a conservationist cannot stop working with animals, and a tree surgeon cannot stop working at height. That’s why organisations must provide suitable supervision and communication should anything go wrong.

It’s important, then, that businesses in environmental and conservation work take care of their employees’ physical and mental health through risk assessments, good communication and supervision, and through lone working protection –all of which are discussed in the article!

You can read the article yourself here or, to find out more about how we keep staff safe when they’re aone or in high-risk roles, head here.