Get InVOLEd – Health & Safety Declaration and Airtable Agreement

Raft checkers and our maintenance Task Force are absolutely vital to our Water Vole Reintroduction Project, which in August 2022 saw release of the species back onto the Hogsmill River for the first time since 2017.

As the UK’s fastest declining mammal species, Water Voles have suffered huge declines as a result of habitat degradation and predation by invasive American mink. Our raft checkers undertake weekly surveys to check for signs of mink and other species the on the river.

Our raft checkers monitor a series of floating rafts strategically placed along the Hogsmill. Each raft contains a clay pad within, on which the print of any passing mammals are recorded. By identifying potential mink prints, we can subsequently place a camera trap in the area to confirm their presence.

We also deploy 4 Remoti electronic ‘smart rafts’ that are able to provide live updates via text messages, to broadcast the potential presence of American mink in real-time.

Additionally, post-releasing water voles, we have begun to monitor the population through ongoing camera trap and bioacoustic surveys. We have a total of 10 camera traps and four bioacoustic sensors deployed across the catchment, helping us monitor the water vole population and other species using the rivers.

Our survey and maintenance volunteer teams are essential for the ongoing success of this project. Thank you for getting ‘InVoled’!

 

Health & Safety Declaration

As these tasks take place by the side of a river, there are several risks that we want to make you aware of prior to undertaking any surveys.

Before you can be signed off to become a raft monitor, you must sign the Health & Safety Declaration at the bottom of the page to demonstrate you have read and understood the risks associated with these surveys.

Hazards
Identified		 Risk Factor Measures Required To Control The Risk
Water – Falling in canal/river High
  1. Where possible, all raft checkers/Task Force members should stay away from the edge.
  2. If you have to enter the water to retrieve or check a raft, ensure you are wearing chest waders and enter at a safe point, always with someone else present.
  3. If the water is flowing particularly fast/high, do not attempt to survey the raft. Instead, wait for the conditions to subside.
  4. In the event of falling in, checkers should remain calm and reach the bank as quickly as possible.
  5. Surveyors and maintenance volunteers must be in pairs/groups.
  6. If, after exposure to river water, you feel unwell, notify your GP in case of Weil’s disease infection.
  7. All raft checkers/ Task Force members should carry a mobile phone with signal and a saved ICE number in case of emergency.
Water – High river level, flow, or debris in water High
  1. Review river level/flow prior to checking the raft(s). Do not conduct the survey if the water is deemed too high/fast.
  2. If debris are obstructing the raft, do not attempt to remove them. Instead notify a staff member at Citizen zoo.
Water – General injury/emergency  Medium
  1. All raft checkers/Task Force members should carry a charged mobile phone with signal and a saved ICE number in case of emergency.
  2. Appropriate footwear to be worn (i.e. closed toes, effective grip, water repellent if possible).
Uneven Ground – Slips/trips/falls Medium
  1. Appropriate footwear (i.e. closed toes, effective grip, water repellent) to be worn.
  2. All volunteers should carry a charged mobile phone with signal and a saved ICE number in case of emergency.
  3. Walk at a comfortable pace, never rush.
Weather – Dehydration Low
  1. Ample drinking water should be taken on any surveys, especially during hot weather.
  2. Sunscreen/hats should be worn whenever necessary.
  3. No alcohol to be consumed at any time before or during surveys.
Weather – Hypothermia Low
  1. Appropriate clothing to be worn or taken with you.
  2. All camera checkers should carry a charged mobile phone with signal and a saved ICE number in case of emergency.
  3. In the event of a surveyor displaying persistent symptoms of hypothermia, postpone the survey and proceed with the following: move somewhere warm, replace wet clothes and wrap in blankets. Provide a warm drink. If no improvements are seen or the situation worsens call 999.
Water – Pollution/storm discharge/waste water discharge Medium
  1. Avoid getting in the water, unless essential, particularly after high rainfall events and known waste water discharge events.
  2. Wash hands thoroughly after any contact with the river water and prior to eating or drinking.
  3. If sickness persists after exposure to river water, notify your GP in case of waterborne diseases.

Airtable Agreement

For our aquatic mink raft checks we use a service called Airtable, which allows us record the results of raft checks, upload photos of clay pads and other issues, and monitor the status of each individual raft going forward.

To submit your survey results or share raft status updates we need your consent for your details to be added to the Airtable database.

If you are happy and agree to this, please fill in the form and tick the box below.

Health & Safety Declaration and Airtable Agreement