Whether you are taking part in the Alberta Highway Cleanup program or maintaining county roads, this initiative presents a valuable opportunity for communities to collaborate in keeping their roads clean. However, roadside cleanup involves certain risks. To mitigate these hazards, the Risk Team at RMA has developed a comprehensive list of recommendations and best practices to ensure a safe and effective cleanup process.
Guidelines & Recommendations
- Participants must be a minimum of 9 years old.
- Ensure a supervision ratio of one adult supervisor for every two participants under 14 years old.
- Maintain a supervision ratio of one adult supervisor for every five participants aged 14 to 18 years old.
- Cleaning activities on medians of divided highways are strictly prohibited.
- Only outer ditches on divided highways should be cleaned.
- Cleanup activities must take place during daylight hours, between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, to ensure participant visibility to drivers.
- A fully stocked First Aid Kit must be available on-site.
- Participants are advised to wear brightly colored, reflective clothing to enhance their visibility to motorists
- Participants must remain off the highway at all times and avoid crossing the highway or chasing windblown objects such as litter or personal belongings.
- Adult supervisors should position themselves between the pavement edge and participants to provide a safety barrier.
- Younger participants should be assigned to areas closer to fences and furthest from the road surface.
- Refrain from touching or collecting dead animals or any suspicious items, such as needles, syringes, or chemical and pesticide containers.
- Avoid all bodies of water, regardless of how shallow they may appear.
- The use of headphones, handheld video games, or cell phones is prohibited unless the call directly relates to cleanup activities.
- Proper signage should be in place to alert motorists, with advanced signage to be placed before any blind turns or blind hills to alert motorists when participants may not be visible.
RMA offers a comprehensive volunteer package, available upon request. This package includes sample volunteer screening checklists, interview forms, volunteer agreements, waiver forms, and additional resources designed to support our members in selecting volunteers for events.
Annual Highway Cleanup
Alberta Transportation has established a highway cleanup program that allows non-profit organizations to participate by assisting in cleaning designated highways in exchange for compensation. For members interested in taking part, we have compiled the following key information:
- All non-profit organizations and clubs are encouraged to participate and utilize this opportunity as a fundraising initiative.
- Interested members may contact Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to request a specific highway section for cleanup.
- Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors provide compensation of $100 per kilometer cleaned to all participating non-profit organizations.
- All participants must complete the required training courses before taking part in the highway cleanup program.
- Alberta Transportation supplies safety manuals, safety vests, garbage bags, signs, and gloves for participants.
- Collected garbage bags should be placed along the outer edge of the highway, where designated Alberta Transportation maintenance contractors will retrieve them.
- For inquiries or to register for the Highway Cleanup Program, please contact trans.highwayoperations@gov.ab.ca.
See below for a sample diagram that displays the proper set up for roadside cleanup on Alberta highways and county roads.
Please reach out to the Risk Team at risk@rmainsurance.com for any questions or concerns relating to roadside cleanup.
Source: Annual Highway Clean Up Event – Managing Supervisors Handbook