8/21/2015

SafetyintheFieldandGeneralGuidanceforGeologicalFieldwork|GeologyIN

Safety in the Field and General Guidance for Geological Fieldwork

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Workinginthefieldshouldbeasafe,enjoyableandveryrewardingexperience,aslongasafewbasicandsensible
precautionsaretaken.Geologicalfieldworkisanactivityinvolvingsomeinherentrisksandhazards,suchasincoastal
exposures,qurries,mines,riversectionsandmountains.Severeweatherconditionsmayalsobeencounteredinany
season,especiallyonmountainsoratthecoast.Fieldworkdoesinvolveanimportantelementofselfrelianceandthe
abilitytocopealoneorinasmallgroup.Youareresponsibleforyourownsafetyinthefield,butneverthelessthereare
somesimpleprecautionsyoucantaketoavoidproblemsandminimiserisks.
Dowearadequateclothingandfootwearforthetypeofweatherandterrainlikelytobeencountered.Trytoknowthe
weatherforecastfortheareabeforeyougooutfortheday.Keepaconstantlookoutforchanges.
Donothesitatetoturnbackiftheweatherdeteriorates.
Walkingbootswithgoodsolesarenormallyessential.Sportsshoesareunsuitableformountains,quarriesandrough
country.
Planworkcarefully,bearinginmindyourexperienceandtraining,thenatureoftheterrainandtheweather.Be
carefulnottooverestimatewhatcanbeachieved.
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SafetyintheFieldandGeneralGuidanceforGeologicalFieldwork|GeologyIN

Learnthemountainsafetyandcavingcodes,andinparticularknowtheeffectsofexposure.Allgeologistsshould
takeacourseinFirstAid.
Itisgoodpracticebeforegoingintothefieldtoleaveanoteandpreferablyamapshowingexpectedlocationof
studyandroute,andtimeofreturn.
Knowwhattodoinanemergency(e.g.,accident,
illness,badweather,darkness).Knowtheinternational
distresssignal:sixwhistleblasts,torchflashesorwaves
ofalightcolouredcloth,repeatedatoneminute
intervals.
Carryatalltimesasmallfirstaidkit,someemergency
food(chocolate,biscuits,mintcake,glucosetablets),a
survivalbag(orlargeplasticbag),awhistle,torch,
map,compassandwatch.
Wearasafetyhelmet(preferablywithachinstrap)
whenvisitingoldquarries,cliffs,screeslopes,etc.,or
whereverthereisariskfromfallingobjects.Itis
obligatorytodosowhenvisitingworkingquarries,minesandbuildingsites.
Avoidhammeringwherepossiblebeaconservationist.
Wearsafetygoggles(orsafetyglasseswithplasticlenses)forprotectionagainstflyingsplinterswhenhammering
rocksorusingchisels.
Donotuseonegeologicalhammerasachiselandhammeritwithanotheruseonlyasoftsteelchisel.
Avoidhammeringnearanotherpersonorlookingtowardsanotherpersonhammering.Donotleaverockdebrison
theroadwayorverges.
Beconservationmindedandhaveasympatheticregardforthecountrysideandgreatoutdoors,andforthepeople,
animalsandplantsthatlivethere.
Whenyouarecollectingspecimens,donotstriporspoilsiteswherespecialfossilsandraremineralsoccur.Takeonly
whatyoureallyneedforfurtherwork.
Takespecialcareneartheedgesofcliffsandquarries,oranyothersteeporsheerfaces,particularlyingustingwinds.

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SafetyintheFieldandGeneralGuidanceforGeologicalFieldwork|GeologyIN

Ensurethatrocksabovearesafebeforeventuringbelow.Quarrieswithrockfacesloosenedbyexplosivesare
especiallydangerous.
Avoidworkingunderanunstableoverhang.
Avoidlooseningrocksonsteepslopes.
Donotworkdirectlyaboveorbelowanotherperson.
Neverrollrocksdownslopesorovercliffsforamusement.
Donotrundownsteepslopes.
Bewareoflandslidesandmudflowsoccurringonclaycliffsandinclaypits,orrockfallsfromanycliffs.
Avoidtouchinganymachineryorequipmentin
quarries,minesorbuildingsites.Complywithsafety
rules,blastwarningprocedures,andanyinstructions
givenbyofficials.Keepasharplookoutformoving
vehicles,etc.Bewareofsludgelagoons.
Donotclimbcliffs,rockfacesorcrags,unlessyouare
anexperiencedclimberandhaveapartner.
Takegreatcarewhenwalkingorclimbingover
slipperyrocksbelowthehighwatermarkonrocky
shores.Moreaccidentstogeologists,including
fatalities,occuralongrockyshorelinesthananywhere
else.

KimSengeronfieldworkinSvalbardinJuly2011.(Photo:KeiOgata/

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SafetyintheFieldandGeneralGuidanceforGeologicalFieldwork|GeologyIN

Bewareoftrafficwhenexaminingroadcuttings.
Railwaycuttingsandmotorwaysaregenerallynotopentogeologists,unlessspecialpermissionhasbeenobtained
fromappropriateauthorities.
Donotenteroldmineworkingsorcavesystemsunlessexperiencedandproperlyequipped.
Avoidgettingtrappedbythetideonintertidalbanksorbelowseacliffs.Obtainlocalinformationabouttidesand
currents.Payparticularattentiontotidalrange.Forseacliffs,localadvicecanbeobtainedfromHMCoastguards.
Alwaystrytoobtainpermissiontoenterprivateproperty
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