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No party aboard may be under the influence of
street drugs or alcohol. Each watercraft must be equipped with an approved
flotation device for each occupant, and all safety equipment required by
the US Coast Guard such as extinguishers, radios etc. No watercraft shall
be used by more occupants than the approved rating. Prior to departure the
field trip/project leader will provide each participant with instructions
on the proper use of the watercraft, and its equipment including safety
equipment. For more information, see
the “CNSM Watercraft Safety Manual”, available from the Marine Lab
(PH3-038) and as a link on the CNSM Safety Webpage.
III. SAFETY GUIDELINES AND SPECIFIC RULES FOR
FIELD OPERATIONS
When in doubt about any
activity, err on the side of safety and caution!
1. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT & CLOTHING
Footwear:
Type of wearing apparel should be governed by the climatic
conditions and terrain. Boots are
the safest type of shoes for field exercises. Steel-toed safety boots
should be worn when working in an area where there is a potential hazard
from falling rocks or other objects. Some field work requires sturdy hiking
boots. Such boots protect the ankles and feet, and provide important
traction when walking on uneven terrain.
Good boots also help protect against snakes, scorpions, etc. Be sure
the footwear fit properly. Wear properly fitted hiking socks and/or double
socks as they help to prevent blisters, absorb perspiration, and are an
added protection against snakes. No
bare feet, high heels, clogs, or sandals.
Eye protection:
Safety Glasses or Goggles MUST be worn to protect the eyes during
activities such as chipping or grinding rocks, moving through areas heavy
with tree branches etc. Chemical
splash goggles must be worn when working with chemicals that could injure
the eyes (corrosives) unless the chemical is used behind a “protective
shield”. An
eyewash is also required when working with corrosive chemicals. A portable unit is available through the
Safety Office.
Dust masks: These devices may be worn in dusty
conditions to protect yourself against common “nuisance level” dusts. Chemical and/or dust-filtering
“respirators” may NOT be possessed or employed by persons not currently
participating in the University Respirator Program.
Appropriate clothing: Carefully consider conditions likely to
be encountered during travel to and at the final destination. Check NOAA or
other sites for weather forecasts.
The field exercise leader is required to make participants aware of
any extreme conditions, and to insist that all participants take
appropriate garb. In the field all
participants should have hats, sunscreen, and plenty of fluids. Hats will
shield you from the sun and help prevent sunstroke. A hard hat or helmet is
required in mines or where falling rocks might occur. Your field leader will provide hard hats
when they are required.
Employ a small pack and/or wear
something with plenty of pockets to put collected samples and gear in,
rather than in your hands. This will
keep your hands as free as possible to protect yourself against a
fall. Belts can be used to attach
various items such as a canteen, knife etc.
Bring a jacket and/or sweater. If you go very far from your base, it is
advisable to take it along even if you have to sling it through your
belt. Storms can come up without
much warning in some areas, and mountainous regions can get quite cold very
quickly.
2.
FOOD AND DRINK
If you are going to be gone for any
length of time, or are going very far from camp/car, take some food with
you. Be sure to take water and perhaps other liquids. Some references state 1 liter/person/24
Hrs. as an absolute minimum.
3. MEDICATIONS AND
FIRST AID SUPPLIES
The field trip/project leader is
responsible for having common first aid supplies available. Approved kits contain NO medications – not even
aspirin, Tylenol,etc. Each participant is responsible for
bringing any medications they are likely to need during the field exercise
as the field sites may be many hours away from any kind of store. Participants must make the field leader
aware of significant allergies and any special medical needs.
4.
DON’T GET LOST!
Discuss your plans with other members
of your party. Do not change these plans when alone. Carry a map of your
locality, even if it is only a sketch map.
Always try to get back to camp well before it gets dark. Never go
off alone. Consider bringing a compass along on your trip/project, and
matches in a waterproof case. Carry
a flashlight if there is a possibility you might be away after dark.
5. ETIQUETTE
Remember that we are guests at each
site. Obey all regulations and policies pertaining to the site. Collect and park in designated areas
only. Leave each site as you found it, or cleaner. Pick up all trash and tools at every
site. Gates should be left open or closed according to how they were found,
unless otherwise directed. Notify
the trip/project leader if you see any questionable or dangerous
activity. In the event of
persistent unsafe or inappropriate behavior by a field trip/project
participant, the field trip/project leader will insist that the participant
remove him/herself from the trip/project at the participant’s expense.
6.
CAMP RULES
Follow all
wilderness rules pertinent to where you are camping. Human waste must be buried at least 6
inches deep. No camping allowed within 100 ft. of any water source. Leave a clean camp. Wear bright colors if you are in an area
where hunting is permitted. The
trip/project leader will impose quiet time out of courtesy to others. Please cooperate. Don’t wander away from camp
alone. If you get lost, stay put and wait
for rescue! Good thing you carried
that food, water and matches, right?
7.
FIRE SAFETY ISSUES
Don’t start fires unless they are
safe, legal and properly attended at all times. Make sure they are thoroughly
extinguished before leaving. Do not
create new fire rings when possible. Bring your own wood for desert
campouts and other sites where wood gathering is inappropriate. If nails or other hardware are in your
wood, recover them for proper disposal. Never burn TREATED wood – it’s
poisonous.
8.
MINE SHAFTS, TUNNELS etc.
Mine shafts,
tunnels, caves etc. may NOT be entered without prior approval from the CNSM
Safety Office and/or the Campus Safety & Risk Management Office. Cal\OSHA strictly regulates entry into
confined spaces due to potential hazards such as poisonous gases, lack of
oxygen, collapsing walls etc. You
may not dig any holes/pits larger than 4 ft. or deeper without obtaining
prior written permission from CSULB Campus Safety and Risk Management.
9.
FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND TOXIC HAZARDS
Firearms are forbidden on CSULB field
exercises unless essential for the project and approved in writing by the
CNSM Safety Office. Mining and
former military areas are often test sites.
Be extra vigilant in such areas.
Stay away from all wires, plastic devices, blasting caps, dynamite,
primer cord etc. Avoid any item that
may be remains of explosives or detonators. Stay away from targets/target
areas. Never approach unexploded
artillery rounds, bombs, flares, cartridges, etc.
Beware of illegal “toxic dumping” as
well and avoid possible toxic materials or residues. When encountering
these items, note the location, warn others and notify the appropriate
authority of the find as soon as practical. Entry to posted military lands is
expressly forbidden without permission of the site authority. Even if working with such permission,
leave the area if conditions appear unsafe or if you are ordered to do so
by local military personnel. Restrict use of all radio-transmitting devices
whenever blasting operations are in progress. Cell phones, CB/Ham Radios,
walkie-talkies and even car alarm transmitters can set off a capped charge
of explosive. Do not be responsible
for detonating a charge of dynamite prematurely!
10. EXPOSURE TO THE
ELEMENTS
Sunburn
- Sunburn is a common and easily preventable hazard. People differ in their
susceptibility to sun due to their skin pigmentation. Certain medications
can also increase susceptibility to the sun. To prevent sunburn, cover
exposed skin and liberally apply sun block creams. Long-sleeved shirts and
a hat will also provide protection from the sun.
Heat Exhaustion –
Wear your hat and drink liquids!! Heat exhaustion can affect individuals in any physical condition. It is typically caused by prolonged
physical exertion in a hot environment.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include fatigue, irritability, excessive
thirst, heavy sweating, and cool and clammy skin. Treat these symptoms by
lying the victim down in a shaded area, cooling the victim, and giving
water or electrolyte replacement slowly but steadily if the victim can
drink. If heat exhaustion is not treated, this can lead to heat stroke.
Heat
stroke – This is more
serious than heat exhaustion. Symptoms include high body temperature; hot,
red, dry skin with absence of sweating; rapid pulse; convulsions and
unconsciousness. This is a potentially fatal condition that requires
immediate attention. Cool the victim
at once, replenish fluids as with heat exhaustion, and seek medical
attention immediately. Failure to gradually acclimate to heat, or even
minor degrees of dehydration or salt deficiency make an individual more
susceptible to heat exhaustion. To prevent heat exhaustion, drink plenty of
liquids, including electrolyte-replenishing “Gatorade” type products, and take
frequent rest breaks.
11.
WATER PURITY
A variety of potentially harmful
pathogens including bacteria, parasites, and viruses can survive in natural
water sources such as streams, lakes, and rivers. If a treated water source
is not available, carry your own water. Never drink from a natural source.
If you must use these sources, treat the water first by using water
purification tablets, boiling it for three minutes, or using a special
purification filter device.
12.
POISONOUS PLANTS
“Leaflets three, let it be”. Poison Ivy and Poison Oak are common in
the West. Consuming the wrong
“edible” wild plant can also be a route of poisoning. Never consume “wild mushrooms” on a
University field exercise. To
prevent contact exposure, learn to recognize and avoid poisonous plants.
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to eliminate or minimize exposures. Don’t touch objects that have had contact
with the plant (like shoes), and never inhale smoke from burning
plants. If you come in contact with
a poisonous plant, don’t spread the rash by touching other areas of the
body. Carefully remove contaminated
clothing and thoroughly wash the affected skin with soap and water as soon
as possible.
Ingestion of poisonous plants requires
prompt contact to a poison control center and immediate medical care.
13. PESTS AND WILD ANIMALS
Minimize problems by paying attention
to the following:
·
put garbage in rodent-proof containers and store away from
campsites or work areas. Avoid producing food crumbs and debris in your
work area. Use “bear” containers as
required.
·
Be
aware of the appearance and habitat of pests likely to be found.
·
Do
NOT intentionally feed animals – no matter how “cute” they are.
·
Carefully
look for pests before placing hands, feet, or body in areas where pests
live or hide; e.g., wood piles, crevices, ant hills, or burrows.
·
Do
not camp or sleep near animal/insect nests, burrows or ant/termite hills.
·
Thoroughly
shake all clothing and bedding before use.
·
Watch
out for animal traps set by ranchers or fur trappers.
·
Avoid
contact with sick or dead animals unless part of the study.
·
Wear
clothes made of tightly woven materials, and tuck pants into boots.
·
Use
insect repellent as needed and avoid scented toiletries that may attract
pests, including bears.
·
Minimize
the use of lights after dark to avoid attracting insect pests.
·
Use
nets as appropriate to keep pests away.
If you are bitten or stung and any of the following apply,
seek medical attention immediately: you were bitten by an animal, you are bleeding, you feel unwell, you feel what you suspect is an allergic
reaction, you suspect that the pest was poisonous, etc.
Common Field Pests
Bees and Wasps –Bees
(including “Killer Bees”), wasps, hornets and yellow jackets may be
attracted to scented materials (body fragrances, perfumes, lotions,
deodorants, and scented soaps) and food. These insects can inflict stings
that can cause serious or fatal allergic reaction in some people. This is
the most frequent cause of serious medical problems among field workers,
after trauma, e.g., falls and vehicular accidents. Avoid areas of heavy bee activity! If you know or suspect you are allergic
to these insects, you must inform your Trip/project leader and should
consult a physician to departure.
Centipedes – Centipedes
may be found under boards, in cracks and crevices, and moist locations,
where they hide during the day and emerge at night to eat small insects.
The centipede’s bite is more painful than serious.
Conenose Bug –
Conenose bugs may be found in areas animals inhabit. They breed in the dens
of wood rats. Conenose bugs thrive on blood, can carry disease, and can
cause serious allergic reaction in some people. Rock climbers and those
exploring rock shelters which harbor animal nests may be particularly prone
to encounters with conenose bugs.
Fleas and Ticks –
Fleas and ticks commonly inhabit animals and their nests and trails. Both
are blood suckers, and their bites can spread diseases such as Bubonic
plague (flea) and Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (tick). When
outdoors, wear clothing of tightly woven materials, tuck pants into boots
and stay on the widest part of paths.
Mosquitoes
– Mosquitoes bites can spread diseases such as West
Nile, LaCrosse etc. Birds can be reservoir hosts for some
diseases such as West Nile, and incidental
hosts such as dogs, cats, horses and other vertebrates can also carry
disease.
Scorpions – Scorpions normally hide during the
day and emerge at night. They might be attracted to a campsite or work area
to feed on other bugs drawn by light or food. They are commonly found under
rocks, in woodpiles, under old tree stumps, etc. Scorpions can inflict a
painful sting, and some are poisonous.
Snakes and Other
Reptiles – Most
snakes encountered are harmless.
Several species of rattlesnake, however, may be encountered in the Western US.
Rattlesnakes generally stay under shady rocks or brush in the
daytime but come out to “sun themselves” at times. They are most active at night. Sidewinder rattlesnakes sometimes bury
their bodies in sand, leaving only the head partially visible above
ground. To avoid rattlesnakes, walk
in open areas, wear heavy boots, and as you walk, use a stick to disturb
the brush in front of you. Be especially
careful at night! If you are bitten
by a rattlesnake, stay calm and move as little as possible. According to
the American Red Cross, these steps should be taken:
·
Wash
the bite with soap and water.
·
Immobilize
the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.
·
Get
medical help immediately.
Some medical professionals, along with the American Red Cross,
cautiously recommend two other measures:
·
If
a victim is unable to reach medical care within 30 minutes, a bandage,
wrapped two to four inches above the bite, may help slow venom. The bandage
should not cut off blood flow from a vein or artery (NO tourniquets!). A
good rule of thumb is to make the band loose enough that a finger can slip
under it.
·
a suction device may be placed over the bite to help draw venom
out of the wound without making cuts.
Be
aware that most (if not all) reptiles carry salmonella bacteria in their
intestinal tract and shed it continuously or intermittently in their
feces. This bacteria
causes illness in humans (e.g. “food poisoning” symptoms); wash hands after
handling reptiles.
Spiders – Black widow
and brown recluse spiders may be found in shady protected rock piles, under
logs or bark, in outdoor privies and in old buildings. Both spiders can inflict
painful bites which can cause local reactions, sweating, nausea, muscle
cramps, fever, chills etc.
Bears, Pumas and Other Critters That
Bite – In the West,
black bears are commonly found in woodland habitats. Mountain lions (Pumas)
are typically less common but can, on rare occasions present a hazard to
people in the field. Badgers,
skunks, porcupines, raccoons, rodents etc. can also cause problems. Information on animal activity can be
obtained from local park rangers and Fish& Game authorities. Detailed bear safety information may be
available at: http://svinet2.fs.fed.us/tnf/wildlife/bear.html.
Dangerous Marine Organisms – Sharks, venomous jellyfish and other ocean creatures
can inflict painful and even lethal injuries. Be cautious of where you place your feet
and hands when tidepooling; imbedded anemone
spines are painful and difficult to remove.
14.
DISEASES
Food Borne Ilnesses – Improper handling of foods is a
primary cause of most food borne illnesses. The field setting makes it
difficult to adequately protect foods. However, food borne outbreaks in the
field can be minimized by 1) always keeping perishable foods at proper
temperatures, 2) washing hands before food handling, 3) washing and
sanitizing food contact surfaces before food preparation, and 4) thoroughly
cooking/heating foods before eating. One cap full of household bleach to
one gallon of water is an effective sanitizer.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
– Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a respiratory disease caused by a
virus that is transmitted via the deer mouse and its feces. The risk of
transmission appears to be low. However, HPS is difficult to diagnose and
treat and has a relatively high fatality rate. Infection occurs by breathing dust or
aerosols containing feces, urine, or saliva from infected deer mice. The
most likely ways to acquire the disease are 1) by entering or working in
buildings where there has been heavy mice infestation, 2) by excavating
rodent burrows or sites very nearby them, or 3) by directly handling the
rodents or their carcasses, or disturbing their feces. The buildings with
highest risk are those that have been unoccupied for long periods. Aerosols
are made during the handling of live or killed rodents and their
traps. Anyone who develops the
flu-like symptoms mentioned above within six weeks of a possible Hantavirus
exposure must seek medical care at once and alert the health care provider
of the potential Hantavirus exposure.
Lyme Disease – Lyme
Disease is endemic along the Atlantic coast, in the West coast (California and Oregon)
and upper Midwest. The disease is spread
by the bite of an infected tick.
Contact your health care provider at once if you experience the
following symptoms (typically three days to one month after tick exposure):
a red bump where bitten, joint pain, fever, chills, headache, and malaise.
Untreated Lyme Disease can appear to go away, only to return in more serious
form later. Secondary stages can include heart complications and
meningitis-like symptoms. Months or years later, arthritis can appear, and
the later stages can involve chronic neurological manifestations.
Plague (Bubonic) –
This bacterial disease has been found in several areas in the Southwest.
Plague may be contracted through the bites from a rodent flea or by contact
with infected animal tissues, or inhalation of the bacteria of the animal.
Infected fleas may leave a sick or dead animal host and bite people.
Symptoms include fever, chills, malaise, nausea, sore throat and headache.
Symptoms may appear from one to seven days after infection. Untreated
plague is fatal in about half of all reported cases. You should discuss
immunization against plague with your doctor or Student Health Services if
you are working in a plague-infested area or are likely to come in contact
with fleas.
Rabies – Several wild
and domestic animal species are reservoirs for rabies, including foxes, wolves,
bats, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, dogs, and cats. In the west skunks and
bats are primary carriers. Rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, and mice
are rarely infected. A bite from an infected animal can pass the generally
fatal disease to humans. To prevent exposure, avoid contact with any wild
animals, particularly sick or dead ones. Anyone whose work involves a risk
of animal bites should be immunized against rabies.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
– This disease is spread by tick bites, and is characterized by flu-like
symptoms including fever, headache, and muscle pain and is often
accompanied by a rash. Symptoms appear from 3 to 14 days after the tick
bite. Summer is the height of the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever season, but
ticks are active and can transmit the disease from April to October. This disease is most prevalent in the Southeast and lower
Midwest.
Tetanus – The spores
of this disease-producing organism can enter the body through puncture
wounds, lacerations or burns that become contaminated with soil or
excrement. Immediately wash all
wounds to help prevent tetanus, and consult a Doctor. This potentially fatal disease causes painful
muscle contractions and spasms. The incubation period varies from 3 to 21
days, depending on the extent and location of the wound. Field workers should be sure that their
tetanus vaccinations are up-to-date.
Valley Fever (Coccidiodomycosis) – The fungus which causes
this disease lives in the soil in limited areas of Arizona
and California.
Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, and cough can appear from one
to four weeks after exposure to contaminated soil. The disease can heal
completely or cause residual lung damage or even progress to a fatal stage
in unusual cases. Non-residents with even slight exposure to soil in
endemic areas may contract this disease. Infections occur most often in
summer, especially after wind and dust storms. To prevent exposure, soil
should be wet before disturbing it so dust is minimized, stay and sleep
upwind of excavation sites, and use a dust mask for work with soil. Field
workers who are not native to endemic areas and plan to work on projects
where contact with soil is likely should consult with a physician before
any field activities.
Barriers such as eye protection,
gloves, protective outerwear, and modified practices for handling rodents
and traps are also recommended where appropriate. Wet mop, rather than sweep
or vacuum when cleaning buildings prior to use.
15. WHAT TO DO IF YOU
BECOME LOST:
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