SAFETY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE GEOLOGIST
prior to the work zone so that appropriate adjustments or lane changes can be made. Finally, appropriate training should be provided to employees in work zones on what to do in the event of an emergency, and in the cases of impaired or distracted drivers. Workers should always face traffic when not occupied with the work at hand. Finally, good public relations should be maintained by sufficient advance notice for motorists to select alternate routes if available or convenient. Cooperation with local news media outlets and law enforcement is always a positive step towards a safer work zone.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs)
Personal Protective Equipment, commonly known as PPEs, are those things that protect you, the geologist, when you’re on a job site. Some items are mandated by state and/or Federal law, or by your employer. Other PPEs are ‘recommended’. Make sure you know the hazards that you’re facing BEFORE you get to the jobsite. Items that are required by your job should be paid for by your employer.
If you’re working anywhere near construction or heavy equipment, then a hard hat is REQUIRED. Hard hats should be clean, so that they may be visually inspected for potential defects. Discard and replace worn and/or excessively used hard hats. Make sure that the hard hat that you wear is approved for use in the type of project that you’re participating in. If you’re working on water, on a barge or a boat, you should always wear a personal flotation device. This is also required by law in the US.
A short list of PPEs and their recommended use is in Table 1. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it represents a good starting point for future discussions
Dust masks should also be included in personal protective Personal Protective Equipment Need
Hard hat Eye protection Retroreflective Safety Vest
Ear plugs Life vest
Climbing harness
that cause disease and permethrin-based spray for clothing (NEVER spray it on bare skin - permethrin is a synthetic pyrethrin which is not only poisonous if inadvertently digested, but fatal in cases of acute subcutaneous exposure). A first aid kit should always be available, and should be checked for restocking regularly. Fire extinguishers in working order (check them yearly or whenever discharged) and of the proper type should also be available around flammable materials. Know the location of the nearest hospital and how to get there before you even begin the job.
A Philosophy of Safety – Buying In to the Concept of “Zero Incidents”
Jobsite safety should be a primary focus for all geolo- gists. Without a safe job site, productivity and profits suffer. Employee morale suffers, and workers are put in danger to the point where the job may become unprofitable
The goal is to not have incidents that threaten employee well-being. Note here that in this closing section incidents are not referred to as ‘accidents’. This means that these so- called ‘accidents’ are incidents which may be prevented. The responsibility for prevention is shared by each employee, and this includes management and supervisors. This shared responsibility means that everyone is obligated to accept the task of preventing incidents. With this shared responsibil- ity, workplace risks can be minimized and exposures to risk limited. Communication is essential, so that successful pre- vention information is shared with all. To achieve open com- munication, the individual work groups are focused together on preventing the risks. Teamwork develops and eventually, a heightened awareness of the risks present leads to employees looking after one another.
At this point, the phenomenon of ‘unit integrity’ devel- When it’s Needed
In proximity to any kind of safety hazard of drop; on construction sites and in mines; whenever you’re around drilling equipment or cranes. OSHA requirement.
Recommended in both field and lab where exposures may occur.
Required in DOT rights-of-way; recommended for any high traffic area.
Steel toed boots, steel metatarsal protection Recommended or required dependent upon jobsite.
Recommended for high noise conditions Required on US waters in boats and on barges
Required wherever scaffolds or ladders are in use over 8’ in height.
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) In confined spaces and where toxic inhalants may be present.
Table 1: Personal Protective Equipment requirements for certain jobs.
gear and used, for example where bentonite is being mixed for drilling fluid, due to the dangers of respirable silica. DEET- based insect creams/spray for repelling mosquitoes and ticks
ops. Employees who protect each other and work with each other daily develop trust in one another. Incident levels
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