445-3-H Safety and Health for Field Operations
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Safety and Health for Field Operations Safety and Health for Field Operations Handbook 445-3-H February 2014 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Introduction This Survey Manual Handbook was developed to complement Survey Manual Handbook SM 445-2-H. This Handbook lays the groundwork for incorporating occupational safety and health into the planning of all field projects and tasks. This Handbook will assist supervisors in providing a safe and healthful workplace for Bureau employees and volunteers. In addition, it provides employees with information on safe work practices, identification of hazards, and reporting of unsafe working conditions. This Handbook is a tool that supports management’s responsibility to promote positive safety and health attitudes among employees and to integrate safe procedures into all Bureau activities. Supervisors are responsible for recognizing and rewarding employees for outstanding performance in the area of occupational safety and health. Every Bureau supervisor, employee, and volunteer is responsible for following safe work practices and procedures, and for identifying and reporting unsafe conditions. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide assistance in carrying out those responsibilities. All Bureau employees and volunteers are responsible for familiar- izing themselves with this Handbook and for utilizing safe work prac- tices and procedures during performance of duties. For the purposes of this Handbook, Bureau volunteers are considered to be employees. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Safety and Health for Field Operations Handbook 445–3–H i February 2014 Safety and Health for Field Operations Handbook 445–3–H ii February 2014 Contents Introduction.......................................................................................... i Topic 1. Job Hazard Analysis ........................................................... 1 Topic 2. Personal Protective Equipment ........................................ 7 Topic 3. Personal Safety ................................................................. 21 Topic 3-1. Check-Out and Check-In System ....................... 21 Topic 3-2. Search and Rescue .............................................. 23 Topic 3-3. First Aid ................................................................... 30 Topic 3-4. Workplace Violence ............................................. 36 Topic 4. Travel ...................................................................................39 Topic 4-1. Walking ...................................................................39 Topic 4-2. Vehicles .................................................................. 46 Topic 4-3. Watercraft .............................................................. 54 Topic 4-4. Aviation ................................................................... 62 Topic 4-5. Off-Highway Vehicles ........................................... 70 Topic 4-6. Trailers ....................................................................72 Topic 5. Industrial Hygiene ............................................................. 81 Topic 5-1. Health Hazards ......................................................81 Topic 5-2. Hazard Communication ........................................ 86 Topic 5-3. Chemicals of Special Concern ........................... 90 Topic 5-4. Ergonomics ............................................................ 99 Topic 5-5. Heat Illness Prevention ...................................... 111 Topic 5-6. Cold Illness Prevention ...................................... 116 Topic 5-7. Noise .....................................................................119 Topic 5-8. Camp Safety and Sanitation .............................. 124 Topic 5-9. Bloodborne Pathogens ...................................... 130 Topic 5-10. Hantavirus ..........................................................131 Topic 5-11. Pfiesteria ............................................................ 138 Topic 6. Radiation ...........................................................................141 Topic 6-1. Ionizing Radiation ............................................... 141 Topic 6-2. Nonionizing Radiation ........................................ 145 Topic 7. Portable Tools .................................................................. 153 Topic 7-1. Hand Tools ............................................................ 153 Topic 7-2. Portable Power Tools .........................................164 Topic 7-3. Chainsaws ............................................................ 172 Topic 7-4. Portable Generators ...........................................177 Topic 8. Wildlife Hazards .............................................................. 179 Topic 8-1. Dangerous Animals ............................................ 179 Topic 8-2. Venomous Snakes .............................................. 185 Topic 8-3. Arthropods ........................................................... 188 Topic 8-4. Poisonous Plants ................................................ 197 Topic 8-5. Bear Spray ........................................................... 201 Topic 8-6. Firearms Safety ................................................... 202 Topic 9. Altitude-Related Problems (above 8,000 feet) ............ 205 Topic 10. Breakaway Sounding Reel Cable Installation .......... 209 Topic 11. Caves ...............................................................................217 Topic 12. Compressed Gas Cylinders .......................................... 221 Topic 13. Confined Spaces ........................................................... 227 Topic 14. Electrical Safety ............................................................ 235 Topic 15. Excavations .................................................................... 237 Topic 16. Gaging Stations ............................................................. 241 Topic 17. Fall Protection ................................................................247 Topic 18. Fire Safety ....................................................................... 251 Topic 19. Heavy Equipment ........................................................... 259 Topic 20. Hot Work ......................................................................... 265 Topic 21. Ice-Covered Rivers ....................................................... 269 Topic 22. Ladders ........................................................................... 281 Topic 23. Lightning ......................................................................... 289 Topic 24. Lockout/Tagout .............................................................. 293 Topic 25. Mine Safety .................................................................... 295 Topic 26. Near, On, In, or Over Water ......................................... 303 Topic 27. Snorkeling and Free Diving .......................................... 305 Topic 28. Technical Information for the A-55 Reel Drag Brake ...................................................... 313 Topic 29. Welding ........................................................................... 327 Topic 30. Work Zones .................................................................... 333 Safety and Health for Field Operations Handbook 445–3–H iii February 2014 Safety and Health for Field Operations Handbook 445–3–H iv February 2014 Topic 1. Job Hazard Analysis A job hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur. It focuses on the relation ship between the employee, the task, the tools, and the work environ ment. Ideally, after you identify uncontrolled hazards, you will take steps to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable risk level. You can help prevent workplace injuries and illnesses by looking at your workplace operations, establishing proper job procedures, and ensuring that all employees are trained properly. One of the best ways to determine and establish proper work proce dures is to conduct a job hazard analysis. A job hazard analysis is one component of the larger commitment of a safety and health manage ment system. Supervisors can use the findings of a job hazard analysis to eliminate and prevent hazards in their workplaces. This is likely to result in fewer worker injuries and illnesses; safer, more effective work meth ods; reduced workers’ compensation costs; and increased employee productivity. The analysis also can be a valuable tool for training new employees in the steps required to perform their jobs safely. For a job hazard analysis to be effective, management must dem onstrate its commitment to safety and health and follow through to correct any uncontrolled hazards identified. Otherwise, management will lose credibility and employees may hesitate to go to management when dangerous conditions threaten them. What jobs are appropriate for a job hazard analysis? A job hazard analysis can be conducted on many jobs. Priority should go to the following types of jobs: • Jobs with the highest injury or illness rates. • Jobs with the potential to cause severe or disabling injuries or illness, even if there is no history of previous accidents. • Jobs in which one simple human error could lead to a severe accident or injury. • Jobs that are new to your operation or have undergone changes in processes and procedures. • Jobs complex enough to require written instructions.