Example of Issues and Areas for Consideration for SU Minibus and Vehicle

College of natural Sciences -Department: Biological Sciences ......

RISK ASSESSMENT TITLE: Fieldwork: DNA sampling of snakes in South Africa......

South Africa (Western Cape, Location / Building / Locating and capturing snakes to obtain tissue samples for subsequent DNA Eastern Cape, Free State, Kwa- Activity (Summary): Area: analysis. Zulu Natal)

Date of Assessment: 25/1/2010 Name of Assessor: Axel Barlow

Ref What are the Who might What are you already doing to prevent What further action is necessary? Action by Action by Done No dangers/hazards? be harmed harm? whom when (Date) and how? 1 General fieldwork hazards: SBS staff,  Compass, GPS, and mobile phone to  Signal reception strength for SBS staff Before getting lost, exposure to field be carried mobiles could vary, and should and elements, exhaustion, colleagues  Local guides to be used when be checked regularly during dehydration, trips and falls. available  A trusted person should be fieldwork  Adequate clothing to be informed of the location of field worn/carried: strong boots, sun hat, excursions, and the expected waterproofs time of return  Avoid sun burn by regular  Great care to be taken when application of sun-block and wearing walking in snake habitat to avoid of appropriate clothing stepping on snakes  Adequate food and water supplies to  Care taken when turning rocks be carried and other refugia. Venomous  Care to be taken when negotiating arachnids and snakes may be difficult terrain underneath.  Fieldwork to be conducted in groups of at least three if at all feasible 2 Handling of venomous snakes SBS staff,  handling of venomous snakes only to  Snake handling to be conducted SBS staff, Before field be undertaken by trained personnel using appropriate tools (hooks, field and colleagues  provision of suitable equipment: tongs) and with minimal physical colleagues during hooks, tongs, puncture-resistant contact with the snake. fieldwork gloves, tubes, bagging devices,  all snakes to be treated as strong boots venomous until confirmed  Venomous snakes not to be handled otherwise; all road casualties to alone. A second individual should be treated as alive until provide ‘back up’ for the handler. confirmed dead  snakes will not be handled if feeling  For DNA sampling (scale clipping, unwell, tired, or after consumption blood sample), a standard of alcohol method will be employed: the snakes will be encouraged to crawl into a clear plastic tube where they can be safely restrained by holding the mid- body.  All equipment to be checked regularly for damage or wear and tear Ref What are the Who might What are you already doing to prevent What further action is necessary? Action by Action by Done No dangers/hazards? be harmed harm? whom when (Date) and how? 3 Snake envenoming Personnel  Snake bite first-aid (ACE bandage)  In the event of snakebite: Personnel Before involved in to be carried and individuals patient to be immobilised and involved fieldwork, the handling instructed in its correct use kept calm; apply ACE bandage if in the immediately of venomous  South African polyvalent antivenom appropriate; evacuate handling after snakes to be carried, only to be immediately to nearest medical of snakebite administered by a qualified medic facility; medical staff to be venomous  Mobile phone to be carried informed in advance that a snakes  Location and telephone number of snakebite patient is being nearest hospital to be ascertained admitted, requiring immediate before work with venomous snakes attention, and the species of commences snake involved  Antivenom to be checked regularly – should be in-date and clear 4 Venom allergy, from snake- Personnel  Adrenaline, in the form of self-  Expiry date of adrenaline pens Personnel Before bite or exposure to venom involved in injection pens (Epipen), to be to be checked involved fieldwork samples the handling carried for the unlikely event of  In event of anaphylaxis: in the of venomous anaphylaxis resulting from venom administer Epipen; evacuate handling snakes allergy immediately to the nearest of  Gloves and respiratory protection to medical facility; inform medical venomous be used if handling venom samples staff in advance snakes 5 Sharps - cuts from scissors Personnel  Great care to be taken when DNA  In event of injury administer Personnel In event of during scale clipping, needle- involved in sampling. Personnel must be aware appropriate first-aid. Medical involved injury stick injuries during blood DNA that snake may twitch or move advice sought if required. in DNA sampling (note: no known sampling around during sampling sampling blood-borne pathogens are  used needles capped and stored in transmissible from snakes to appropriate sealed container until humans) they can be disposed of in a dedicated sharps bin 6 terrorism, civil unrest SBS staff  An underlying threat of terrorism is  Regular checks of FCO website SBS staff During trip present in South Africa. Staff must and monitoring of local news therefore be aware of any potential threats and monitor any arising situations 7 Crime: robbery, mugging, SBS staff,  Townships to be avoided where  Local information should be SBS staff During trip assault, violence, car-jacking, especially in possible sought regarding safety of credit-card fraud townships  Valuables (e.g. money, passports, particular areas and non- cameras, laptops) to be kept out of  Where possible, trips away from tourist areas sight when in public accommodation should not be  Photocopies of passports taken, and undertaken alone, especially at kept in a different place to actual night. passports  When driving, be aware of any surrounding pedestrians or vehicles; do not stop to assist distressed motorists  Caution should be exercised when providing personal or financial details  Care taken when using ATM’s 8 Road traffic accidents – the SBS staff and  Great care to be taken when SBS staff standard of driving in South field walking along or crossing roads Africa is very variable. Also colleagues.  Drivers should be cautious and risk of drivers falling asleep at As aware of other road users the wheel. pedestrians  Drivers must be aware of frequent and when under-taking (i.e. on the left-hand driving side) by South African drivers  Regular breaks to be taken when driving long distances or at night. 9 Tropical diseases SBS staff  Medical travel advice sought (GP)  Reduce insect bites through use SBS staff During trip and followed of insect repellents and  Recommended immunisations appropriate clothing received  Exercise good standards of food  Malaria prophylaxis required for hygiene Kwa-Zulu Natal  Care taken with drinking water  Contact with domestic and wild mammals to be avoided due to Rabies risk  HIV/AIDS prevalent – staff should follow normal precautions to avoid exposure Name of Academic supervisor. Signature Date

Dr Wolfgang Wüster