A GUIDE TO SAFE FIELD OPERATIONS U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-777

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A GUIDE TO SAFE FIELD OPERATIONS By D.K. YOBBI, T.H. YORKE and R.T. MYCYK U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-777

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M A 4 9 R C 1 8 Tallahassee, Florida H 3 1996

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director

The safety procedures used in this report are ammended and distributed as needed to provide current guidelines for USGS employees. To obtain copies or revisions of this report, please write:

Water Resources Division Safety Officer U.S. Geological Survey Office of the Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Operations Branch of Operational Support, MS 405 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 22092

CONTENTS

Introduction ...... 1 Your Role as a USGS Employee ...... 1 General Operational and Safety Procedures...... 2 Training for New Employees...... 2 Communication...... 3 Preparing for the Field ...... 4 Transportation...... 5 In the Field...... 6 Weather...... 6 Terrain ...... 7 Animals ...... 8 Poisonous Plants...... 9 Equipment...... 10 Maintenance and Storage...... 11 Safety Inspections...... 12 Specific Procedures and Safety Issues ...... 12 Surface-Water Activities ...... 12 Wading Measurements ...... 12 Bridge Measurements...... 13 Cableway Measurements...... 14 Boat Measurements...... 15 Discharge Measurements Under Ice Cover...... 16 Indirect Flood Discharge Measurements...... 16 Electrofishing ...... 17 Construction, Repair, and Maintenance of Streamgaging Stations...... 17 Gage Inspection and Records Removal...... 18 Scuba Diving ...... 18 Ground-Water Activities ...... 19 Well Inventory ...... 19 Collecting Water-Level Data ...... 20 Instrumenting and Repairing Observation Wells...... 20 Drilling Observation Wells...... 21 Conducting Aquifer Tests...... 21 Geophysical Logging of Wells ...... 22 Surface Geophysical Measurements ...... 23 Water-Quality Activities ...... 23 Collecting Samples From Streams, Rivers, and Lakes...... 24 Sampling Wells...... 24 Sample Preservation and Shipment...... 25 Operating Field Parameter Meters ...... 26 Installing and Operating Water-Quality Monitors...... 26 References ...... 27 Additional Reading ...... 27

ACRONYMS USED IN THIS REPORT:

Contents III AC Alternating Current

CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

EF Electrofishing

GFCI Ground-Fault-Circuit-Interruptor

IRP Installation Restoration Program

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PFD Personal Flotation Device

PVC Polyvinyl Chloride

RP Redox Potential

TCP Traffic Control Plan

TWRI Techniques for Water-Resources Investigations

US United States

USGS United States Geological Survey

WRD Water Resources Division

IV Contents INTRODUCTION YOUR ROLE AS A USGS EMPLOYEE

Most functions of the U.S. Geological Survey The Bureau and Division are mandated through (USGS), Water Resources Division (WRD) require Executive Order 12196 and Occupational Safety and employees to participate in numerous field activities Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1960, to ranging from routine meetings with cooperators, other establish policies, procedures, and requirements of managers and supervisors to provide training, a safe federal and public officials, and private citizens to working environment, and proper equipment for potentially hazardous assignments, such as making employees to undertake field assignments with flood measurements and scuba diving to service minimal chance of personal injury or infringement on underwater instruments. It is paramount that each the rights of others. However, once you have received employee be aware of safety procedures and training and have been assigned an activity, most of the operational policies of the WRD to ensure that (1) their responsibility for personal safety and that of others is activities avoid or minimize personal injury to the yours. The same applies to infringing on another employee, coworkers, or anyone in the vicinity of the person's personal or property rights. You will be in the field activity, and (2) their conduct does not infringe on field alone, in most cases, and will have to make decisions based on your training, common sense, the personal or property rights of any individual or judgment, and experience. organization. Your first responsibility is to think for yourself. The purpose of the guide is to familiarize Most supervisors have previously undertaken most, if employees with the operational and safety procedures not all, of the activities that you will be assigned; expected to be followed by each employee as a however, each individual is much more aware of his or representative of the WRD. It is also intended as a her own experience, skills, and limitations. Therefore, training tool for all new employees and a document to before you undertake an assignment, review the tasks be reviewed by each employee before undertaking a required and then think about what you need to do and field assignment. It includes general procedures that prepare yourself accordingly. If you have questions or are standard and applicable to all field operations, such concerns about your assignment and equipment, whether it is a policy or safety issue, be sure to request as communication, vehicle operation, and adequate advice or consultation from your supervisor. For preparation for anticipated weather conditions. It also instance, if you feel that your equipment is inadequate includes a discussion of specific procedures and safety to accomplish the assigned tasks in a safe manner, you considerations for most of the routine field assignments have the right to request that adequate equipment be undertaken by hydrologists and hydrologic technicians provided. If you are already in the field and your of the WRD. The guide is not intended to be a technical equipment becomes unsafe to operate, it may be handbook outlining step-by-step procedures for appropriate to make an emergency purchase in order to performing specific tasks or a comprehensive outfit yourself properly. discussion of every possible activity that may be Once you have prepared yourself and have begun undertaken by a USGS employee. Employees are your assignment, your safety is largely dependent on referred to the Techniques for Water-Resources your attitude. You do not want to be approaching a task Investigations (TWRI) series for specific technical with the notion that you can do anything and that you procedures and to the U.S. Geological Survey Safety can rely on your strength and ability to avoid personal and Environmental Health Handbook 445-1-H (USGS, injuries. Instead, think about each step that you must take to accomplish a task, think about the risks August 1989), USGS Occupational Hazards and Safety involved, and plan each step to minimize the risks. A Procedures Handbook 445-2-H (December 1993), the "Job Hazard Analysis" would be most helpful. This WRD notebook on Safety Policy and Guidance might, for example, include taking a circuitous route to Memoranda, and other references for procedures and the field site to avoid backing into or turning across safety issues related to nonroutine activities, such as heavy traffic with your vehicle. Also be ready to alter operations on large vessels and aircraft. your plan if you are confronted with a potential risk

Your Role as a USGS Employee 1 due to changes in situation. For example, do not go Training for New Employees ahead with a wading measurement when the stage is too high just because you have already carried all your Since many of the field activities that hydrologists equipment to the normal wading section; instead, find a and hydrologic technicians are asked to undertake are safe wading section or make plans for an alternative unique to our Division, it is incumbent on the Division measurement. Remember, if you want to complete to provide proper safety training for new employees your assigned tasks free of personal injury, you must be and refresher courses for all employees. The USGS thinking constantly about safety. Handbooks, 445-1-H and 445-2-H, outline the training As a representative of the USGS, you also need to requirements for managers, supervisors, and be aware of how your activities may affect the rights of employees. Training will include a combination of others and the Division's relations with property formal classroom training, reading assignments, owners, cooperators, and the general public. A flippant discussions with the supervisor, and on-the-job comment, inappropriate attire (for example, a tee shirt training. The employee's immediate supervisor has the with a vulgar phrase), or driving a vehicle off a primary responsibility of ensuring that adequate designated trail may seriously damage a good training is provided. relationship or trust built through years of mutual Training begins with discussions between the respect between the affronted individual and your supervisor and the employee on the mission of the office. It also might jeopardize a long-term investigation and federal and cooperator funds that support you and Division, activities assigned to individual offices, and other employees. Once again, think before you act; what is expected of the employee. The supervisor know why and how you are undertaking an activity, be needs to assess the employee's capabilities and willing to answer reasonable questions posed to you, be maturity, determine his or her previous safety record, respectful, ask permission before entering private determine the type of training and previous field property, and use common sense. experience, and discuss a specific training plan for the individual. The employee also will need to accurately Finally, you are entrusted with a considerable state his or her previous experience and training, ask amount of equipment and specialized instruments that questions about the nature of potential assignments, were purchased with dollars provided by yourself and and be confident that the instructions and training will other taxpayers. This equipment should be secured and properly maintained not only to minimize loss and be adequate for the employee to begin field activities. damage, but also to reduce the risk of injuries to The training plan for each employee will consist of yourself and others. For example, if you keep a vehicle at least the following elements: well maintained, it will have a longer useful life and be less costly to the government; however, more - Orientation for the new employee by the importantly, the vehicle will be much safer and supervisor, administrative officer, dependable for both you and your fellow workers to safety officer, and office manager. operate. Proper use and care of hand and power tools - Reading assignments—Handbook for will save on replacement costs, ensure that tools are New Employees, (USGS, 1990), Field available, and ensure that they are safe to use. Safety Guidelines for the U.S. Geological Survey, Central Region GENERAL OPERATIONAL AND (Tiball, 1984), excerpts from the USGS SAFETY PROCEDURES Safety Handbook (USGS, August 1989) and appropriate TWRI's. This section of the guide discusses policies, procedures, and safety issues that are common to most - Formal initial training and refresher of our field activities or assignments. It includes courses—Defensive driving, first aid training and responsibilities of supervisors, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation maintaining adequate communication, field (CPR), boating and water safety, preparations, transportation, field situations, operation and swimming, if employee is a and maintenance of tools, and safety inspections. nonswimmer.

2 A Guide to Safe Field Operations - Supervisory instruction and on-the-job make adjustments to get the job done. On the other training—Communication with office hand, the employee needs to be thinking why and how. and others, vehicle operation and Why is this task important and how am I going to get it maintenance, care and use of done? If the employee doesn't know, he or she needs to instruments and specialized equipment, ask questions and gets answers from the supervisor. proper care and use of hand and power Supervisors prefer spending extra time repeating tools, hazardous situations in the field, instructions and answering questions rather than safety inspections, and specific having an employee return from the field without technical procedures to be followed. completing the assigned task. - Level I training on ground-water, Communication also is critical (second only to surface-water, and water-quality thinking) for safety. Employees must be made aware of principles. potential risks, how to avoid them, and how to get help if an accident does occur. Supervisors need to know Depending on the nature and location of where employees are going and when they will return assignments, other special training may be appropriate to provide information to searchers and rescuers in case including wilderness survival, advanced boating, the employees do not return from an assignment. navigation, scuba diving, techniques for off-road/ Special communication equipment, such as two-way back-road driving, driving in adverse weather, and radios or cellular telephones, are necessary if aircraft operation. assignments are in remote locations. Remember to think, communicate, and consider the following Communication procedures to ensure your safety: - Prepare an itinerary and discuss it with Communication, as defined in the American your supervisor, including a list of field Heritage Dictionary (William, Morris, ed., 1976), is the sites, a route-of-travel log, motel exchange of thoughts, messages, or the like, as by reservations, and a schedule for "check speech, signals, or writing. Thus, if we are to in" telephone calls to your home or accomplish our mission and do it efficiently without office. any personal injury or property damage, we must exchange our thoughts and ideas with each other. - If going to a remote area, use mobile or Communication is a two-way street: it includes portable radios or a cellular telephone if instructions and questions and answers if clarification coverage is adequate. Always have fully is needed, it includes letting people know where you charged batteries and an extra set of are going and why and checking to make sure of safe batteries. returns, and it includes contacting others to explain our - Before entering a remote area, confirm plans and receive permission to enter on or use the that your communication equipment is property of others. operating properly. Making assignments and conveying instructions for - Whether using telephones or radios, accomplishing assigned tasks is the responsibility of keep to your prearranged check in the supervisor; making sure the assignments and schedule and provide update instructions are understood is the responsibility of both information or adjustments to your the supervisor and the employee and this constitutes an itinerary. effective two-way communication. In addition to specific instructions, the supervisor needs to explain Another important aspect of communication is the purpose of the assignment and how it relates to our conveying plans for hydrologic data-collection overall mission. The employee will be in a better activities to cooperators and landowners. Almost all position to accomplish the tasks if he or she field activities are conducted on land or water that is in understands the importance of the assignment and its private ownership or under the jurisdiction of local, relation to the other work that we do; the employee will state, or federal agencies. Before starting an be able to think about the assignments, make plans, and assignment, contact the appropriate individuals,

General Operational and Safety Procedures 3 discuss plans, and receive permission. Give them a - Learn wilderness survival techniques if schedule of planned activities and keep them posted on you will be working in remote areas. progress. Time spent talking with a public official or - Learn to drive off-road 4-wheel-drive landowner may help avoid problems or gain their vehicles. cooperation for activities in the future. We can do our job only if we have access to collect the needed data. - Learn about hazards associated with confined space. - Recognize hazards associated with field Preparing for the Field installations. Adequate preparations before beginning a field Adequate planning for field assignments includes: assignment will help ensure that you complete - Discussing the assignment thoroughly assignments, avoid accidents, and return safely. with your supervisor to ensure that you Prepare yourself, plan specific activities and tasks, and understand what is expected, why it check both your personal protection gear and tools and needs to be done, and how it should be instruments needed for the job. accomplished. In preparing yourself, consider the following - Know where the nearest emergency elements: medical facilities are located; make - Many of the tasks assigned to USGS plans on how to contact these facilities employees require strenuous exercise, if you are alone and severely injured sometimes under adverse weather (cellular phone). conditions. It is recommended that each - Reviewing maps, property descriptions, employee maintain physical fitness and notes made by yourself and others through a regular program. on previous visits to ensure that you are aware of site conditions and potential - Learn how to swim, or be prepared to hazards that may exist. wear a personal floatation device (PFD) if near water. - Reviewing technical manuals, memoranda, previous field inspection - Maintain a schedule of physical notes, and safety procedures. examinations, as appropriate for your age, with your personal physician or a - Preparing a schedule for completing health clinic. Periodic examinations are individual tasks and making a list of available through the U.S. Public Health required instruments, tools, and Service. supplies. - Contacting landowners and public - Seek medical advice if you have a officials to inform them of your plans limiting medical condition; have an and receive permission for access. adequate supply of medication on hand for field trips. - Having your plans and schedule reviewed by your supervisor or another - If you have severe allergic reactions to individual with substantial field insect bites or stings, carry appropriate experience. serum and instruct colleagues on administering it in case you are - Checking weather forecasts. incapacitated. Appropriate personal gear may include: - Learn modern first aid procedures and - Adequate clothing for weather CPR. conditions.

4 A Guide to Safe Field Operations - Proper foot gear that you will need for the back of this guide for guidance and instruction. field work, including hiking boots, Specialized training is recommended before using any steel-toed safety shoes, hip boots, and of the atypical means of transportation. waders. Too many people wear shoes Accidents involving cars and light trucks account with no heels to climb ladders and for most of the serious injuries among field personnel. descend steep slippery slopes. Therefore, it is incumbent on the managers and - Hats appropriate for weather conditions; supervisors to provide training for safe vehicle a light-weight hat with a visor for warm, operation and to ensure that operating and maintenance sunny conditions and a wool stocking procedures are adhered to. Instructions on appropriate cap for cold weather. A hard hat is use and care of vehicles, and a defensive driving course recommended while working on should be scheduled for each employee as soon as they bridges, inside gaging stations, and enter on duty. It is USGS policy to report personal during all construction activities. injuries and property damage promptly and accurately. Any work-related accident must be reported to your - Safety goggles, work gloves, dusk supervisor within 3 workdays that results in damage to masks or respirators, and earplugs. Government-owned or leased property of greater than - A PFD is required when working on $50 and/or personal injury. bridges, boats, cableways, or while The first step in safe vehicle operation is an wading streams. inspection of a vehicle before beginning a trip. This inspection will include: - An orange fluorescent vest is required while working on bridges or surveying - Checking for adequate fuel supply, on or adjacent to highways. engine oil, and coolant. - Avoid field work during hunting season - Testing of headlights, tail lights, and or in intensively hunted areas. If work is turn signals. required, always wear hunter orange - Checking all belts and hoses. clothing. Know when hunting season is - Checking windshield washers and scheduled and where it is permitted. wipers. A list of required tools, instruments, and supplies - Testing brakes and checking tires should be made when planning your trip, and these items should be checked to ensure they are in good - Checking to be sure that all equipment operating condition before you start your trip. Bring is properly stored and secured. Any piece of equipment or tool could along a first aid kit, flashlight, compass, PFD, matches, become a flying projectile during a cellular phone, insect repellant, suntan lotion, drinking sudden stop or accident. water, machete, and a triangular-shaped reflector device. - Checking and adjusting rear-view mirrors. - Ensuring vehicle is equipped with Transportation adequate safety and emergency The common means of transportation for equipment. hydrologists and hydrologic technicians involved in Another step required for a safe trip in your vehicle field activities are passenger cars, vans, light trucks, is a preplanned schedule and route to save time and and small boats. The operation and maintenance of avoid known road hazards. Plan your trip to allow for a these vehicles will be discussed in this section. mix of driving and rest or other activity. For long trips, Individuals using aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, plan on rotating drivers. Also, plan your route to avoid snowmobiles, and horses are referred to references in potentially dangerous situations, such as having to

General Operational and Safety Procedures 5

back out onto a busy highway or traversing a flooded - Always attempt to park your vehicle section of highway. A few guidelines for highway and completely off the road surface and back road travel follow. shoulder. If this is not possible, use orange pylons, traffic cones, reflectors, - Wear safe seat belts. emergency flashers, etc., to warn - Always drive defensively. approaching motorists. - Obey the speed limit and traffic signs. - Be aware that road surfaces are very In the Field slippery after a brief rain and heavy Whether you are on a one-day trip to measure rains may cause excessive accumulation observation wells or an extended trip to run indirect of water on the road surface and measurements of flood discharges, you will be hydroplaning of the vehicle. Adjust your subjected to many natural and manmade dangers. speed accordingly. These include varying weather conditions, rough - Do not ford a stream or flooded road terrain, animals, and manmade structures such as flood section without first checking for deep control and drainage structures, overhead power lines, holes or washouts. cableways, stream gage houses and stilling wells. Many of the structural dangers related to our work will - Test brakes after fording a stream or any be discussed later in this report in the sections dealing deep water; they probably will be wet with specific field procedures and related safety issues. and not as responsive as normal. The natural dangers likely to be encountered in the - Be aware of weather conditions. A dry field are discussed thoroughly in the report, "Field- road or track going into a field site may Safety Guidelines for the U.S. Geological Survey, become wet and impassable coming out Central Region," (Tiball, 1984). The most common after changes in weather conditions. risks faced by hydrologists and hydrologic technicians of the WRD are summarized below. - Be especially cautious on logging and mining roads. Logging trucks have the Weather right-of-way on a logging road. Expect loaded logging, ore, and coal trucks to Normal comfort temperature range for man is take up the inside of curves even when between 60 and 90ûF. Beyond these limits various traveling on an outside lane. precautions become necessary, depending on tolerance and adaptation to extremes. Most cases of - Be especially aware of wild animals and hypothermia (condition of reduced body temperature open-range livestock while driving at that results in rapid mental and physical collapse) night when animals tend to be on the develop in air temperatures between 30 and 50ûF. move and transfixed by headlights. Hypothermia is aggravated by wet clothes, wind, - Avoid traveling during snow and ice hunger, and exhaustion. The best way to avoid storms. If you must travel, maintain a hypothermia is to take more clothes than will be safe speed and test for traction needed and to dress appropriately with layers of frequently. Learn how to drive safely clothing and adequate headgear. Layers of clothing can and handle your vehicle in severe be removed or added as the temperature changes. Prepare yourself for working in cold environments by: weather conditions. Use proper equipment (i.e. snow tires and chains). - Acclimating yourself to conditions by scheduling moderate exercise outdoors - Drive only on existing, well-established with frequent breaks in sheltered areas. back roads or trails. Avoid driving on agricultural fields, open pasture, fragile - Carrying a sleeping bag, blanket, and a desert, alpine, or other unsafe areas. small stock of food in the field vehicle.

6 A Guide to Safe Field Operations - Carrying replacement clothing, Remember that the intensity of radiation is greater at particularly for items that may become high elevations and exposure is increased where light is wet. both direct and reflected from light surfaces, such as - Carrying good rain gear and using it snow and sandy areas. before clothes get wet. Thunderstorms are a serious danger while - Being aware of the conditions that lead working in the field. Lightning is the storm's worst to hypothermia. killer, but the intense rains, hailstorms, and wind associated with these storms can create dangerous - Leaving a detailed travel plan before conditions. Frequent monitoring of weather reports is venturing into remote or untraveled important for scheduling your activities to avoid territory. extreme weather conditions. While working in the - Keeping informed of local weather field, keep an eye on the weather and notice whether conditions. Don’t get caught in severe towering cumulus clouds that mark the location of weather. thunderstorms are approaching your work area. The - Learning and practicing cold weather safest place to be during a thunderstorm is in the field survival techniques. vehicle with doors and windows closed. General guidelines for avoiding dangerous conditions during The opposite physiological condition is thunderstorms are: hyperthermia, in which heat in excessive amounts can create a life threatening situation. Temperature, - Stop making wading, bridge, or humidity, and physical exertion all contribute to this cableway measurements and seek condition, but body hydration is the most important shelter in a structure or your vehicle. factor. Prepare yourself for working in hot environments by: - Do not use the telephone or work on electrical lines or steel structures, such - Wearing light-weight, light-colored as bridges or cableways, because a clothing. lightning strike some distance away - Wearing a wide-brimmed hat. could affect you. - Acclimating yourself to conditions by - If you are on a ridge or peak, get down scheduling moderate exercise in the to a lower elevation, preferably a level direct sunlight with frequent breaks in a bench. shaded area. - Avoid isolated trees; seek shelter in - Drinking a moderate amount of water dense stands or clumps of young trees. on a regular schedule. Normal water requirements in temperate regions is - Sit on your feet in a crouched position 1 about 2- /2 quarts per day; desert or sit on some insulating material, such conditions will require more. as wood, rubberized material, or a wool shirt. - Scheduling the most physically demanding activities in the early - Be aware of flash floods, avoid stream morning and late evening to avoid the crossings, and move vehicle and heat of midday. equipment to higher ground. - Being aware of the warning symptoms - Seek shelter from high winds and that lead to heat exhaustion, heat cramp tornadoes; avoid high trees and find a and heat stroke induced by heat. sheltered draw. If you feel a sudden Sun exposure can cause first and second-degree violent wind or sight a funnel-shaped burns, and you should be aware of your susceptibility cloud, seek shelter immediately by to burning. It is recommended that you wear protective lying flat in a depression, ditch, or clothing and cover exposed skin with sunscreen. culvert.

General Operational and Safety Procedures 7 Additional information on thunderstorms and - Traverse streams carefully and use a lightning can be found in National Weather Service wading rod or stout stick to probe the NOAA/PA 83001 (June 1985). bottom in advance. If you find deep holes or a highly irregular bottom, look for another section. Terrain - Be careful while walking on rocks and Working in and around streams and rivers will boulders in streams; they are usually subject you to many conditions in which the local very slippery. Consider wearing some terrain may cause slips and falls that could result in type of sole gripper to give you serious injury to you and your coworkers. You can't additional traction. avoid all potential dangers, but you can minimize the - Wear a PFD when working in and risk of accidents by considering the following around streams, rivers, and lakes. guidelines. - Wear shoes or boots that provide good Animals arch and ankle support instead of There are numerous animals that may represent a low-cut sneakers. risk. Snakes and insects are probably the most common nuisances that you will face, but other reptiles and - Inspect the area before beginning work domestic and wild animals can cause serious injury, and locate gopher, muskrat, or other illnesses, and fatalities. holes; isolated rocks and boulders; There are four snakes in the United States that are fallen logs; loose and slippery rocks; poisonous and should be avoided: rattlesnakes, and other obstacles. cottonmouth, copperhead, and coral snakes. There are - Select a level work area and remove numerous species of rattlesnakes throughout the U.S. debris that could cause you to trip and Cottonmouths and coral snakes generally range from the Carolinas through Florida, westward to Texas, and fall. It may be necessary to cut tall up the Mississippi Valley. Copperheads are found in vegetation to be sure the site is free of much of the eastern U.S. and parts of Missouri, obstacles. Carry a machete in a sheath Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The most effective to cut vegetation instead of plowing defense against snakes is to avoid being bitten. The through dense vegetation or taking following precautions should be taken to minimize the another route over treacherous terrain to risk of snakes while working in the field: avoid dense vegetation. - Familiarize yourself with the - If you must travel some distance from description and habits of all poisonous snakes indigenous to the work area. your vehicle, avoid taking shortcuts across treacherous terrain; consider the - Wear protective clothing, including time lost by an accident than by going boots and knee-high or full-length leggings in prime snake terrain. the longer and safer way around. - Be observant and look before you step - Avoid steep slopes with loose rocks and or reach for something. boulders that could come loose and tumble down the slope. - Use existing trails and use a walking stick to clear vegetation ahead of you. - Select sites for wading discharge Don't step over logs without looking on measurements very carefully; keep in the other side first. mind both the hydraulic characteristics - Don't climb among rocks where you required and safe conditions for have to reach above your level of sight accessing and wading the stream. for a handhold.

8 A Guide to Safe Field Operations - Don't pick up rocks or other objects that - Use insect repellants on exposed skin might conceal a snake. Turn the object and at openings in your clothing. toward you with a stick or shovel. This Spraying pants cuffs and socks is a good could shield you from being bitten. preventative for chigger bites. Insects generally are a nuisance while working in - In the case of ticks, inspect clothing and the field, but they can be dangerous depending on the exposed skin periodically during the type of insect and your reaction to their sting or bite. day, and disrobe completely and inspect Stinging insects, which include honey bees, killer bees, your skin at the end of the day. wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and ants, are painful - Obtain immunization in advance if you and can be dangerous to individuals that are allergic to are allergic to stings or will be working the venom. The yellow jacket and hornet are the most in an area with infestations of disease dangerous because they are aggressive and can inflict carrying insects. multiple stings. You may be allergic to venom or you may develop an allergy with each new attack. - Carry appropriate medication for Reactions can range from fever, light-headedness, allergic reactions and inform your hives, and painful swelling to a sudden drop in blood coworkers about how to administer it. pressure and breathing difficulties. Biting insects, such - Watch out for characteristic dense webs as mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, and various flies, are of spiders. generally of less immediate hazard than stinging insects, but they may be carriers of disease. Ticks are - Avoid reaching into dark places where the major carrier of disease in the U.S., transmitting you can't see and be careful picking up rocks and clothing that have been lying Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, on the ground. tularaemia, and relapsing fever or tick paralysis, and Deer ticks-Lyme disease. Other animals may be a dangerous depending on whether you surprise them or represent a threat to their Members of the spider family are another concern young, food, or territory. Most wild animals will be in both the field and office in certain parts of the frightened away at sight, but the more domestic they country. Those of most concern are the black widow are and the more familiar they are with humans, the and brown recluse spiders and the scorpion. The less likely they will run from you. Because of this, dogs spiders range widely in the temperate region and tend probably represent the greatest threat while in the field. to seek dark hiding places. Scorpions range from the Gulf States to California and north into the dry areas of Significant animal threats also come from bears, the west. Scorpions tend to seek shelter under bark, moose, bulls some domestic livestock. These animals litter, sand, or rocks and may crawl into shoes, gloves, may actually chase people, so don’t challenge them. etc. Expect animals to defend their territory. Refer to the discussion of bear behavior by Brew and others (1978). Keep in mind that there is just as much danger of Numerous smaller mammals are likely to be afraid of falling off ladders and cableway platforms from trying humans, but don’t count on it. For instance, beware of to avoid bee stings as from the actual sting. porcupines and skunks that cease to flee and raise their Common precautions against members of the tails vertically. They fight with their tails and the field spider family and insect bites and stings are: person may become a target for flying quills or noxious excretions. The following guidelines are recommended - Wear clothing that makes access to the to avoid animal attacks while in the field. skin difficult. - Avoid surprising animals by making - Avoid tramping through heavy noise while traversing a trail or open vegetation if another choice is available. country. - Be observant of wasp nests, hornet - Choose open terrain with good hives, and ant hills. visibility.

General Operational and Safety Procedures 9 - Make a wide detour around any animals and mishandled. It also represents a considerable with young, or over a fresh kill. investment to the government and each employee is - Avoid walking in pastures or fields with entrusted with maintenance security, and proper use. domestic bulls. A fully-equipped field vehicle will include a tool - Avoid any animals acting abnormally. box with screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, hammers, and Many smaller mammals, including the other small tools. Other standard items in a vehicle coyote, fox, badger, raccoon, skunk, and may be axes, saws, digging bars, shovels, and tools for squirrel may bite and transmit rabies. making minor repairs to field installations. None of these tools are dangerous if they are used properly, but - Carry a walking stick to fend off attacks from domestic dogs. they need to be used with care and only for their intended purpose. - Watch out for rodent nests. New rodent nests must be noted for future removal. - Keep tools in a tool box and stow the tool box and larger hand tools securely Poisonous Plants in your vehicle. The most common problem with poisonous plants - Keep all tools clean and free of excess is the allergic reaction that individuals have to the sap oil and grease. A greasy handle could of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. The cause a tool to slip out of your hand and sticky sap of each plant can cause an allergic skin cause injury. reaction of varying intensity depending on the amount - Use a tool belt to carry small, sharp of contact and the degree of susceptibility of the tools instead of your pocket. individual. The sap can be transferred directly by brushing against or handling the plants and indirectly - Wear goggles or safety glasses when from tools or clothing and from smoke of burning using hammers, axes, and saws. plants. - Keep all cutting tools sharp. This will Avoid allergic reactions to poisonous plants by: make the job easier and safer. - Learning to identify poisonous plants - Store and carry cutting tools with and avoiding contact. sheaths covering the sharp edges. - Wear gloves and protective clothing - When using a cutting tool such as an when contacting plants cannot be axe, make sure that you have a clear avoided. area to swing both above and behind. - Remove contaminated clothing as soon Do not swing in a direct path toward as possible and wash immediately to someone else. avoid contact by other individuals. - Replace any splintered handles of - Wash affected skin with abundant soap hammers, axes, etc. and water. - Count your tools before starting work Some plants are poisonous to eat, and it is and check to be sure all tools have been advisable not to eat any wild plants unless you have knowledge of safe plants and plant parts. returned to the vehicle and secured before leaving a work site. Power tools are a great convenience and can Equipment increase our efficiency dramatically, but they probably Each hydrologist and hydrologic technician usually represent one of the greatest risks for severe injuries. is equipped with and expected to handle a wide variety Be careful with power equipment, and this is true of tools and instruments. This equipment represents a particularly while working at remote field sites because potential risk to the user if it is improperly maintained of the lack of medical facilities. A deep cut caused by a

10 A Guide to Safe Field Operations power saw that may result in a temporary disability - Wear personal protective equipment, from an accident at home, could result in a death at a especially goggles, gloves, hearing remote location. protection, and safety shoes when operating any power equipment. - Keep all power saws, generators, pumps, and other gas-engine equipment - At the end of each work day, close gas clean and properly lubricated. Always valve on all gas-powered tools to burn check the lubricant level before starting the gas out of the carburettor. This will a gas engine. prevent a build-up of gum in the carburettor and minimize the - Fill the fuel tank before starting engine, possibility of a gas leak in the vehicle. using a funnel or a gas can with a built It also will insure easier starting after in funnel. Wipe excess gas off the storage. engine housing before starting. When - Stow all power tools securely in your refueling, allow the engine to cool first. vehicle and return them to their - Consider using an air compressor and assigned storage place upon returning air-driven tools when working at a from the field after emptying fuel. gaging station to avoid electrical shock. - Do not transport gas-powered tools, - Use generators with ground-fault circuit with gas left in the fuel tank in a vehicle interrupters (GFCI) when working in that does not have a separate the field, particularly at streamside or compartment from driver and other wet sites. passengers. - Inspect all extension cords and the cords A wide variety of instruments in our assigned field of individual tools to be sure the tasks ranging from small hand-held levels to insulation is intact. sophisticated electromagnetic data loggers and data storage devices are used by WRD field personnel. - Always keep the ground continuous. Do While the use of these instruments usually do not not remove ground lug from power tool represent a risk, they are expensive and irreplaceable is plug. Never use the ground side for some cases, and they should be secured and protected switching. from damage or theft. Instruments and other sensitive equipment should be stored and transported in - Never use a chain saw or circular saw protective cases to avoid damage. Levels, pH meters, without reading the instructions or and other instruments should not be routinely stored in receiving instructions from an vehicles—they should be stored in an assigned and experienced user. These are probably locked storage area in the office or warehouse. Storage the two most dangerous pieces of of instruments in cabinets in vehicles provides equipment that you will use during additional protection from being damaged and also routine field activities. keeps them out of sight of would-be thieves. Locking - Keep chains and blades of saws sharp, your vehicle at all times will provide security for the and replace when frequent sharpening is valuable equipment assigned to you. required. - Carry a chain saw suspended at your Maintenance and Storage side with the sheathed guide bar pointing to the rear. One of the activities that is least adhered to because of other pressing tasks is the proper maintenance and - Start a chain saw by setting saw on a storage of equipment and instruments. Many times clear, level spot on the ground. Do not personnel are rushed when returning from a field trip carry a chain saw with the engine and do not take time to clean, service, and return running. equipment to the appropriate storage area. Often, work

General Operational and Safety Procedures 11 is postponed until the next day, but many times it never condition identified as not meeting established gets done, and then it may become someone else's standards or creating a risk to the safety or health of the problem. This can lead to hard feelings between co- employee, or other employees, or to the public must be workers, safety risks, and inefficiency. Some actions reported and brought to the attention of the responsible that may eliminate some of these problems are: supervisor for corrective action. - Prepare an itinerary that includes time Annual safety inspections are required of all areas for cleaning and resupplying vehicle of every building occupied by USGS employees. High and cleaning and servicing equipment hazard areas such as machine shops and laboratories after the field trip. with chemicals should be inspected semi-annually or - Schedule time during the trip to clean more frequently. Areas and items requiring at least and service equipment after use each once a year inspections include: office and building day. areas, storerooms and warehouses, streamgaging stations, cableways, and vehicles. - Note any equipment problems on field notes or personal diary as a reminder to A detailed discussion on safety inspection get the equipment repaired upon return procedures and suggested check-list for areas and from the field. items can be found in U.S. Geological Survey Handbook - Inform supervisor or the person 445-1-H (USGS, August 1989). responsible for field equipment of the problems or personally insure that the equipment is repaired. At the very least, SPECIFIC PROCEDURES AND attach a note to the equipment SAFETY ISSUES indicating the problems encountered while using the equipment. This section of the guide discusses specific procedures and safety considerations for most of the - Maintain a log for each piece of routine field assignments undertaken by hydrologists equipment which includes instructions and hydrologic technicians of the Division. It includes and a schedule for servicing. discussions on safety guidelines that need to be - Provide an assigned storage place for observed when undertaking surface-water, ground- each piece of heavy equipment, such as water, and water-quality activities. centrifugal pumps, generators, and air compressors, and sensitive instruments. Return this equipment to storage area Surface-Water Activities rather than leaving it in vehicles, loading dock, hallways, or office space. Procedures and guidelines to avoid personal injury during wading measurements, bridge measurements, cableway measurements, boat measurements, Safety Inspections measurements under ice cover, indirect flood discharge, maintenance of streamgages, and scuba The inspection of all operations, equipment and diving are discussed in this section. facilities is a continuous part of each employee's responsibility. The identification of hazards require the Wading Measurement routine review of facilities, equipment, and operations by every employee as part of the daily work routine. To Discharge measurements using current meters are maintain a safe work environment, a formal safety best made by wading. Wading measurements have a inspection of all facilities, equipment, and operations distinct advantage over measurements made from must be made each year to identify potential hazardous bridges, boats, or cableways in that it is usually or substandard conditions. The inspections must be possible to select the best available cross sections for made by qualified personnel who are knowledgeable of the measurement. However, wading measurements the appropriate safety standards and procedures. Any represent one of the greatest potential sources of

12 A Guide to Safe Field Operations accidents in the Division. The wide range of - Beware of sand channels where pot- conditions, combined with the relatively large number holes, quicksand, and scour can be of measurements made by wading, creates the high hazardous. potential for accidents. Constant awareness of wading - Beware of slick, steep banks, and dangers and weather conditions needs to be maintained swampy areas. to avoid accidents and potential injury. Listed below - Watch for debris and ice drifting. are some safety guidelines that need to be observed: - Beware of streams with partial or thin - Review the field folder to determine the ice cover and especially of ice-covered best section for making wading streams at the time of incipient breakup. measurements. Also determine if any To venture out on such ice, tie yourself potential risks are noted and the to some stable object ashore or maximum velocity and depths that may overhead, if available. Otherwise, stay be encountered. off and return on another day. - Determine whether the river stage is - At controlled or regulated streams, rising or falling. Beware of rapid rises in consult recorder or instruction for river stage when wading and anticipate pattern of regulation. Contact dam, and allow for changes in flow conditions reservoir or gate operators before at the end of the measurement. It is a entering stream. good idea to select an object (rock, stump, mark along bank, etc.) that is Bridge Measurements just above water surface and keep Bridges are often used for making discharge watching it to determine if the river measurements of streams that cannot be waded. stage is rising or falling. Equipment needed in making bridge measurements differs from that used in wading measurements in that a - Always probe the stream bed ahead portable metal crane is often used to mount a reel and with a rod when moving from bank to suspend the meter, sounding weights, and cable over bank. Keep your feet spread apart and the bridge. Power equipment, which may be mounted alignment of legs parallel to the flow for on vehicles, is used for large rivers. Some bridges are better stability. not adaptable for cranes, and bridge boards must be - If the velocity becomes too great for used. On some foot bridges a special rod or handline is safe wading do not turn around, because used. when the greater area of the front or Bridges are inherently dangerous because of back of the body is exposed to the vehicular traffic. The following safety procedures are current, you may be swept downstream. recommended when making discharge measurements Back out carefully, bracing yourself from a bridge: with the wading rod. - Review field folders to determine any - Don't try to break the station discharge hazards that are noted and maximum depths and velocities that have been record for the maximum wading observed. measurement. - Know how to use the equipment. Make - Wear a PFD when wading and a dry run with new equipment or conducting discharge measurements. unfamiliar equipment at the office with Tie the tagline securely so that you may someone who knows how it operates. pull yourself out, if necessary. - Check the operation of the equipment - Don't wear boots or waders that are too before leaving the office to make sure tight or too loose. that cranes, meters, reels, and motors

Specific Procedures and Safety Issues 13 are in good operating condition. - When working from a bridge that has Perform a visual inspection of batteries hazardous power lines, provide a used with power cranes. Replace if permanent warning sign on some part of unusual wear or cracks in the casing are the bridge directly above or below the observed. hazard to alert the field person of the danger. - Follow the procedures outlined in the Traffic Control Plan (TCP) for each bridge site for placing traffic control Cableway Measurements devices, and keep a copy in the field Cableways have been used for many decades by the folder. The plan must meet Federal Division in making discharge measurements. standards as a minimum, or State or Cableways provide a track for the operation of a cable local standards, whichever prevails. car from which the hydrographer makes a current- -Park the vehicle on the shoulder and use meter measurement. Cable cars also support the colored, revolving beams and sounding reel and other necessary equipment. Cable emergency flashers on vehicle to warn cars are moved from one point to another on the oncoming traffic, as stated in the TCP. cableway by means of cable-car pullers. Power- operated cable cars are available for extremely long - Set "caution" signs and plastic cones spans. around work area and assign a person, when necessary, to watch for traffic and Properly constructed and maintained cableways debris in the river and shout warnings as and properly operated cable cars are dependable and appropriate. convenient. The following safety procedures are recommended to be followed when making cableway - Wear an orange-colored PFD and work measurements: gloves. - Review and adherence to the new - Using a reel and crane, either hand manual "Streamgaging Cableways" operated or power, can be dangerous (USGS Open-File Report 91-84 (1991) because of the possibility of getting and WRD Memo No 9142 ("Plan for fingers caught under the cable or having Insuring the Safety of Cableways") for the cable break and fly wildly. If at any information on construction, inspection, time you lose your grip on the hand and maintenance of cableways. crank, make no attempt to grab the - Review field folder and note any special handle. Let it go! The flying handle can conditions or procedures to be used at severely bruise an arm or even break a the site. bone. - Before starting to assemble measuring - When measuring at night, use adequate equipment in the cable car undertake a lights, especially if drift is running. close inspection of A frames, all cables, - Keep a sharp look-out for drift when cable connectors, and all bolts at both measuring. Have a pair of heavy duty banks, if possible. It is especially wire cutters handy to cut loose if drift is important that all cable cars be equipped snagged. with the necessary safety equipment, such as car pullers, and braking system, -Work from upstream side of the bridges and that towers or A-frames supporting if at all possible, so that debris can be the cable should be provided with spotted moving downstream. suitable means of access to the cable - Provide some device to alert boat such as ladders, climbing bolts, and operators that a cable is in the water. landing platforms.

14 A Guide to Safe Field Operations - Inspect all areas of the cable car for Boat Measurements weak or missing parts, also check Measurements made from boats require special operation and condition of the braking equipment not used for other types of measurements. system. Generally, a cross-piece reaching across the boat is - After completing cableway inspection, clamped to the sides of the boat and a boom attached to proceed with setting up necessary the center of the cross-piece extends out over the bow. The cross-piece is equipped with a guide sheave and measuring equipment in the cable car. clamp arrangement at each end, to attach the boat to the When carrying sounding reel and tag line and make it possible to slide the boat along the weight, use proper lifting techniques. tag line from one station to the next. Power-operated Caution must be taken in climbing A- equipment, which may be mounded on boats, is used frames and towers and getting into the for large rivers. The following safety procedures are cable car to avoid falling. necessary to prevent accidents or damage to - Avoid personnel working under equipment: cableway platform when assembling - Review field folders to determine measuring equipment in cable car. potential risks and maximum depths and velocities. - The cable car, when not in use, must be locked to the cable support by a bar - Select the proper boat and motor for the hook. Then the car can be unlocked particular job and maintain them in good, workable condition. from the platform without danger of its getting loose. Once the field person is - Follow all safety precautions during aboard, the car can be easily released trailering, towing, and launching boat. without danger. - After arriving at boat measuring site, - A cable-car puller must fit the cable locate launching area for the boat. which is positive in its action and grip Check this area for snakes and clear any brush. and which will release the cable readily and without undue effort. - Unload boat from top of truck or trailer. Remember to use proper lifting - Before departing the bank where cable techniques. car is parked, inspect and take inventory of safety and operational equipment and - At least two people on board and one on inspect car for insect nests and cable for bank fishing lures. - Boat trailer must have lights rather than reflector - Wear PFD, hard hat, and work gloves. Carry extra cable-car puller, heavy duty - Operators of boats must be trained in cutting pliers for emergency cutting, CPR and have completed an approved sounding reel, insect repellent, and boating skills and seamanship course. necessary tools for repairing measuring - Assemble all equipment associated with equipment. the boat measurement. Carry spare paddles, horn, cutting pliers, bailing - Keep your hands off the cable when the devices, PFD’s, and water jug. car is moving to prevent possible injury. - Stretch a tagline (with white or red - If the river is used by boats, some flagging attached) across the river and warning device must be used to alert the secure it to a tree or stake with a cable boat operators that there is a cable in the grip. Wear a PFD, work gloves, and be water ahead. observant for boat traffic. Provide an

Specific Procedures and Safety Issues 15 advanced warning to the boaters such as - Pay attention to your boat's handling a compressed air horn, buoys, or characteristics and know its capabilities flashing lights. Warning devices should for all types of weather conditions. be positioned 1/ mi upstream and 4 - Keep clear of fixed objects and watch downstream of tagline. Remember, the out for overhead power lines. only practical way to avoid tagline accidents is to engage a tagline release - Keep the boat in good condition. person and provide them with - Where possible, have the boat safety equipment to release the tagline quickly. checked by U.S. Coast Guard. - Avoid or take special precautions in the vicinity of canal siphons, pumping Discharge Measurements Under Ice Cover intakes, bridge piers, docks, locks, and dams. Current-meter measurements, made under ice cover require special equipment for cutting holes in the ice The essence of boating safety is keeping out of through which to suspend the meter. Holes of 6-inch trouble rather than getting out of trouble after you get diameter are most often cut with a power ice drill. into it. The operator of the boat is responsible for Where impossible to use an ice drill, ice chisels are knowing all equipment requirements and safety used to chop the holes. The most dangerous task of ice procedures for the craft. Employees are referred to U.S. measurements is determining whether or not the ice is Coast Guard Auxiliary (1986) for detailed boating strong enough to support the hydrographer and the information and regulations. Some general boating equipment. If the ice thickness is questionable for safety guidelines are: safety, no measurement will be made. Discharge - Distribute weight evenly when loading measurements under ice cover are usually made under your boat. conditions that range from uncomfortable to severe. - Know emergency procedures and A few reminders that might prevent accidents or distress signals. damage to equipment are: - In addition to the equipment required by - Review field folder and study previous law, carry a first aid kit, flashlight, available field notes on hazards distress flares, paddle or oars, extra experienced at the measuring sites. shear pins, bailor or bucket, extra anchor and plenty of anchor line, - Use appropriate ice drilling and mooring lines, a good tool kit, compass, measuring equipment. Power augers reserve fuel and extra spark plugs, must have a dead man switch to stop the emergency water and food, and a auger when the operator lets go. Be sure transistor radio capable of receiving on to have enough sharpened blades for ice the marine band. drill that could be replaced when needed. - Call for weather report for the area you will be in prior to each trip. Beware of - A minimum of two people must be weather, currents, and tide conditions. assigned to make a measurement under ice cover. Especially, when testing the - Know and obey state and federal rules. strength of the ice, they should work as - Leave a float plan. a team and observe all safety precautions. PFD’s will be worn at all - Follow all safety precautions when times during the measurement. fueling the craft. Portable fuel tanks should be lifted out of the boat and - After arriving at the site, first select the placed on the dock to be fueled. Don't cross section that is most suitable for forget to secure the tank and wipe up existing flow condition. This will and wash down any spillage. require crossing the stream; the

16 A Guide to Safe Field Operations hydrographer should test the strength of Electrofishing the ice with solid blows using a sharp Some WRD programs require that biological ice chisel. information on fish be collected to help assess the - Ice creepers, strapped on the shoes of water quality of a stream. A technique which is boots or waders, are especially commonly used by biologists to collect fish is recommended for use on steep or icy electrofishing (EF). In this method, an electrical charge streambanks. in the water stuns the fish so they can be captured and examined. - After selecting a cross section, stretch a tag line across the stream. Start cutting Electrofishing is an inherently hazardous activity in holes with an ice drill. Be careful, avoid which safety is the primary concern. The electrical hitting rocks or logs. energy used in EF is sufficient to cause electrocution. To protect the safety of the employees involved in EF, - Dress according to the weather the WRD has issued Memorandum 93.19 conditions; always carry extra clothing ("Requirements for WRD Personnel Performing for emergencies. Electrofishing") that presents policy on training, - After holes are cut, start discharge immunization, and procedures and responsibilities. measurement. The meter should be exposed as little as possible to the cold Construction, Repair, and Maintenance of air so that its operation will not be Streamgaging Stations impaired by the formation of ice on exposed parts. When taking velocity There are many hazards associated with the counts from hole to hole, avoid slipping construction and repair of streamgaging stations. By on freshly formed glazed ice. using common sense and by taking proper precautions, most accidents can be prevented. This can be accomplished by reading instructions and asking Indirect Flood Discharge Measurements questions related to the job, including planning of The measurement of flood discharges at field sites work, research for information in field folders, and may be impossible or impractical, due to road reading previous field notes of adjacent sites. The type conditions or high streamwater velocities. Fortunately, of structure or repair that is needed should be technology exists that enables hydrologists to measure determined and, if necessary, detailed plans for the peak flood discharges after the fact by indirect construction or repair of gages must be prepared. methods. These methods require the field surveying of Construction permits and inspections may be required water-surface profiles, from flagged high-water marks, and you must consult your local building department and the geometry of the stream channel which carried for up-to-date information. On occasion, contractors the flood. may be required to complete the work. The field surveying is performed in a timely The maintenance of gages needs to be conducted manner after the flood peak occurrence, and is on a regular basis. If maintenance is scheduled and performed under commonly difficult field conditions. carried out properly, it will result in fewer safety risks The high-water marks are generally flagged within 24 and less costly repairs. All manufacturer's hours of the crest, when seed lines are fresh. Field recommendations must be closely followed when conditions can be hazardous and require extreme servicing or trouble-shooting equipment. Instructions caution by field people. These conditions can include associated with equipment operation in the field must dead and decaying animals, broken sewer lines, foul be filed in the field folder. All specific information humid air, downed power lines and trees, and snakes up related to the maintenance of the gage must be in trees. Additional information can be found in available prior to technician's departure to the field. Benson and Dalrymple (1967) or Rantz and others The following safety procedures relating to gaging (1982). stations are recommended.

Specific Procedures and Safety Issues 17 - Identify all potential hazards before the no oxygen. Use a gas monitoring construction or repair of the gage. instrument to check for the presence of Assemble the list of hazards from harmful gases and low oxygen levels. hazard elimination logs, and provide it Do not strike a match in a well because to the field crew. of the danger posed by the possible presence of explosive or flammable - Clear away the brush, vegetation, or vapors. Do not work in the well until the debris from around the structure using a deficiency is corrected. brush hog, keeping a sharp eye out for poisonous snakes. Hip boots or high-top - Carry plenty of rope and complete set of leather shoes provide some protection bridge traffic control safety equipment against snake bites. to warn motorists. - During construction of gage houses, the - The walkaways, steps, etc., to the gage excavation must be properly shored to houses must be checked frequently. Any eliminate any danger of cave-ins. parts that are decayed, broken, loose, Scaffolding should be well constructed etc. must be replaced promptly. Never and checked before using. paint a wooden walkaway, use a wood - Before any excavation is started, preservative. the location of underground utility - Flooring, trap doors, and shelves within lines must be identified. These the gage house must be checked lines include electric, oil and gas, frequently for safety. Wooden parts will telecommunications, water, and sewer. often become weakened by decay and - When doing construction or repair work must be replaced. on the gage structure, precautions must - Ladders and ladder rungs must be be taken against falls. Portable ladders properly secured to and spaced from the used to gain access to the roof of a gage gage house walls. Those under water house must be well positioned to can rust so badly that they become prevent slippage. unsafe. When descending or ascending - When doing construction or repair work ladders, employees should make sure of to the gage structure attached to bridges, their footing and always have one hand precaution must be taken to insure gripping the siderails. employees safety as well as the safety of - Check for evidences of rodents as a the motoring public while working from prevention of hantavirus and other the bridge. Wear PFD’s at all times. infectious diseases. Respirators must be Check atmosphere in well before worn during removal of rodent nests and entering and have an assistant and excreta. The inside of the gage house retrieval system available for must be sprayed with a chlorine solution emergencies. (1 cup Chlorox to 1 gallon of water). - When working in a well, be sure that Access holes for rodents must be found tools are in a safe place where they and plugged. cannot be knocked into the well. When buckets are lowered or raised, the Gage Inspection and Records Removal person below, should wear a hard hat It is required to visit the streamgaging stations at and stand in the farthest side from the scheduled intervals for record removal and discharge trap or well door. measurement. The field folders provide the specific - When entering a well (confined space), pertinent information associated with each station. All proper ventilation in the well is instructions and notes that are related to the particular necessary. Some wells may have little or station must be left in the field folder and transferred

18 A Guide to Safe Field Operations from year to year. Hazards must be well documented in - Avoid decompression, dive within your a log and made available to anyone that visits the limits. station. - Make the deepest dive first. Upon arrival at the station, one should clear away - Control buoyancy; don't overweight the brush, vegetation, or debris from around the yourself. structure, keeping a sharp eye for poisonous snakes before beginning the inspection and records removal. - Always display the dive flag while Open the gage house door carefully and look for diving. unusual conditions that might exist inside. If the station - Avoid strong currents and begin dive was vandalized, equipment in the gage house may be against current. left in a dangerous condition. Also, look for insects that could be a hazard to you during your work inside the - Equalize pressure early and often. gage house. Brace the door or lid of the shelter so it - Develop and use methods to communicate will not close by strong wind while you are working underwater. inside of the gage house. In gage houses with wells or - Limit depth to 100 feet or less. equipped with monitoring manometers, check if there is a supply of oxygen and maintain proper ventilation. - Breathe regularly and be aware of the The house door should be kept open for at least a few hazards of breath holding. minutes before servicing the equipment. This is - Stay aware of air supply while diving. because mercury vapor may be present even in ventilated houses. - Ascend carefully and slowly. Do not work inside a gage house with the door - Leave water when shivering, tired, or closed. Gage house doors are often targets for gun injured. practice. People may not be aware that someone may - If diving in an area where gates are be behind the closed door. being moved using electrical power, Share information on any hazard that you discover coordinate the dive with the gate tender by leaving a note in the field folder and inside the gage to avoid movement of the gates while house, and list all hazards on a hazard elimination log. the diver is in the water. Any problem that field personnel encounter in the field must be corrected immediately, if possible. A problem Ground-Water Activities left unresolved could become a serious hazard. Keep the inside of the gage house clean. This section of the guide discusses safety issues that are common to most of our ground-water Scuba Diving activities. It includes procedures and guidelines to avoid personal injuries when conducting well Occasionally it is necessary for Survey personnel to inventory, collecting water-level data, instrumenting conduct scuba diving activities in support of data and repairing observation wells, drilling observation collection and environmental studies. Scuba diving is a wells, conducting aquifer tests, geophysical logging of potentially high risk operation and therefore requires wells, and conducting surface-geophysical special control and procedures to protect employees measurements. from accidents. Compliance with OSHA regulations is required as specified for scientific diving. No scuba Well Inventory operations are permitted without meeting every requirement of the OSHA regulations. Wells are the primary source of ground-water data. Well inventories, either for project investigations or for Safety considerations include: basic data collection networks, usually require an - Always dive with another person; use intensive search for a large number of wells in a the buddy system. Stay together localized area. Data collection in most project wells are continuously. discontinued in a few years upon completion of the

Specific Procedures and Safety Issues 19 project. Wells included in the basic data collection Collecting water-level data with a steel or electric network are selected to represent regional coverage and tape is a relatively safe activity, but a few simple various ground-water conditions and are usually procedures must be followed to minimize personal operated for long periods of time. injury and property damage. If the well is pumping, special precautions must be taken. Private landowners, their dogs, and some of their livestock (bulls, horses, certain breeds of cattle, - Determine as much as possible about buffalo, boar, hogs, etc.) must be recognized as the types of pumps you will be working potential risks while conducting well inventories. with and the position of the pump Consider the following recommendations: intake. Take care not to have the tape pulled into the pump intake. - Contact property owners beforehand and obtain permission to access the - Stay clear of unprotected rotating drive property. Obtain as much information as shafts or belt drives. possible from the owner about possible - Avoid using weights attached to tape. hazards. If the site will be visited The weights could lodge in the pump regularly, make notes on potential column or well casing. Be sure that the dangers so that subsequent field weights are attached with a hook or wire personnel will be forewarned. mesh weak enough to be snapped off if - Minimize disturbing livestock and fowl. it should become lodged in the well. - Watch for low doorways and beams in - Stay on roads or trails with vehicles to well houses. As you enter the well avoid damage to vehicles, pastures, house, check for rotten or loose floor crops, etc. Catalytic converters can start boards, snakes, biting or stinging grass fires. Leave all gates as found insects, slick pump house floors, and (open or closed). inadequate lighting. - Be careful of wells with pumps in - If the pump is electrically driven, check operation and avoid contact with for exposed wires, electrical panels moving parts and electrical wiring. without protective covers and any other - Carry a clipboard as protection from possible electrical hazards which might small hostile animals and for keeping be encountered while working near the data while at the field site. Carry a large pump. crescent wrench or walking stick to - During measurement of non-pumping ward off larger hostile animals. water levels, disconnect or open the - Survey the site watching for snakes, electrical switch on the pump motor to animals, insects, water, and other prevent the pump from starting during hazards. the measurement. This will eliminate the chance of the tape becoming pulled - List all the hazards on a hazard into the pump intake. Close the switch elimination log. when measurement is complete.

Collecting Water-Level Data Instrumentation and Repairing Observation Wells Fluctuations of water-levels in aquifers are obtained primarily from direct measurements with a Observation wells usually are equipped with steel tape, battery powered electric tapes, air lines digital, punched-tape recorders and are used to monitor equipment with pressure gages, and graphical or punch changes in water levels and to provide long-term tape stage recorders. In recent years, electronic statistics for assessing the impacts of climatic and man- pressure transducers and data recorders have been used induced changes. Another method uses a data logger to measure water levels. with pressure transducers capable of recording very

20 A Guide to Safe Field Operations frequent fluctuations of the water levels in wells. This Drilling Observation Wells method is used for short-term projects such as To obtain information on the subsurface and measuring drawdowns during aquifer tests. hydrology of an area, it is often necessary to drill test Installing instruments and repairing observation wells, to collect drill cuttings of formations penetrated wells are relatively safe activities, but a number of by, or to make borehole geophysical studies involving procedures listed below must be followed to avoid the use of specialized logging equipment. Field personal injury or infringing on someone's rights. personnel assigned to such projects are exposed to dangers when working around heavy machinery, and - Obtain permission and property access must have a thorough understanding of the drilling agreement from owner to access site equipment and its operation. The following guidelines and to install instruments or repair must be followed to avoid accidents while working at observation wells. well drilling sites. - Read and follow instructions for - Obtain written permission for entry to materials to be used for instrumentation land. or repairing the well. - Plan access to minimize damage to - Prepare instrument shelter and attach all private property. fittings in the shop so that the shelter - Be familiar with the drilling equipment can be positioned into the well casing in and its operation procedures. the field. Be sure to wear work gloves and goggles when operating power - Drill rig should be fitted with an all tools. around shut down switch bar. - Stay on roads or trails with vehicle to - Before any drilling is started, a site must avoid damage to vehicle, pasture, crops, be selected that is free of any overhead etc., and to avoid getting stuck. Leave wires, underground cable, pipes, tanks, all gates as found (open or closed) or buried wastes. Research the historical use of a site and, if warranted, use - After arriving at well site, unload shelter surface geophysical techniques such as by using proper technique for lifting and resistivity or EM-31 profiling to moving heavy objects. indicate potential problems from buried tanks or wastes. - If a generator and power tools are required, be sure they are operated away - If it is necessary to set up a drilling rig from grass or brush to avoid a fire or on a public road, use proper signs, away from water that could cause an reflectors, and/or flag persons to warn electrical shock to the operator. Install oncoming traffic. Ground-Fault-Circuit-Interrupter - Be sure to wear the proper clothes and (GFCI) when required to prevent shock. use safety equipment, such as hard hats, - Clear vegetation, cut tall grass around gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes. the well site, and remove all trash from - Never wear loose-fitting clothes that can site at each visit, or as needed, to be entangled in open rotating gears or discourage the nesting of snakes, belt drives. rodents, and insects. - One should be prepared for accidents by - Be careful while using polyvinyl being trained on the principles and chloride (PVC) solvents and adhesives. procedures of first aid and fire fighting, Avoid skin contact and breathing and be equipped with adequate first-aid vapors. kits and fire extinguishers.

Specific Procedures and Safety Issues 21 - Keep the site clear of excess pipe, - Permission must be obtained from the casing, tools, cables, and rope. agency, organization, or private person owning or controlling the land. - Be aware of potential dangers such as Remember to maintain cordial relations pinching fingers between lengths of and respect the right of the landowner. pipe, casing, etc.; tangling hands and Be specific in your communication feet in ropes or chains, slipping on about the purpose of work and locations drilling mud; and touching a hot where work will be done. compressor, generator, etc. - Manpower and equipment must be able - Never use equipment that is not safe. If to reach the site safely. a breakdown or problem arises that - Protective gloves should be worn during constitutes a safety risk, the equipment pump installation and removal because must be shut down until necessary the discharge pipe may be slippery or repairs or changes have been made. the woven wire cable may be frayed. - Never allow a drill rig to be operated by - Protect against rotating shafts. only one person. - If a portable generator is used, be sure - Never do repair work on the equipment to use caution when storing and without first shutting it off. handling gasoline. - Allow a gasoline or diesel engine to - In using electrical motors, care must be cool before refueling. exercised to see that the motor voltage, - Clean up site after drilling and repair frequency or cycles and phase any damage to property. correspond with those of the power lines. To ensure proper performance of - Drilling at hazardous waste sites such the pump motor, have a licensed as air bases. Installation Restoration electrician connect it to the service line. Program (IRP) requires specific training - Transport the water away from the site and medical surveillance of the to an area that will not be damaged or personnel according to OSHA flooded. This also will reduce the regulations. potential for electrical shocks. - When lightning is observed, discontinue - During long-term tests, schedule operation. adequate personnel. Avoid extreme fatigue; it can impair judgement and Conducting Aquifer Tests physical capability. Recuperate as needed and maintain communications Aquifer tests are routinely conducted as part of between personnel. subsurface hydrologic project activities. An aquifer test involves pumping a well at a constant rate to stress the - After test is completed, clean up the site aquifer. The rate of water-level depletion is measured and repair any property damage. in the pumped well and nearby monitoring wells and Occasionally, project work calls for aquifer testing the data are used to determine the hydraulic properties with a high-capacity pump. A pump contractor is of the aquifer. The fluctuations in water levels are usually hired to install the pump, maintain it in running measured either electronically, mechanically, or condition throughout the test, and remove it when the manually. The hydraulic characteristics of the aquifer test is completed. The responsibility of the employees are determined graphically or analytically. assigned to the site is to: The following points need to be considered when - Stand clear of the site while the pump is conducting aquifer tests: being installed or removed.

22 A Guide to Safe Field Operations - Wear a hardhat at all times. - Tension on cables must be monitored at all times. Particular care must be - Use earplugs. exercised when pulling probes out to - Insure that the contractor cleans up the avoid breaking line if tool becomes site and repairs any property damage. stuck. - When lightning is observed, discontinue Geophysical Logging of Wells operation and remove probes from well. Geophysical logging sometimes provides the only - Be aware of radiation risks and take the means of obtaining subsurface information. necessary precautions when logging Geophysical logging can be used for determining with a nuclear source. In order to geologic formations, aquifer characteristics, and operate a nuclear-source tool, the physical properties of wells. Most geophysical logging operator must be trained and certified. equipment used by the USGS is permanently mounted The greatest danger may be to an on heavyweight carryall trucks. The equipment untrained helper who may get long-term includes a single or multi-conductor cable and a pen exposure. and ink recorder and solid-state recorders. Data are collected by lowering sensing devices in the borehole Surface Geophysical Measurements and recording the data on a graphic chart and magnetic Surface geophysical methods are often used to tape. The logger also is useful for collecting water study the subsurface without the expense of drilling samples at different depths by lowering a sampler into wells. These methods include electrical resistivity the well. The logger is generally powered by a measurements, electromagnetic, seismic, magnetic and generator, and the cable is raised and lowered with a ground-penetrating radar surveys, and gravity power winch. techniques. The electrical resistivity, electromagnetics, To minimize the potential for accidents, consider and seismic methods are the most widely used for the following guidelines. ground-water exploration. Electrical resistivity measurements require an electrode array to detect - Contact the well owner and request zones of high or low subsurface resistivity. The seismic permission to log the well. Keep the surveys use an energy source such as explosives or owner informed of your plans and hammers and an array of receivers to detect velocity schedule. difference between different earth materials. - Use common sense around logging Personnel who conduct surface geophysical equipment. Be aware that you are surveys must have a thorough understanding of the working around water and 120 volts of equipment and its operation. General guidelines to electricity. To avoid electrical shock, follow are: wear rubber boots. - Contact all property owners and obtain - Check probes and generator before permission to conduct the surface leaving office. Inspect cable and geophysical surveys. Keep owners connectors for rust and wear. informed of your plans and schedule. -Wear fitted clothing and stay clear of the - Make sure all equipment is in good winch and pulleys when probes are operating condition. Check all being lowered or raised to avoid getting equipment and power source prior to clothing caught. A helper often must leaving the office. Replace any frayed, attend to the cable to work the probes cut, or damaged cords or plugs. past tight spots and to clean the cable as - Follow all instructions when operating it comes out of the hole. the equipment. Incorrect connection of - Handle cable with heavy gloves to wires could be dangerous to the prevent burns and cuts from cable. operator and the equipment.

Specific Procedures and Safety Issues 23 - Respect the energy source and properly Collecting Samples from Streams, ground all instruments. Discontinue use Rivers, and Lakes of any equipment that causes an Taking samples from streams, rivers, and lakes for electrical tickle or shock. Use GFCI’s in water-quality analysis has unique safety risks. The the lines. inability to swim and difficulty in freeing oneself of - When working along roadways, use burdensome equipment or waders if suddenly plunged caution, place cones around work areas, into deep water are perhaps the most serious risks in stay off the roadway if possible. taking samples. Remember to always wear your PFD and make sure it is in good condition. Keep your feet - Use special caution when operating spread apart and body aligned parallel to the flow and equipment with high-voltage output. don't fight the water. At cableways, remember to Never tamper with the equipment inspect anchorages at both banks, if possible, and look during operation and only service it for signs of excessive wear, vandalism, or accidental when the unit has been properly damage to the equipment. At bridge sites, follow all discharged. State laws for blocking traffic, wear high visibility - Any use of explosives is potentially vests with reflective strips, post appropriate signs at dangerous and requires special training each end of the bridge, and be alert for wide loads and and preparation. Employees must not large trucks which may extend over the walkway. work around a site where explosives are Develop a plan for each bridge site for placing traffic being used without receiving training on control devices. When working on ice, there is no specific operation and associated substitute for experience. When possible, work with hazards. Check to see if permits are someone who is experienced working on ice. Be aware required from local jurisdictions. of the temperature, whether the stage is rising or Adequate communication between the falling, and whether the ice is strong enough to support explosives operators is essential—they your body and equipment. should be properly trained in use of Water is a carrier for many disease-producing hand signals and hand-held radios. organisms. Appearance alone is no way to judge the safety of the water. Water-born hazards may come from WATER-QUALITY ACTIVITIES material dissolved in the water, suspended in the water, or in sediment of the stream bottom. Infections or Water samples are collected under a wide range of disease can enter the body through accidental ingestion conditions and the work can be dangerous. A by mouth or through skin broken by injury or another knowledge of the hazards involved and means by infection. The following guidelines must be used for which they can be minimized should be helpful in protection of personnel working around polluted water: preventing accidents and in providing greater safety for sample collectors. It is the responsibility of every field - Assume the water is polluted. person to take proper precautions to insure their own - Wear rubber gloves to avoid contact safety and the safety of others while collecting water with water, especially if it is suspected samples. Follow normal field safety precautions of being contaminated. regarding weather, insects, heat, dehydration, etc., and - Obtain immunizations for known follow the recommended procedures and precautions hazards. for wading, boat, bridge, cableway, or ice measurements. Especially, pay attention to dangers - Equipment for each personnel should present in the vicinity of the sampling site. List all include separate supplies of drinking specific instructions in field files for safety procedures water, wash water, soap, and a according to TWRI's or established standards. disinfectant.

24 A Guide to Safe Field Operations - Wash water, soap, and disinfectant - Follow specific instructions on should be used after all sampling even if instrument operations provided by the the sampled water appears to be manufacturer. uncontaminated. - Make sure all equipment is in good - Protect feet with waders while in mud operating condition. Check all or water. Remove waders before equipment and power sources prior to washing hands; remember, they may be leaving the office. more contaminated than the current meter or sampler. - Before using any pump, be familiar with its operation, and for installed pumps, - Protect wounds on hands with rubber or review procedures in the field folder for plastic gloves. the site. - Avoid contamination of water, places, or - Electrical sources are potential hazards. people with your equipment or waders. Electrical sources, batteries, generators, - Avoid carrying a pencil in the mouth or existing AC can cause shocks. while sampling or stream gaging. Respect the energy source and properly ground all instruments. - Avoid rubbing eyes. - Gasoline is a source of potential Sampling Wells contamination, fire, and fumes; gasoline must be stored in approved containers. There is no single sampling method that will work Pumps and generators must be fueled best for all wells. A number of methods are currently in and oiled away from the area of use for sampling wells. The equipment ranges from operation. simple to refined, including bailers, gas-driven samplers, bladder pumps, syringe devices, electric - If the site is in a well house or spring submersible pumps, suction-lift pumps, air-lift house, watch for low doorways and samplers, and gas-driven piston pumps. In selecting a beams inside. As you enter, check for sampling method for a well, a number of details must rotten or loose floor boards, slippery be considered. Among the considerations are the floors, snakes, and biting or stinging portability of the equipment, depth to water, well insects. diameter, water volume, ease of cleaning the - Check for exposed wiring, open equipment, method by which the sampling device electrical panels, and any other possible brings the water to the surface, and reliability of the electrical hazards which might be equipment. encountered while working near the Due to the great variety of physical equipment and pump. field situations in well water sampling, it is impracticable to list a detailed set of safety rules and Sample Preservation and Shipment standards applicable to this activity. Collecting ground- water samples has its own special risks. Follow normal Chemicals, supplies, and equipment used in the field-safety precautions and procedures for ground- collection and preservation of water-quality samples water activities. General guidelines to follow are: may be dangerous to both field personnel and to passers-by if precautions are not followed. Most - All routine field safety and equipment preservatives are either corrosive or poisonous and and procedures must be followed at all contact with them must be avoided. Buffers, standards, times. and filling solutions also are potentially harmful and it - Know as much as possible about the is a good general rule to also avoid contact with them. types of pumps you will be working The following safety rules must be practiced when with. handling preservatives:

Water-Quality Activities 25 - Protective gloves, clothing, and eye - Avoid contact with contaminated water. wear must be worn when handling If contact is unavoidable, wash hands hazardous chemicals. and equipment frequently. - Carry a sufficient volume of water and - Special care must be used with syringes. antiseptic washes to rinse any accidental The used syringe must be packaged for spills. Baking soda is a good all purpose disposal so that no one handling the substance to absorb acid spills in trucks. wastes will be cut or gouged. - Avoid spillage and personal contact and - Alcohol or other flammable chemicals have appropriate clean-up kits. must be transported in the smallest - Wash gloved hands thoroughly with practical volumes and in closed disinfectant soap after sampling and containers that are secured in the discard gloves properly. vehicles so they will not leak or break. - Be careful when handling acid - Cylinders of compressed gasses must ampoules to avoid cuts splashes, and always be tightly secured in a vehicle breathing fumes. Wear eye protection and while in use. Gas cylinders must devices (goggles or face shield). never be allowed to stand upright without being secured. - Dispose of each empty ampoule and tip immediately following use and before Follow established procedures for shipping filling a bottle for the next sample. It is samples to the laboratory and observe proper lifting recommended that the two parts of the procedures when transporting water and ice-filled ampoule be placed in either a wide- coolers. It is recommended that shipping containers be mouth glass screw jar or a steel disposal lined with appropriate water-proof materials to prevent can. The disposal container should be water leakage from melting ice. Use sufficient packing 1 filled to /4 volume with tap water to material in containers to avoid breakage of sample minimize shock breakage to the used bottles. ampoule. - Concentrated acid used to preserve Operating Field Parameter Meters samples should be carried in the A wide variety of meters are commercially smallest volumes possible and available for measuring water-quality field parameters. practicable. Parameters commonly measured in the field include - If ampoules are used, they should be alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, carried in their original shipping and temperature. A less commonly measured container. parameter is RP (redox potential). Usually parameters are measured independently using separate meters. - If a larger volume of acid is needed, it However, multi-parameter meters also are available. should be carried in a container with non-flammable packing which will Standards are used to calibrate the meters both in absorb spills. The container must be the office and in the field. All meters must be secured in the vehicle so that even if the recalibrated at each site. This means, if the meter is vehicle is involved in an accident or packed up and moved, it must be recalibrated. upset, the acid will not leak out of the Standards should be at ambient water temperatures container and packaging. for accurate calibration. When the air temperature is - Avoid rapid heating and cooling of radically different from water temperature, standards glassware, because it can cause should be placed in a circulating bath of sample water breakage. Do not pick up broken glass until they are close to the water temperature. with hands. Sweep or scoop the glass Remember, good field data depends on proper care, up. calibration, and maintenance of field equipment.

26 A Guide to Safe Field Operations The operation of field meters is generally a - When working on bridges, follow the relatively safe activity. A few reminders that may safety procedures discussed in the prevent accidents or damage to the equipment are: section on surface-water procedures. - Keep meters in good operating - Follow all safety precautions in the condition and routinely clean, repair, or construction and repair of gage replace dirty or corroded connections, structures that may house the cells, probes, or sensors. equipment. - Read and follow instrument manual and become familiar with its operation. REFERENCES - Protect yourself from electrical shock. Andrews, H.L., and Russell, A.L., 1974, Basic boating, pilot- Replace or repair any broke, weak, ing, and seamanship: Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice- exposed, or frayed wiring. Replace Hall, 381 p. batteries that show any unusual wear or Benson, M.A., and Dalrymple, Tate, 1967, General field and cracks in housing. office procedures for indirect discharge measurements: - Store and transport meters, probes, and U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations Report, book 3, chap. A1, 30 p. sensors carefully. Equipment and tools Cox, M.H., 1990, Protocol for emergency room procedures should be kept separate as much as and hospital management of snakebites: Snakebite possible and carried in such a manner as Treatment Center, Orange Park, Fla., 36 p. to minimize damage from vibrations Craig, F.C., 1953, Accident prevention in making boat mea- and jostling. surements: U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources - Meters and probes should not be stored Bulletin, August. in vehicle over night, if possible. Return Halberg, H.N., 1971, Electrical hazards: U.S. Geological meters and probes to the office or lab at Survey, Water Resources Bulletin, October 1970-March the end of each field day. 1971, p. 3. Keller, J.J., and Associates, 1993, Official OSHA Safety Handbook: J.J. Keller and Associates, Neenah, Wis., Installing and Operating Water-Quality 182 p. Monitors Miller, R.W., 1974, Guide for using horses in mountain In recent years, equipment to record measurements country: Bozeman, Montana Wilderness Society, 16 p. of various water-quality parameters every few minutes National Weather Service, 1985, Thunderstorms and light- ning: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- has been developed and can be installed on stream tion [pamphlet] NOAA/PA 83001. banks, bridges, or wells. These data are often needed to Perez, R.A., 1985, The complete battery book: Blue Ridge determine short term and in some cases real time Summit, PA, Tab Books. fluctuations in the concentration of these water quality Rantz, S.E. and others, 1982, Measurement and computation parameters. In many cases, data are needed at remote of streamflow, Volume 1. Measurement of Stage and sites, which have no electrical utilities. Discharge. Volume 2. Computation of discharge: U.S. Personnel who install and operate water-quality Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2175, v. 1, p. 1- monitors must have a thorough understanding of the 284, v. 2, p. 285-631 equipment and its operation. General guidelines to Shuter, Eugene, 1978, Guide to prevention of accidents in test-hole drilling: U.S. Geological Survey, Water follow are: Resources Bulletin, July-December 1977, p. 32-33. - Follow all instructions when operating Snyder, C.T., 1970, New horizons/new hazards: U.S. Geo- the equipment. logical Survey, Water Resources Bulletin, July-Septem- ber 1970, p. 3-4. - Make sure all equipment is in good Sylvester, M.A., Kister, L.R., and Garrett, W.B., eds., 1990, operating condition. Check all Guidelines for the collection, treatment, and analysis of equipment and power sources prior to water samples—U.S. Geological Survey Western leaving the office. Region Field Manual: Internal use only, 144 p.

References 27

Tiball, R.R., 1984, Field-safety guidelines for the U.S. Geo- Brew, D.A., Bartsch-Winkler, Susan, Grantz, A., and Plafker, logical Survey, Central Region, U.S. Geological Survey, G., 1978, Guidelines for safe geologic fieldwork in 56 p. Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Alaskan U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, 1986, Boating skills and sea- Geology, Committee on Safety, 10 p. manship, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, 210 p. Brower, D.R., ed., 1962, Manual of ski mountaineering (3d U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1979, Product ed.): San Francisco, Sierra Club, 224 p. safety fact sheet no. 27: Snowmobiles: Superintendent Crippen, E.R., and Davis, K., undated, Staying alive in the of documents, U.S. Printing Office, Washington, D.C., arctic: Juneau, State of Alaska Department of Health 3 p. and Social Services [pamphlet], 24 p. U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, August Dusel-Bacon, Cynthia, 1979, "Come quick! I’m being eaten 1989, Safety and environmental health handbook 445- by a bear!": Alaska magazine, February, p. 12-13, 72- 1-H, 160 p. 76. _____December 1993, U.S. Geological Survey occupational Guthrie, Dorothea, 1980, Springtime is sting time: Family hazards and safety procedures handbook 445-2-H, Safety, Spring, p. 19-21. chap. 1-19. Houston, C.S., 1976, Altitude illness—1976 version: Ameri- U.S. Department of Transportation, 1980, Pilots handbook of can Alpine Journal, v. 20, no. 2, issue 50, p. 407-413. aeronautical knowledge: Federal Aviation Administra- _____1979, Altitude illness—recent advances in knowledge: tion. American Alpine Journal, v. 22, no. 1, issue 53, p. 153- U.S. Geological Survey, 1990, Handbook for new employ- 159. ees: Harrington, H.D., 1967, Edible native plants of the Rocky _____1991, Streamgaging cableways: U.S. Geological Sur- Mountains: Albuquerque, New Mexico University vey Open-File Report 91-84. Press, 392 p. Water Resources Division, 1953, Symposium on safety: U.S. Jones, D.F., 1971, Back strain: the state of the art: Journal of Geological Survey, Water Resources Bulletin, August, Safety Research, v 3, no. 1, p. 28-34. 84 p. Kauffman, R.H., undated, How to protect yourself in the Water Resources Division, 1961, Special safety issue: U.S. unlikely event of fire: unpublished, Los Angeles County Geological Survey, Water Resources Bulletin, Decem- Fire Department, Operations Division, P.O. Box 3009, ber, 43 p. Terminal Annex, Los Angeles, CA 90051, 4 p. _____Current notebook on safety policy and guidance mem- Kleinspehn, Karen, and Sisson, Jinny, 1981, Guidelines for oranda. safety policy and general practices in field work: unpublished manuscript, Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, ADDITIONAL READING N.J., 47 p. Kordyasz, E., 1979, Beware of scorpions: World Health, Allen, Deborah, 1980, What you should know about chain February 1979, p. 36. saws: Family Safety, Spring, p. 28-30. Ley, H.L., Jr., 1971, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, in P.B. American National Red Cross, 1973, Advanced first aid and Beeson and Walsh McDermott (eds.), Cecil-Loeb text- emergency care: Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday and Co., book of medicine, volume 1, (13th ed.): Philadelphia, Inc., 318 p. W.B. Saunders Co., p. 478-480. _____1979, Standard first aid and personal safety (2d ed.): Lyght, C.E., and others, ed., 1966, The Merck manual of Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday and Co., Inc., 268 p. diagnosis and therapy (11th ed.): Rahway, N.J., Merck Anonymous, 1973, Poisons, stings, and bites: Emergency Shank and Dohme Research Laboratories, 1,850 p. Product News, v. 9, no. 2, p. 19-25. Maricopa county Department of Civil Defense and Emer- _____1973b, Insect stings—a danger as outdoor season gency Services, undated, Desert survival: Maricopa opens (interview with Dr. Claude A. Frazier): U.S. County Department of Civil Defense and Emergency News and World Report, April 30, p. 47-48. Services, 2035 n. 52nd St., Phoenix, AZ, 11 p. _____1977, An unwelcome guest: Agricultural Research, Meiklejohn, Gordon, 1971, Colorado tick fever, in P.B. Bee- v. 25, no. 9, p. 15. son and Walsh McDermott (eds.), Cecil-Loeb textbook _____1981, What should you do during an earthquake?: of medicine, volume 1, (13th ed.): Philadelphia, W.B. Earthquake Information Bulletin, v. 13, no. 3, p. 93. Saunders Co., p. 432-434. Bowers, Jan, 1980, When nature goes on a rampage: Family Miller, R.W., 1974, Guide for using horses in mountain Safety, Spring, p. 26-27. country: Bozeman, Montana Wilderness Society, 16 p.

28 A Guide to Safe Field Operations National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1970a, Schmidt, S.D., and Meier, P.G., 1982, In-use test for Giardia Thunderstorms: U.S. Department of Commerce, cyst removal for Katadyn pocket filter and piston pump National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, filter: Michigan University, Institute of Environmental NOAA/PI 70014, 5 p. and Industrial Health, Ann Arbor, (unpublished report), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1970b, 17 p. Lightning: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA/PI Smith, H.A., 1976, There’s no hotfoot like a scorpion bite: 70014, 5 p. Smithsonian, v. 6, no. 11, p. 140. National Safety Council, 1966, Tick bites: Chicago, National U.S. Coast Guard, 1974, Federal requirements for recre- Safety Council Data Sheet 228 (revised), 3 p. ational boats: U.S. Coast Guard [pamphlet] C6-290, _____1969, Emergency, a pocket guide to emergency action: 15 p. National Safety council [pamphlet] no. 192.22, 25 p. _____1980, A pocket guide to cold water survival: U.S. _____1980, How to survive a hotel fire: National Safety Coast Guard Pamphlet COM-DTINST M3131.5, 20 p. Council [pamphlet] no. 195.83, 5 p. National Weather Service, 1971, Tornado, Safety rules: U.S. Forest Service, 1977, Safety and health orientation for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration new employees: U.S. Forest Service, 49 p. [pamphlet], NOAA/PA 70008, 1 p. Water Resources Division, 1961, Special safety issue: U.S. _____1980, NOAA weather radio: National Weather Service Geological Survey, Water Resources Bulletin, Decem- [pamphlet] NOAA/PA 76015, 7 p. ber, 43 p. Newman, Bert, 1981, Don’t drink the water: Audubon, v. 83, Watt, C.H., 1979, Snakebite: Don’t cool it: Emergency Med- May, p. 95-97. ical Services, v. 8, no. 5, p. 10-13, 72. Office of Boating Safety, 1977, (Almost) everything you ever wanted to know about boating but were afraid to ask: Yoxall, Patricia, 1982, What to do when lightning strikes: U.S. Coast Guard [pamphlet], 24 p. Family Safety, Spring, p. 12-14. Peterson, A.E., 1962, Lightning hazards to mountaineers: Zahl, P.A., 1968, Scorpions—living fossils of the sands: American Alpine Journal, p. 143-154. National Geographic, v. 133, no. 3, p. 436-442.

Additional Reading 29