A Guide to Safe Field Operations
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-777
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Equipment
Each hydrologist and hydrologic technician usually is equipped with and
expected to handle a wide variety of tools and instruments. This equipment
represents a potential risk to the user if it is improperly maintained and
mishandled. It also represents a considerable investment to the government
and each employee is entrusted with maintenance security, and proper
use.
A fully-equipped field vehicle will include a tool box with screwdrivers,
wrenches, pliers, hammers, and other small tools. Other standard items in
a vehicle may be axes, saws, digging bars, shovels, and tools for making
minor repairs to field installations. None of these tools are dangerous if
they are used properly, but they need to be used with care and only for
their intended purpose.
- Keep tools in a tool box and stow the tool box and larger hand tools
securely in your vehicle.
- Keep all tools clean and free of excess oil and grease. A greasy handle
could cause a tool to slip out of your hand and cause injury.
- Use a tool belt to carry small, sharp tools instead of your pocket.
- Wear goggles or safety glasses when using hammers, axes, and saws.
- Keep all cutting tools sharp. This will make the job easier and
safer.
- Store and carry cutting tools with sheaths covering the sharp edges.
- When using a cutting tool such as an axe, make sure that you have a
clear area to swing both above and behind. Do not swing in a direct path
toward someone else.
- Replace any splintered handles of hammers, axes, etc.
- Count your tools before starting work and check to be sure all tools
have been returned to the vehicle and secured before leaving a work
site.
Power tools are a great convenience and can increase our efficiency
dramatically, but they probably represent one of the greatest risks for
severe injuries. Be careful with power equipment, and this is true
particularly while working at remote field sites because of the lack of
medical facilities. A deep cut caused by a power saw that may result in a
temporary disability from an accident at home, could result in a death at a
remote location.
- Keep all power saws, generators, pumps, and other gas-engine equipment
clean and properly lubricated. Always check the lubricant level before
starting a gas engine.
- Fill the fuel tank before starting engine, using a funnel or a gas can
with a built in funnel. Wipe excess gas off the engine housing before
starting. When refueling, allow the engine to cool first.
- Consider using an air compressor and air-driven tools when working at a
gaging station to avoid electrical shock.
- Use generators with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) when
working in the field, particularly at streamside or other wet sites.
- Inspect all extension cords and the cords of individual tools to be sure
the insulation is intact.
- Always keep the ground continuous. Do not remove ground lug from power
tool plug. Never use the ground side for switching.
- Never use a chain saw or circular saw without reading the instructions
or receiving instructions from an experienced user. These are probably
the two most dangerous pieces of equipment that you will use during
routine field activities.
- Keep chains and blades of saws sharp, and replace when frequent
sharpening is required.
- Carry a chain saw suspended at your side with the sheathed guide bar
pointing to the rear.
- Start a chain saw by setting saw on a clear, level spot on the ground.
Do not carry a chain saw with the engine running.
- Wear personal protective equipment, especially goggles, gloves, hearing
protection, and safety shoes when operating any power equipment.
- At the end of each work day, close gas valve on all gas-powered tools to
burn the gas out of the carburettor. This will prevent a build-up of gum
in the carburettor and minimize the possibility of a gas leak in the
vehicle. It also will insure easier starting after storage.
- Stow all power tools securely in your vehicle and return them to their
assigned storage place upon returning from the field after emptying
fuel.
- Do not transport gas-powered tools, with gas left in the fuel tank in a
vehicle that does not have a separate compartment from driver and
passengers.
A wide variety of instruments in our assigned field tasks ranging from
small hand-held levels to sophisticated electromagnetic data loggers and
data storage devices are used by WRD field personnel. While the use of
these instruments usually do not represent a risk, they are expensive and
irreplaceable is some cases, and they should be secured and protected from
damage or theft. Instruments and other sensitive equipment should be
stored and transported in protective cases to avoid damage. Levels, pH
meters, and other instruments should not be routinely stored in
vehicles--they should be stored in an assigned and locked storage area in
the office or warehouse. Storage of instruments in cabinets in vehicles
provides additional protection from being damaged and also keeps them out
of sight of would-be thieves. Locking your vehicle at all times will
provide security for the valuable equipment assigned to you.
Previous--In the Field
Contents
Next--Maintenance and Storage
A Guide to Safe Field Operations
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-777
http://water.er.usgs.gov/pubs/ofr/ofr95777/equipment.html
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Last Modified: 10:40 27June1996 ghc