Water Resources--Office of Water Quality

A9. SAFETY IN FIELD ACTIVITIES

Safety: the condition of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss.

"Safety first" is the motto for all USGS personnel involved in field activities. This chapter of the National Field Manual is required reading for USGS personnel who will be involved in the collection of water-quality data. Using the information in this chapter, field teams are responsible for establishing and implementing safety procedures appropriate for their field activities.
To ensure safety, field work requires an awareness of potential hazards and a knowledge of regulations and recommended procedures. The collection of water-quality data in the field brings field personnel in touch with numerous hazards. Personnel routinely work in extreme environmental conditions and in remote locations. Many assignments require working with, or around, heavy machinery. Water-quality studies involve the transportation and use of equipment and chemicals. Personnel routinely come in direct and indirect contact with waterborne and airborne chemicals and pathogens, and with potentially dangerous animals and plants.

	You are the first line of defense for on-the-spot evaluations of situations that may compromise your safety. Be aware of your environment, use common sense, do not exceed your limits (for example, operation of equipment; lifting heavy objects and equipment; physical tolerance to exertion, heat, and cold), and trust your instincts. Listen to that "little voice" inside you if you feel uneasy about your situation.
	Remain calm if you find yourself in danger.
	Use the information in this manual to help you take appropriate actions.