Noteworthy

Local Science Feature:

•  Indiana: Investigations & Monitoring of Mercury

National & Regional Science:

•  Quality of Water from Domestic Wells

Past listings...

Water Quality Data

National Water Information System (NWIS)

• NWIS provides current and historical water-quality data.

Today's Water Conditions

• Water-Quality Watch provides continuous real-time water-quality measurements.
  

Water-Quality Web Services

• Web services automate the sharing of USGS and USEPA water-quality monitoring data.

For More Data

• Additional water-quality data resources are available.

USGS in Your Area

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (TWRI Book 9)

Chapter A9. Safety in Field Activities

By Susan L. Lane and Ronald G. Fay

Chapter 2 is available only as a pdf file:
Chapter A9 [3.8MB PDF]

Download a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.

• Comments/Errata page
• Citation Information

Table of Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and scope

Field manual review and revision

Acknowledgments

9.1 - Safety policies, regulations, and requirements

9.1.1 USGS and Federal policies

9.1.2 Job hazard analysis

9.1.3 Personal protective equipment

9.1.4 Training

9.2 - Field trip preparations and emergency contacts

9.3 - Transportation

9.3.1 Road vehicles and trailers

9.3.2 Watercraft

9.3.3 Aircraft

9.3.4 Other methods of transportation

9.4 - Surface-water activities

9.4.1 Wading

9.4.2 Working on bridges

9.4.3 Working from boats

9.4.4 Working from cableways

9.4.5 Scuba diving

9.4.6 Electrofishing

9.5 - Ground-water activities

9.5.1 Well sites

9.5.2 Machinery, pumps, and other equipment

9.6 - Chemicals

9.6.1 Use and handling

9.6.2 Transport

9.6.3 Storage and disposal

9.7 - Contaminated water

9.8 - Environmental conditions

9.8.1 Temperature and sun exposure

9.8.2 Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes

9.8.3 Floods

9.8.4 Earthquakes

9.8.5 Fire

9.8.6 Snow and ice

9.9 - Animals

9.9.1 Arachnids and insects

9.9.2 Snakes

9.9.3 Alligators

9.9.4 Bears

9.9.5 Mountain lions

9.9.6 Rodents and other small mammals

9.9.7 Domestic animals

9.10 - Plants

9.11 - Checklists for standard safety equipment

9.11.1 Checklist for personal protective equipment

9.11.2 Checklist for vehicles and vehicular laboratories

9.11.3 Checklist for watercraft

Conversion factors and abbreviations

Selected references and internal documents

Publications on Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations

Illustrations

9-1. Example of emergency contact form to be completed and taken on field trips

9-2. Example of medical information form to be completed and taken on field trips

9-3. Sketches of selected spiders found in North America

9-4. Sketches of selected poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes of North America

9-5. Shapes of leaves in five species of Toxicodendron found throughout the continental United States (except Alaska and Nevada)

Tables

9-1. Guidelines on potentially dangerous animals

9-2. Guidelines on poisonous plants

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