This page is set up to provide you with good advice,
tips and tricks to make your time in the field as productive as possible.
The most important safety item you take with you into
the field is your brain. What you have stored in your memory and how you use it are
the primary means of staying healthy and doing productive work when you are in the
field. So the first thing discussed here will be risk assessment.
- Risk assessment is evaluating what kind and how much risk
exists. Thinking about what might be problematic is easier to do at home than it is
out in the field during a crisis. Once you have made an assessment of the risks
involved, you can take steps to minimize or eliminate them.
To help you make a risk
assessment of a project,
first get out the map and take a look at it.
Then ask yourself the questions below.
What kind of terrain will I be traveling over to get
to the field area? What kind of roads exist in the area, and what condition are they
in? The local Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Idaho Fish and Game
offices are good sources of information. Remember that back country roads may be
closed to protect sensitive areas, for fire danger, or may be too rutted or washed out to
be useable. Save mileage by checking to make sure the road you want to use is open.
How much relief is there in the field area? Is
it swampy? Rocky? Forested?
Go to BOOTS for
advice on footwear.
What kind of roads are there?
How populous is the area?
- Risks from weather and climate
Ask yourself the following questions before you set out into the field, and
prepare accordingly:
What elevation is the area? What kind of clothing do I need? What
time of year? Wet weather? Hot weather? Cold weather? Is there danger of
dehydration? Frostbite? Heat prostration? Hypothermia?
Go to forecasts, from the National Weather
Service in Boise.
Do your know the signs and symptoms of these conditions and how to
treat them?
Visit First Aid from the Mayo Clinic for
information.
- Risks from plants and animals
Poison ivy is found in Idaho. Many other plants have thorns and stickers to
help them survive Idaho's harsh environment. Learn to recognize poison ivy, so
you can avoid it. Sporting goods stores, and any business that sells fishing gear,
or hunting and fishing licenses will probably have some one who knows if your area has
dangerous plants or animals. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Idaho
Fish and Game offices will have information on dangerous plants and animals in your area.
Bison, moose, grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, rattlesnakes,
ticks, cattle, feral or domesticated dogs, skunks, mosquitoes, horseflies are all
creatures you may find in the Rocky Mountain west, and each of these animals may pose
dangers to the field geologist. Any animal might be a danger if it perceives you as
a serious threat. In general, leave animals alone. Don't touch them, chase
them or harass them in any way.
Fire is a constant danger. Be
careful where you park, try to park on bare dirt or gravel. Check for dry
vegetation caught on the undercarriage of your vehicle. Be careful with matches,
campfires, and cigarettes. Carry water, a shovel, and an extinguisher.
Is it hunting season? Wear blaze orange, and visit
the Idaho Department of Fish and Game
or get a copy of field orders for your area from the Idaho Fish and Game Department office
in your area or any business that sells hunting and fishing licenses .
Is the field area in a location where traffic is a
consideration? Statistically, the most dangerous activity you will engage in is driving
to your field area. Wear your seat belt, and make sure that your vehicle is in good
working order. Know how to change a tire using the equipment in your field
vehicle. Finding out that the jack doesn't fit, or that your spare tire is
flat is annoying in town, and can be dangerous when you're far from civilization.
Driving on dirt and gravel roads is an acquired skill, and takes practice.
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