SURVEYING SAFETY

HOW TO STAY ALIVE!!

 SURVEYING
A DANGEROUS OCCUPATION
 Study conducted by San Jose University
 Surveying was ranked as the 16th most
dangerous occupation in the United
States for blue collar workers
 Surveying was ranked as the 18th most
dangerous occupation in the United
States for white collar workers
 WHAT ARE THE DANGERS?

 Working in rugged terrain long distances from

medical assistance
 Extreme weather conditions
 Poisonous plants, reptiles, and insects
 Dangerous wild and domestic animals
 Roadside vehicle traffic dangers
 Enclosed or confined spaces
 Heavy equipment on busy construction sites
 HOW TO STAY ALIVE!

 Be alert to the hazards around you

 Never let your guard down

 Do not let the profit margin of the

project cloud your good judgment
 If you feel a situation may be too
risky – Then It Is!!
 ROADWAY SAFETY
 Follow the Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD)
 Provide a Lookout at all times
 Never take a step without
looking
 Be alert to your surroundings
 Follow state and local laws
 Conduct frequent training
 ROADWAY SAFETY
 Use proper signs and cones
 Make yourself visible at all
times
 Give drivers advance
warning of your presence
 Try to work when traffic is
the lightest
 Do not try to rescue the
equipment
 WEATHER HAZARDS
 Extreme Cold
 Wear adequate protective clothing to protect
ears, fingers, toes and face from frostbite
 Always wear layers of clothing
 Extreme Heat
 Stay hydrated
 To prevent skin cancer, wear a hat and proper
sun block protection at all times
 WEATHER HAZARDS
 Lightning Precautions
 Avoid surveying in electrical storms
 Avoid using survey rods, poles, or tapes made of
metals during electrical storms
POISONOUS REPTILES & INSECTS

 Remain alert while

working in the field
 Never step or reach
without looking first
 Wear protective clothing
 Receive adequate first
aid training and have a
first aid kit available at
all times
POISONOUS REPTILES & INSECTS
 Be alert to allergic
reactions and respond
appropriately
 Know if crew members
have any known allergies
and if they require an
injection kit applied
 Be alert to local warnings
 Wear proper insect
repellents
 POISONOUS PLANTS
 Poison Ivy
 Three-leaflet leaf
 Upper surface has a
shiny varnished look
 Usually a vine
 Clusters of small white
berries
 Poison Oak
 Leaflet with serrated or
lobed edges
 Usually a bush
SAFE USE OF FIELD EQUIPMENT
 Keep tools in good condition
 No loose heads on any hand tools
 Edged tools should be kept sharp
 Keep tools safely stored when not in use, such as
machete blades or axes placed in leather sheathes.
 Take care when using machetes or chain saws
 Wear protective clothing and gloves
 Swing away from your legs or feet
 Work at least ten feet away from the nearest person
 Always use common sense
 CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY
 Make sure heavy equipment operators
see you and acknowledge your presence
 Set up surveying equipment a safe
distance from construction equipment
 Don’t stand on a piece of
heavy equipment to talk
to the operator.
 Always wear a hard hat
 Be aware of electrical lines
 CONFINED SPACE HAZARDS
 Types of confined spaces
 Manholes
 Utility vaults
 Pipelines
 Mine Shafts
 Tunnels
 Structure cavities
 Trenches
 CONFINED SPACE HAZARDS
 Conduct a hazard assessment
 Atmospheric air quality issues
 Potential energy
 Environment in the space
 External hazards
 Animals or insects
 Emergency exits
 Stability of space
 Never work alone
 CONCLUSION
 Use common sense at all times
 Don’t get in a hurry
 Never risk injury or death for profits
 Stay alert and stay alive
 Never become numb to your surroundings

 Someone is waiting for you to come home from

work! Don’t disappoint them!
 ASSIGNMENT
 Read the handout given out in class titled:
“Roadway Safety – A Matter of Life or Death”
 After reading the article, write a two page
paper of what you have learned about
surveying safety.
 Must have a minimum of two pages of text
 Must be double spaced
 Times New Roman - 12 point font
 1” margins
 Title page with your name, class, date