Hazards in Field Work

Steven Dutch, Professor Emeritus, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Staying out of trouble is far easier than getting out of trouble

Vehicles

Know how to do basic auto repairs, the more the better.
Carry a good basic tool kit.
In extremely remote terrain, carry fuel, oil, water, and replacements of critical parts (belts, tires, etc.) and know how to replace them.
Know how to spot signs of impending trouble. Watch gauges and listen for odd sounds. Know what the sounds mean.
Know how to drive on rough ground, steep hills, mud, sand, snow.
Know how to extricate your vehicle from trouble. Carry a shovel and other tools. Know how to use a winch.
Carry materials to ensure survival if you get really stuck. That will depend on the climate, how remote you are from help, whether anyone will come looking for you, and so on.

Getting Lost

Far and away the best comment I ever read on this subject was a piece by a former Green Beret. I was expecting some rah-rah, gung-ho macho advice, but what he said was "You have fun sleeping in your Mylar space blanket and eating roots and berries. I'm going to have a hot shower in the motel and then go to the restaurant for a steak dinner because I'm not going to get lost in the first place!"

Always know where you are. This should be easy, since you will probably be plotting data on a map or air photo much of the time anyway. But even if you're not, be constantly referring to your map.
Be intimate with maps. Know how to read them so instinctively that you can figure out where you are even if you've lost track. Be able to match an observed terrain feature with what you see on the map.
Know how to use a compass and perform intersection and resection.
You can't get lost if you're surrounded by identifiable lines. I continually marvel at people who get lost in a space five miles across with roads or rivers on all sides. Just pick the nearest or easiest direction and go.
Know how to estimate direction from the sun. Especially know that the sun is not always due east in the morning and west in the afternoon. This is one of the most amazing misconceptions, yet so many people have it. The sun is in the east until 11:59:59, then - zip! - it jumps to due south at noon, and then - zip! - it jumps to due west at 12:00:01. In the winter, in mid-northern latitudes, the sun rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest. In the Arctic in the summer the sun rises and sets nearly in the north. In the southern hemisphere the sun is in the north at noon, and so on.
Know the constellations thoroughly so that you can find direction even if only part of the sky is visible. If you work in the southern hemisphere, learn the southern constellations.
Don't believe old wives' tales. There is no such thing as taking a "wrong turn" if you're following a river downstream. I have a little leaflet put out by the U.S. Army on escape and evasion. For one of its direction clues it says "most rivers flow south." There's a name for people who follow advice like that: "prisoners of war." You cannot assume a stream flows in any particular direction.
GPS is not a substitute for map skills! By all means carry a GPS if you have one, and know how to use it. But the unit falls off a cliff, or the battery dies, or you drop and break it, or you're in a tight spot where you can't get the required number of satellites visible. Now what?
If at all possible, always have someone who knows the general area you will be working and when you will be back. Ideally, travel with a partner.

Terrain

Avoid dangerous ground. It is rarely necessary to scale cliffs or wade through swamps.
Check your footing if you do have to cross dangerous terrain.
Watch for falling rocks around steep slopes.
Protective clothing can be helpful. A hard hat in areas of falling debris might be beneficial, although no hard hat will stop a rock the size of a basketball.
Know the limitations of your vehicle and be extremely observant when driving in difficult terrain.
Watch for flash floods and be ready to climb quickly to high ground if one begins.
Watch for unstable slopes. In the winter, be aware of avalanche hazards. Be careful crossing unstable terrain and crossing any likely avalanche or landslide routes.
Caves and abandoned mines are unsafe to enter without special precautions. Don't enter alone.
Watch the tide when working along coastlines.
In earthquake country, know how to take shelter. During and after an earthquake, beware of landslides and tsunamis. Sudden withdrawal of water on the seashore means get as high as you can as fast as you can!

Weather and Climate

Know how to avoid and treat cold-weather injuries.
Know how to avoid and treat heat injuries. Avoid dehydration.
Know how to protect yourself in violent weather.
Stay off summits in thunderstorms. Find shelter if you can, but not under a tree.
Watch for flash floods and be ready to climb quickly to high ground if one begins.

Dangerous Creatures

The most dangerous creatures you are likely to meet will be microscopic.
- Get any necessary immunizations.
- Regard surface water with suspicion. Not only can you get intestinal diseases, but some parasites can enter through the skin.
- Know what the likely hazards are where you work.
- Medical care in many underdeveloped areas is an open invitation to HIV. If you need care, do your utmost to get to a reliable hospital.
Contrary to innumerable myths, there are no creatures so venomous that you will die before being able to do something (unless you have an unusual allergy). But there are creatures whose venom can kill. Know what they are, how to avoid them, and what to do if bitten.
Most large predators avoid humans.
The most likely large predators to give problems in North America are bears. They mostly prefer to avoid contact, so the best precaution in bear country is to make noise.
It is rare that a field geologist would require firearms. They make for extra weight, create a potential for accidental injuries, and could create a temptation to begin shooting unnecessarily. Besides, firearms outside the U.S. are often strictly regulated, although hunting firearms are less regulated than handguns. Field parties in the Arctic often carry rifles as protection against polar bears. Given the laws that protect endangered wildlife, you're probably better off letting yourself be eaten than kill a large predator, anyway. If you are in a situation where firearms are required, know and observe all applicable laws, be proficient in the use of the weapon, and never aim it unless you intend to use it. If you aren't proficient, you won't protect yourself or anyone else, and you'll probably do more harm than good.
The most dangerous large predator is Homo sapiens.

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Created January 11, 2000, Last Update January 11, 2000

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