HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH GROUND WATER SAMPLING AND FIELD WORK

Geologists may encounter significant safety hazards while doing routine field work. Safety hazards at drilling rigs and construction sites range from potentially fatal injuries involving entanglement, electrocution or engulfment to hearing loss and eye injuries. When field work is conducted at unregulated hazardous waste sites OSHA requires completion of a 40 hour safety course and an 8 hour annual refresher course ( 29 CFR 1910.120). Typical training courses offered tend to focus on hazardous waste characterization and removal and not on geologic investigations. However, OSHA's General Safety and Health Provisions in 29 CFR 1926.21 require the employer to provide job specific safety training. This presentation will provide an overview of potential hazards which field geologists may encounter so they may be able to identify the hazard and either avoid the hazard or use personal protective equipment and/or engineering controls to eliminate exposure to the hazard. Employers who provide job specific safety training can meet the requirements for OSHA's annual 8 hour refresher training.