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WEC a culture of safety

Stay safe in the hazardous field of wildlife work with routine precautions. Learn safety protocols, common hazards, and accident prevention techniques. Be prepared and informed. Safety is a culture. UF resources available for air, boat, and general field safety.

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WEC a culture of safety

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  1. WEC a culture of safety Undergraduate and graduate student orientation, Fall 2015. billpine@ufl.edu

  2. Wildlife is a hazardous occupation How many friends, acquaintances, professional colleagues do you know injured or died during field work? (my count is 7!- review staff and students present) • Not as high as commercial fishermen, miners, cops, truckers, steelworkers, heavy construction • But higher than lawyers, accountants, English teachers etc.

  3. Safety is a professional skill and obligation of the wildlife professional along with other skills and knowledge like biology, wildlife management techniques, statistics, field techniques, GIS skills, writing. • Our goal is to have all of you treat safety as a normal, routine necessity of the work, not a special add-on or an unusual event.

  4. Most dangerous field activities • Aircraft -aerial surveys, low level flight, helicopters- 5 dead in FL last year! • Motor vehicles- driving to and from the field is the most dangerous part! • Boats and other watercraft- it takes 2 minutes and 2 inches of water to drown

  5. Most common accidents(review of 8,000 Earthwatchrecords from Perran Ross) • Cuts,scrapes and falls (footwear and inattention) • NEVER WEAR FLIP FLOPS FOR ANY REASON IN THE FIELD • Sprains and pulled muscles (lifting, overexertion) • Infected insect bites (protective clothing, DEET) • Sunburn (protective clothing, sunscreen) • Dehydration (non carbonated, non alcoholic fluids) • Huge issues in Florida, minimize caffeine and avoid energy drinks

  6. How do accidents usually happen? • Very rarely a single unanticipated event • Usually, a chain or cascade of events Running a bit late in the morning… Drive a little too fast to get to field site… Forget something important… Head back to the truck too late, try and drive back to field station even later than too late… • Recognize the chain of mistakesand break it

  7. Ooops! I thought you set the handbrake?

  8. What must you do to be safe? • Take personal responsibility for yourself • Your clothing, footwear, protective equipment, preparation, • Advise of pre-existing conditions • Fitness, obesity, medical conditions, fatigue • Inform yourself • Numerous sources of hazard specific information • Prepare before you go to the field • Support each other in safety • Information, Preparation, Equipment- it’s a culture

  9. What must you do to be safe? • Communication is key • Tell people where you are going, who is with you, how you are getting there, and when you will be back • Don’t count on your cell phone • They get wet • Coverage can be incredibly spotty in Florida – even in places within 50 miles of huge cities • Be prepared to “make do” if needed even overnight

  10. Be safe out there! EVEN ON CAMPUS!!!!! • Make smart choices about where and when you are going places • Best way out of a bad situation is not to get in one • Download and use TAP SHIELD App for Free! • Use SNAP and “Safe Walk” 392-SNAP • SW Rec, Library West, Marston, Broward, Reitz, Hub • Walk with friends • Be aware of your surroundings • Use Later Gator Bill Pine Quantitative Ecology Fall 2014

  11. New technologies can help with field communication…

  12. Message to one or more people who can help you

  13. Sparse/no cell coverage here…but we know where you are and can help!

  14. Not perfect, but might be part of your plan…About $125 for SPOT and $60 a year for service

  15. Safety resources on WEC homepage

  16. Air Safety • WEC has never lost a person, but this is serious stuff! • If you are going to fly in small planes or helicopters in your graduate work for any reason (surveys, getting to field sites, etc), • You and your graduate professor must follow new WEC rules about aircraft contracting • You must take a short safety course • If you attempt to establish a purchase order with a flight company without following WEC safety policies, your purchase order will be turned down. • For more info about flight safety, check out the WEC website, or talk to Dr. Peter Frederick.

  17. Wec.ufl.edu - Safety one-stop-shop for your safety needs • WEC Aircraft safety protocols • Field Safety Guidelines • Boat and airboat operation requirements and tests • UF 15-Passenger Van safety training – This certification is required before you can operate a UF owned 15-passenger van • The UF College of Medicine CPR and Safety Training Center • The University of California, Berkley field safety document. • UF Dive Safety Program – UF Contact Cheryl Thacker • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Boater Safety Course • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Hunter Safety Course • More coming at wec.ufl.edu Safety Safety- it’s a culture

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