Transcript FORESTRY SAFETY

FORESTRY
SAFETY
Forestry Revision Committee
May 2007
TERMS
• ACCIDENT: any sudden or
unintentional event that causes injury
or property damage
• ANTISEPTIC: a substance such as
alcohol, iodine or hydrogen peroxide
applied to prevent infection.
• ANESTHETIC: a substance used to
stop pain or itching.
• LACERATION: a cut, tear or mangled
place.
• WOUND: a hurt or injury caused by
cutting, stabbing or breaking, etc.
• HABITAT: areas where animals &
plants naturally live or grow.
• HEAT CRAMPS: caused by loss of salt
resulting in muscular pains & spasms.
• HEAT EXHAUSTION: feel weak,
dizzy, sweaty, nauseous, pale or have
cramps after being in the sun.
• HEAT STROKE: victim has extremely
high body temperature & a failure of
the sweating mechanism. CAN BE
LIFE THREATENING!
• SAFETY: the action or condition of
being safe, free from danger, risk or
injury.
COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL
HAZARDS
• HEAT
• INSECTS
• WILDLIFE
• TOPOGRAPHIC HAZARDS
HEAT
Hot temperatures causes burns,
cramps, exhaustion & heat strokes.
PROTECTION:
Proper clothing
Knowing the signs
Pacing yourself
INSECTS
Generally not life threatening but
annoying during spring, summer & fall.
PROTECTION:
Knowing the dangerous insects & how to
avoid them.
Dress properly.
Use chemical repellents.
WILDLIFE
Most wildlife will avoid humans and most
are not a threat.
PROTECTION:
Be alert!
Stay calm
Wear proper clothing
Use good judgement
TOPOGRAPHIC HAZARDS
Uneven ground, holes, rotten limbs &
dead trees. Twisted or broken ankles
or backs are common occurrences.
PROTECTION:
Recognize dangers in the forest
Stay alert!
Practice Safety
FIRST AID
The immediate, temporary care given to
the victim of an accident or sudden
illness until the services of a physician
can be obtained.
Can prevent infection, give comfort &
assurance to a victim & in extreme
cases can save an arm, leg or a life.
FIRST AID KIT CONTENTS
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Antiseptic
Adhesive bandages
Gauze pads, various sizes
Gauze rolls
Triangular bandages for large wounds &
slings
• Scissors
FIRST AID KIT CONTENTS
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Tweezers
Elastic bandages for sprains
Snake bite kit
Burn ointment
Eye wash bottle
Inflatable splint
CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS
Many accidents occur due to negligence of
an individual or group.
Not paying attention to hazards
Distraction by someone else
Lack of concentration on the job at hand
MOSTLY BY PURE CARELESSNESS!!!
HOW TO ELIMINATE
HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS
Stay alert & keep your mind on the job.
Conduct yourself in a safe manner, NO
HORSEPLAY!
Look for potential hazards.
Be aware of others & what they are doing.
Use the proper tool for the job.
Know the safety regulations for the tools
& equipment you are using.
Report defective tools & equipment to the
instructor.
ALWAYS REPORT ALL ACCIDENTS TO
THE TEACHER, NO MATTER HOW
SMALL OR INSIGNIFICANT IT
MIGHT BE!
Wear proper clothing & safety equipment
in the field.
SNAKES
The best protection against snakes is to
be alert at all times & wear snake
leggings or snake boots.
POISONOUS SNAKES
Timber rattler or Canebreak rattler
Cottonmouth
moccasin
Copperhead
Red on yellow, kill a fellow!
Coral snake
SPIDER & OTHER INSECTS
Seldom cause death by bites but it does
occur.
Prevalent in the forest of the Southeast
Prevention includes keeping alert,
watching where you sit or put your
hands, use repellents.
TICKS
Carry Lyme disease which can
be fatal
Cause Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever (RMSF),
Tularemia & American Q
fever
PROTECTION: Keep pants
tucked in, use repellents
(DEET), wear light colored
clothing
FIRE ANTS
3 Species found in the South,
2 imported from South
America & 1 native.
Produce large mounds with
thousands of insects.
Very aggressive
Attacks usually result in
several stings
PROTECTION: Keep alert and
avoid disturbing mounds.
SCORPIONS
Stings can be painful
Found in wooded areas, under
leaves, fallen trees &
stumps
Some victims have severe
reaction to stings
PROTECTION: Keep alert,
watch where you sit or put
your hands
Bees, wasps, yellow jackets &
hornets
Yellow jacket
Usually nest in hives in the
ground, trees, bushes or
old buildings or barns
Very aggressive with
multiple stings common
Can cause allergic
reactions in some
victims
PROTECTION: Keep alert
and watch for nests or
signs of insects
Hornets
Wasps
SPIDERS
Can cause a number of symptoms from
minor to severe swelling, itching, nausea,
blistering & pain but are not generally
serious.
Two notable exceptions are the Black
Widow, considered to be the most
venomous spider in the U.S. & the Brown
Recluse also called the Fiddleback
spider.
BLACK WIDOW
Possess a neurotoxin that
effects the central
nervous system
Bites are extremely
dangerous and should
seek medical attention
immediately
BROWN RECLUSE
Poison is a necrotoxin
which causes the
surrounding area to
decay
Bites are extremely
dangerous and should
seek medical
attention immediately
Also known as the
fiddleback spider
SADDLEBACK CATERPILLAR
Found on underside of
leaves of trees or
bushes
Stings victims when
touched or disturbed
Burning sensation when
stung
PROTECTION: long
sleeved shirts
POISONOUS PLANTS
Poison Ivy: usually
vines found on trees
but can appear as a
bush; smooth margin
leaves in groups of
3’s; produces berries
that can cause
outbreaks
Poison Oak:
usually
small
bushes,
3-lobed
leaves
Poison sumac
POSIONOUS PLANTS
PROTECTION:
Keep skin covered & avoid plants with 3leaf clusters
Wash hands with soap & water if you
contact the plant
Do not burn poison ivy or oak. Smoke can
blister the lungs causing illness &
sometimes death
TOPOGRAPHIC HAZARDS
Hazards found in the forest from terrain,
dead trees, streams & objects found in
forest settings.
The ability to recognize dangerous situations
in the forest is the best safety factor.
Stay alert
Use caution
Use good judgement
THINGS TO BE AWARE OF!
Dead snags or limbs hung up in the canopy
that could fall on you.
Stump holes & old wells.
Bluffs or sudden drop-offs.
Deep ponds or creeks.
Vines & briars that can snag you.
Loose rocks or soil.
Low hanging limbs.