Employers must provide safe systems of work and safe equipment for employees in the field. People working in the field are more likely to receive injuries or suffer illness and disease than those working in towns and cities. People involved in exploration work must also protect themselves by complying with their employer’s instructions, rules, job guides and standard work procedures. They must also adopt a commonsense approach to good safety and health, and must not take undue risks which may also jeopardise the safety and health of fellow workers. Personal care, whether it be wearing the correct clothing, avoiding sun hazards, keeping the work site clean by general good housekeeping or making sure the drinking water is pure, is essential to safety and health.
Personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) needs vary according to the work being done and should be assessed before going into the field. The equipment should be carefully chosen so that it is suitable for the task and guards against the specific hazard being considered. Most PPE is covered by Australian Standards and, where relevant, those standards should apply. Additional information is available from the Division of Workplace Health and Safety’s Advisory Standard Risk Management 2000–Supplement No. 1–Personal protective equipment.
The right PPE should be chosen for the job. For instance, drillers are exposed to noise around drill rigs from diesel engines, compressors, compressed air tools, pumps, etc. Noise levels should be measured using noise meters and daily exposure levels established. By using these figures it is possible to select the correct hearing protection for the drill crew to make sure that noise levels will not affect their hearing in the long term. Seek professional advice to help you choose the correct type of hearing protection.
Typical protective equipment required and the relevant Australian Standard could be:
• hard hats and safety boots for use at all times around drill rigs (AS / NZS 1800, AS / NZS 2210)
• hearing protection for around drill rigs and earthmoving equipment or in helicopters (AS / NZS 1270)
• safety harnesses and belts for working up drill masts (AS / NZS 1891)
• gloves for handling sharp rocks, drill steels, etc. (AS 2161)
• safety glasses for use when chipping samples or using grinders and corrosive liquids (AS 1336, AS 1338)
Safety glasses prevent eye injuries when chipping samples.
• welding gloves, aprons and shields (AS 1338)
• respiratory protection against dusts (AS 1716)
• appropriate footwear for travelling on foot in the bush or in rough country
• hats, sunscreen and sunglasses to reduce damage to skin and eyes.
It is the employer’s or contractor’s duty to provide correct PPE and training to ensure that staff know how to use and maintain it. It is the employee’s duty to use the PPE when needed.
Health and hygiene
General health, hygiene and sanitation facilities and procedures must be maintained in the field for the benefit of individuals and the field team. Points that need consideration include:
• correct location and treatment of toilet and general waste disposal facilities
• provision of washing and showering facilities at the work site and in camps
• cleanliness with food storage, preparation and utensils
• provision of fresh drinking water
• good dietary habits
• general housekeeping around work sites and camps
• advising companions of allergies, afflictions and personal medication needs, e.g. diabetes
• reporting of injuries and illnesses
• up-to-date tetanus, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations
• pre-employment and regular medical checks
• mosquito repellents, nets and breeding areas; awareness of Ross River fever, etc.
• prohibition of drugs and alcohol at work sites, control of alcohol at camps; recommended action when someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Most injuries occur while people are manually handling equipment. Some of these accidents involve cuts, bruising and crush injuries when fingers and hands are caught between equipment being lifted or when various hand tools are being used. Other equally common and often more serious injuries are long-term twist, strain and sprain injuries from unsafe manual lifting procedures. These more serious injuries can be the result of years of muscular stress from frequent lifting of heavy loads or, more traumatically, from poor lifting of a single load. People speak about the ‘bad back’ syndrome, but anyone who has experienced either chronic or acute back pain is aware of the suffering it can cause.