Hazard and prevention

Hazard Source	Hazard	Sample Risk Controls
Climate
Storm/Rain	Lightening	Shelter from storms, stay dry
Snow/Sleet	Hypothermia, Snow blindness	Goggles/sunglasses
Wind	Blown over, wind chill
Mist/fog/low cloud	Getting lost	Navigational sills, equipment (compass, maps, GPS, radio beacons), detailed itinerary, plans and contact details at base, adequate rations, including emergency.
UV exposure	Sunburn	Suitable clothing, sunblock and hat
High temperatures	Heat exhaustion	Adequate supplies of water, electrolyte supplements, suitable clothing, shade
	Hyperthermia	As above, plus avoid over-exertion, certain drugs, alcohol
Low temperatures	Hypothermia/Frostbite	Cold weather gear, camping equipment, stay dry, out of wind
Terrain/Location
Uplands	Loose/falling rocks, falls	Good footwear, hard hat, avoid climbing, unstable areas, use proper equipment and skills
	Mudslides	Avoidance
	Reduced oxygen	Acclimatisation
Lowlands (including below ground)	Soft ground, roof fall, radon, floods, oxygen deficient/poisonous atmosphere	Avoidance, knowledge of terrain, local knowledge, no lone working, gas detection, breathing apparatus
Tropics	Heat exhaustion	Correct clothing, equipment
Marine/Coastal	Currents, riptides, abnormal waves	Knowledge of conditions, buoyancy aids
Inland waters, lagoons	Tides, flotsam and jetsam, quicksand, loose rocks, flash floods, drowing, sludge pits, underwater obstacles, unstable substrate	Knowledge of tides, local conditions, stay out of water, buoyancy aids
Woodland	Fire	No fires or smoking, tree climbing gear and skills
Rocky areas	Falls, chippings, rock falls	Care with hammers and sample removal; goggles, gloves
Urban	Vehicles, assault	Road safety skills, local knowledge, escorts, care in questioning
Roads and railways	Vehicles, trains, electricity	Avoidance, permits, guide
Biological
Farm stock	Bulls, pigs, dogs	Observance of warning signs
Flora and fauna	Poisonous/irritant plants, fungi, reptiles, arthropods	Proper clothing, local knowledge, repellents, antidotes
Microbiological	Weil's Disease	Rubber gloves
	Tetanus, Malaria, Cholera, Typhoid	Vaccination, Prophylaxis
	Lyme disease	Light-coloured clothing
	Algal toxins	Hand hygiene
	E coli, Campylobacter	Hand hygiene
	Food borne illness	Good food hygiene practice, medical backup
Water-borne infection	Wound infection	Suitable clothes, hygiene, First Aid practice
	General	Medical evac, vaccination (if required), insect repellent

Chemical
Water pollution, dumps	Harmful chemicals, toxic/flammable gases, wastes	Stay out of water, test kits, correct clothing, purification methods, local knowledge, avoidance, PPE
Mechanical
Machinery, plant, tools/equipment	Entanglement, trapping, crushing, etc, sudden failure	Guarding, training, maintenance, spares
Electrical
Generators, equipment	Shock, fire, exposed circuits, differing safety standards	Use low voltages, correct use, guarding
Human activity
Farming, forestry, industrial	Machinery, chemicals, vehicles, felling, static and mobile machinery, buildings, vehicles, large plant and machines at open cast sites and quarries	Avoidance, access permits, local knowledge, guides
Excavations, mines, quarries i.e. 'confined spaces'	Toxic gas, flooding, asphyxiation, explosive mixes, roof fall/collapse, hidden shafts, dead ends, failure of props/supports	Oxygen/other gas monitor, radon/radiation monitor, breathing apparatus, other PPE, local knowledge, no lone working, permits
Military	Explosion, ammunition	Do not touch explosives, detonators, fuses, suspect objects, etc.
Waste disposal	Hazardous materials	Avoid refuse tips, landfill sites
Recreation
Hunting/Shooting	Firearms	Avoid area, observe warning signs
Climbing	Rock-falls	Correct equipment, local knowledge
Horse riding	Collision	Training, riding helmet, correct equipment
ATVs/off-roaders	Collision
Skiing	Avalanche, collision	Check weather forecasts, seek local advice
Work procedures
Boats	Sinking, swamping, blown out to sea	Seamanship, sailing training
Diving	Drowning, bends	Training (use of equipment/techniques)
Working at heights (>2 metres)	Falls	Harness, safety ropes etc., correct equipment, training
Cooking/heating	CO poisoning, fire	Training, gas detector
Vehicles	Collision, being struck, fuel fires, loose loads, hazardous terrain	Driving competence, training, restrict U/G drivers, extinguishers
Sampling	Hard rock splinters	PPE
Work abroad
Vehicles	As above	Use of local drivers, knowledge of local laws/penalties
Catering	Food-bourne illness	Avoid higher risk foods (e.g. ready to eat, milk, ice, unwashed salads, shellfish)
	Water-bourne illness	Potable water, purification tablets, bottled water
Local factors	Restrictions on photography, differing customs/sense of humour, sexual harassment, criminal element	Local knowledge, guide, circumspect behaviour
Health	Illness, infection (including hepatitis and HIV)
Accommodation	Availability, suitability, sanitation, security	Health insurance, see above
Civil unrest, International tensions	Armed conflict, terrorist activity	Local knowledge, advance arrangements, FC Office advice
Other stressors	Accommodation problems, differing expectations, crime, language/communication problems, isolation, remoteness, lack of family/peer support, workload	Contact arrangements, support
General
Lone working	Isolation	Communications, always within hailing distance of others, ensure your location and movements are known
Health	Pre-existing conditions	Health declaration, special arrangements
	Food intolerance/allergy	Health declaration, special arrangements
	Foot problems	Foot care
	Lack of fitness, exhaustion	Adequate preparation
Behaviour	Group dynamics, relationships	Knowledge of standards required, sensible standards, respect for other people/cultures, comply with leader instructions
Sampling	Legal problems	Take only what is permitted, leave site clean and tidy, minimise disturbance to crops, livestock, landscape, only enter private/restricted areas after gaining permission
Clothing	Various	Suitable for climate, area, activities, customs, laws, carry spare items, suitable footwear
High places	Falls, material falling/slipping, unguarded mine shafts, unstable cliffs	Stay away from tops and bottoms of steep slopes, mine shafts, etc., quarry/cliff/bank edges
Environmental	Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), conservation areas, etc.	Avoid, permits

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