Safety During field Investigations

Site induction, training and information Site induction, training and information are vital to securing health and safety on site. The main consultant has to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that every worker whether he has deputed or his sub agency has deputed has: (a) a suitable induction; and (b) any further information and training needed for the particular work. This does not mean that the main consultant has to train everyone on the site - this will be the responsibility of individual sub agency. Induction Inductions are a way of providing workers with specific information about the particular risks associated with the site and the arrangements that have been made for their control. Induction is not intended to provide general health and safety training, but it should include a site-specific explanation of the following: (a) Senior management commitment to health and safety; (b) The outline of the project; (c) The individuals immediate line manager and any other key personnel; (d) Any site-specific health and safety risks, for example in relation to access, transport, site contamination, hazardous substances and manual handling; (e) Control measures on the site, including: (i) any site rules, (ii) any permit-to-work systems, (iii) traffic routes, (iv) Security arrangements, (v) hearing protection zones, (vi) Arrangements for personal protective equipment, including what is needed, where to find it and how to use it, (vii) Facilities available, including welfare facilities, (ix) Arrangements for first aid; (g) Arrangements for reporting accidents and other incidents; (h) Arrangements for consulting and involving workers in health and safety, including the identity and role of any: (i) Information about the individuals responsibilities for health and safety.

Reporting incidents The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences require the responsible person to notify any death, reportable injury, disease or dangerous occurrence to the relevant enforcing authority. The responsible person is the employer or, for the self-employed, the contractor or principal contractor. Traffic Management plan during Topographic Survey: Requirements are to be followed for the speed restriction on the existing carriageway 40kph. The figure shown below may be followed during carry out the survey work. All zones required to be maintained for 50 kph as shown in the figure. Traffic diversion Plan: Traffic diversion plan should be followed by the survey team to keep the working zone safer and before they start activity they should get it verified by the supervisor who is present at site. Traffic diversion needs 4 zones like: Advance Warning Zone Approach transition zone should be tapered not steeper than 1 in 20 Working zone Terminal transition zone should be not steeper than 1 in10 One more zone that is lateral Buffer zone as shown in the Figure:

1. Advance Warning zone, it is basically well advance of the working zone so that users get them ready before approaching a risk or hazard zone. A flagman need to be posted to slow down vehicles and a temporary sign with traffic survey in progress. 2. Approach transition zone, close to working zone and users need to be more cautious at this zone with retro-reflectorized safety cones placed at 5m interval. 3. Working zone, and need utmost care with safety cones at 3m interval. 4. Terminal transition Zone, leaving working zone and can accelerate with caution, safety cones need to be placed at 5 m interval. A flagman need to be posted to slow down vehicles and a temporary sign with traffic survey in progress since for 2 way carriageway flagman to be deputed on either side of the road. 5. Buffer Zone, away from the hazard zone transversely Traffic density is to be observed and survey works on live roads to be carried out only in the lean hours when the traffic is less. When it is not possible to occupy the existing carriageway with barricading by reflectorized cones the traffic to be discontinued from plying temporarily on the carriageway for 2 minute for measurement of 20m (This may vary from project to project and from site to site), marking shall be taken and made continue the traffic and for the next 20m repeating the same.

Use of reflective jackets required to be ensured for all the survey team members. Availability of First Aid Kit, water bag, communication service required to be ensured along with the working team. Survey activity to be stopped temporarily whenever the traffic density increases and whenever more than 5 vehicles of any kind gets stopped on either side of working zone due to the survey activity. Lengthy instruments such as staffs, tripods should be folded/shortened while carrying across the road. Usage of stones/concrete blocks to be discouraged as markers/indication during survey works on the roads. If used to be cleared before leaving the area. No survey equipment should be unmanned at any moment to avoid accidental contact by moving equipment in the area. Other precautions during survey works either on road or away from road. The area required to be observed for overhead power lines. If any power lines are available in the vicinity entire survey team to be reminded the hazard involved when they handle survey equipment. Usage of aluminium survey staff required to be avoided. Wooden/PVC/ survey staff shall be used to avoid induction from overhead power lines. Persons are not to be allowed to move in slushy area/water stagnation areas during the survey activity unless it is confirmed that the area is safe. When the area is with bushes there may be possibility of movement of snakes. Care to be exercised such as clearing the bushes, sprinkling of carbolic acid, ensuring the usage of gum boots etc. Precautions like rest intervals in between the work, to be practiced to avoid sun stroke during summer season. Steel rod pieces used as markers on roads to be made visible be providing coloured tape etc. to avoid foot injuries to the person moving in that area. Traffic Management plan and safety during traffic count/axle load survey: During Traffic count safety requirement Traffic count locations should be selected where open space is available on either side of the road to make sitting arrangement for the enumerators. The place should be identified with a suitable distance from the edge of carriageway. A tent with suitable size should be put in place with adequate number of chairs and tables to sit and count the traffic in the prescribed format. For night time traffic count, adequate lighting arrangement should be made for safe situation.

Traffic cones are required to be put in place on either side of the tent in taper 1 in 20 so that no vehicle comes close to the tent. A temporary warning sign board like traffic survey in progress required to be put in place for keeping the tent safe. All enumerators required to put on safety jackets all the times when count is going on or when requires to cross the road. Unnecessarily enumerators should not cross the road. Availability of First Aid Kit, water bag, communication service required to be ensured along with the working team. During Axle load survey safety requirement: Axle load survey locations should be selected where open space is available on the side of the road where axle pad will be placed to measure the load of the axle of vehicle and to make sitting arrangement for the supervisor who needs to record the load from the remote controlled counter. The axle pad will be placed on the earthen shoulder or the place available after the formation width, alongwith the mild grade approaches on either side. The place should be identified with a suitable distance from the edge of carriageway. A tent with suitable size should be put in place with chair and table to sit and record the traffic load in the prescribed format. For night time traffic count, adequate lighting arrangement should be made for safe situation. Safety cones required to be put in place for a length of 175m at the edge of carriageway so that the vehicles except the weighed vehicle do not enter into the area where axle pad is placed. Approach transition taper 1 in 20 should be 100m and working zone 25m and terminal transition zone taper 1 in 10 should be 50m. To carry out this traffic survey prior permission from the police department is expected. And with the help of the police vehicle will be diverted towards the axle pad. If any vehicle does not agree to weigh, driver should not be forced not to do so since generally only 10% vehicle required to be weighed during axle load survey. All member of the survey team including police required to put on safety jackets all the times when weighing is going on or when require crossing the road. Unnecessarily no team member should cross the road. Availability of First Aid Kit, water bag, communication service required to be ensured along with the working team. During geotechnical investigation safety requirement

All member of the investigation team required to put on safety jackets, helmets and gum boots all the times when investigation in progress. If any member working at height should wear the safety harness and harness should be tied above his head. No team member should wear the loose garment. All equipment should be put in safe place and under shed Availability of First Aid Kit, water bag, communication service required to be ensured along with the working team. If any team member does not know swimming he should not work within the watery area. Appropriate scaffolding (able to carry the required load) need to be built and safety net to be placed Proper approach required to be provided to site of investigation from the existing carriageway. If blasting required it should be controlled blasting and area to be cordoned Explosive required to be used to be stored in safe place and unused explosive required to be removed from the place where it was put for explosion. If cofferdam required being constructed followings are required to be adhered to Every cofferdam or caisson shall be (a) of suitable design and construction; (b) Appropriately equipped so that workers can gain shelter or escape if water or materials enter it; and (c) Properly maintained. (2) A cofferdam or caisson shall be used to carry out construction work only if (a) The cofferdam or caisson, and any work equipment and materials which affect its safety, have been inspected by a competent person (i) At the start of the shift in which the work is to be carried out, and (ii) After any event likely to have affected the strength or stability of the cofferdam or caisson; and (b) The person who carried out the inspection is satisfied that the work can be safely carried out there. (3) Where the person who carried out the inspection has informed the person on whose behalf the inspection was carried out of any matter about which he is not satisfied, work shall not be carried out in the cofferdam or caisson until the matters have been satisfactorily remedied.