A field guide to oil spill response on freshwater shorelines: chapter 2

The health and safety of personnel is the primary objective of spill response operations. All response personnel should apply these guiding principles:

• everyone within the work environment has the responsibility for health and safety
• a safe and healthy work environment is always maintained
• there is a framework for participation, transfer of information and refusal of unsafe work

Response operations must comply with all local regulations pertaining to the health and safety of workers.

Response personnel, particularly supervisors, must be familiar with any health or safety hazards that they may encounter and must be provided with (or provide) such information, instruction, training, supervision and facilities that are necessary to the health or safety of the workers. Response personnel within the field teams must be made familiar with the proper use of all devices, equipment and PPE required for their protection. Communications and site control are key components of health and safety. The transfer of information before, during and after work is completed is vital, and should include reporting procedures for accidents and near misses. The ‘Buddy System’ is used to ensure that no responder is isolated in the field, and that there are always at least two people working together – ‘Buddies’ will always look out for each other’s well-being.

2.1 Identification of risk factors and preventative measures

The identification of risk factors for field workers is an ongoing process and must be continuously assessed as conditions change during short and long-term time frames. It is important to keep in mind that each response will have unique risk factors. The hazards field teams are exposed to may include a variety of risk factors such as hydrocarbons, environmental conditions, the physical environment, transportation requirements, and the machinery and equipment being used.

Table 2.1 lists some examples of hazards and risk factors that may be encountered by field teams, as well as a range of potential preventative measures. It is important to keep in mind that each response will have unique factors.

Table 2.1: Potential hazards/risk factors and corresponding preventative measures

Potential hazards* and risk** factors	Preventative measures
Petroleum product: inhalation, absorption, skin contact, aspiration	Safety Data Sheet review, PPE, first aid kits, eye wash stations, site control
Immersion	PPE (PFD, Personal Floatation Device), rescue stations, person overboard procedures
Slips/Trips/Falls	Proper footwear, situational awareness, workplace housekeeping, carefully step over logs/hoses, etc.
Boat operations: underwater hazards, dams, weirs, bridges	Navigation aids, trip plans, local knowledge, experienced boat operator
Ice Safety	Ice Safety Plan, ice thickness surveys, ice safety and rescue training, rescue stations, PPE (including thermal protection, PFD, safety lines and harnesses and proper footwear for ice), site control
Fast Water	Person overboard procedures for fast currents, rescue stations, experienced boat operator, local knowledge, PPE
Weather	Check forecast before work begins, monitor conditions for changes and updates to weather forecasts, procedures for lightning
Heat and Cold Stress	Wear proper layers of clothing to regulate temperature and prevent sweating in cold weather, cooling/ warming breaks, proper hydration
Skin Exposure	Sunscreen, proper outerwear including hats, coveralls, gloves
Noise Exposure	Appropriate hearing protection
Wildlife/Insects/Poisonous Plants	Insect repellent, bear repellent, report allergies (e.g. bee stings and EpiPen use) to supervisor, check vegetation for poisonous plants, wear PPE to prevent skin contact, report wildlife sightings, do not feed or interact with wildlife, do not attempt to capture or aid injured or oiled wildlife
Biohazards	Do not touch hypodermic needles, avoid areas with large concentration of bird droppings (may be an inhalation hazard)

Cold water immersion is of concern for field teams working on/near fast-moving water or on/near ice. Field teams need to be trained in emergency procedures, understand the severity of cold-water immersion and know how to use the emergency equipment that is available. Rescue stations on shorelines may be set up using life rings/throw bags/rescue lines and ice thickness surveys must be conducted before working on ice. Additional safety issues include cold-related injuries due to exposure (e.g. hypothermia, frost bite, falling into icy water, slippery surfaces, operating vessels in ice-infested waters, bearing capacity of ice, and movement of broken ice by currents and wind).

2.2 Site control and communications

Site Control should be established to ensure the health and safety of all personnel proximal to the spill. Visual barriers and security personnel can be used to guide, control or prevent foot and vehicular access to a worksite (i.e. shorelines undergoing treatment, staging areas, decontamination areas, active wildlife hazing areas). The communication of the Safety Plan, risk factors and preventative measures to the field teams is key to their health and safety. Upon arrival to the worksite, field teams should be provided with a site orientation to ensure they understand the following:

• Name and contact information of supervisor
• An overview of the work location and site control measures
• Specific hazards of the site
• Emergency procedures
• Communication procedures
• Location of first aid kit(s) and eye wash station(s)
• Location of designated smoking areas/rest areas
• PPE requirements
• Incident and near miss reporting procedures
• Safety Plan

2.3 Job safety analysis

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a procedure that incorporates accepted safety and health principles and practices into a specific task or job operation. Before commencing work, a JSA Form should be reviewed with the field teams – it is important that any questions or concerns are raised at this time. The four basic steps in conducting a JSA include:

The JSA template used is typically specific to the response contractor or other organization(s) (e.g. industry, regulatory agency) involved in spill response activities.

2.4 Personal protective equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used as a preventative measure and is designed to reduce exposure to a specific hazard. The PPE required is dependent on the hazards that are present in the work environment and on the task(s) that is to be performed. The proper wearing and use of PPE must be communicated to the field teams and any deficiencies reported. Some examples of PPE that may be required by field teams include: