1996 Health and Safety Plan Section 4 - Site Control Measures, Accident Prevention, and Contigency Plan

[Home] [Master Table of Contents]

[Health and Safety Plan Index] [Next Section]

1996 Health and Safety Plan

Section 4 - Site Control Measures, Personnel Accident Prevention, and Contingency Plan

The following site control measures will be followed to minimize potential contamination of workers, protect the public from potential site hazards, and control access to the sites. Site control involves the physical arrangement and control of operation zones. Site organization is discussed in this section.

4.2 - Site Organization-Operation Zone

4.2.1 Exclusion Zone

An exclusion zone will be established on the site around drilling and soil sampling locations. The Field Team Leader will establish the perimeters of the exclusion zone. Within the exclusion zone, prescribed levels of protection must be worn by all personnel.

4.2.2 Support Zone

The support zone is the outermost area of the site (including roads) and is considered a nonhazardous area. The support zone contains the command post for field operations. Normal work clothes are appropriate apparel within this zone. The support zone includes decontamination for level C operations as necessary.

4.3 - Site Security

Site security will be enforced by the Site Health and Safety Officer, who will ensure that only authorized personnel are allowed in the work area and that entry personnel are trained under the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 as necessary, and are on a current medical monitoring program as necessary. Site security is necessary to prevent exposure of unauthorized individuals in the work area.

4.4 - Site Communication

Internal site communication is necessary to alert field team members in the exclusion zone of emergency conditions, to convey safety information, and to communicate changes or clarification in the work to be performed. Communication will be performed via verbal exchange or simple hand signals to be determined by the Site Health and Safety Officer and established with field personnel at the initial site health and safety briefing. Example hand-signals that may be used by Parsons ES personnel are in Table 4.1.

Table 4.1 - Example Nonverbal Communications Signals

Visual Signals	Example	Interpretation
Hand signals	Hand clutching throat	Out of air/can’t breathe
	Hand moving across throat	Stop action, such as hit the kill switch on drill rig
	Fist in the air	Stop vehicle
Whole body movements	Hands on top of head	Need assistance
	Thumbs up	OK/I’m alright/I understand
	Thumbs down	No/negative
	Grip partner’s waist or both hands around partner's waist	Leave area immediately

4.5 - Safe Work Practices

To ensure a strong safety awareness program during field activities, personnel must have adequate training, this health and safety plan must be communicated to the employees, and standing work orders must be developed and communicated to the employees.

4.6 - Accident Prevention

All field personnel will receive health and safety training prior to the initiation of any site activities. On a day-to-day basis, individual personnel should be constantly alert for indicators of potentially hazardous situations and for signs and symptoms in themselves and others that warn of hazardous conditions and exposures. Rapid recognition of dangerous situations can avert an emergency. Before beginning daily work assignments, the team leader will conduct a meeting to discuss at a minimum the following:

	Tasks to be performed
	Time constraints (e.g., rest breaks)
	Hazards that may be encountered, including their effects, how to recognize symptoms or monitor them, concentration limits, or other danger signals
	Emergency procedures.

Tailgate health and safety meetings will be held daily and recorded in the log book.

4.7 - Contingency Plan

4.7.1 Emergency Procedures

In the event that an emergency develops on site, the procedures delineated herein are to be immediately followed. Emergency conditions are considered to exist if:

	Any member of the field crew is involved in an accident or experiences any adverse effects or symptoms of exposure while on site,
	A condition is discovered that suggests the existence of a situation more hazardous than anticipated,
	A UXO hazard is suspected,
	A fire or explosion hazard exists,
	Physical injury and medical emergencies have occurred, or
	A vehicle accident occurs.

Some ways of preventing emergency situations are listed below:

	Visual contact must be maintained between all crew members;
	Hand signals will be developed for communications;
	All field crew members should make use of all their senses to alert themselves to potentially dangerous situations which they should avoid;
	Field crew members will be familiar with the physical characteristics of the area, such as accessibility to associates, equipment, and vehicles; site access; nearest water source; nearest telephone; wind direction in relation to contamination zones; etc.;

Prior to beginning work at each SWMU, the Site Health and Safety Officer will review the site egress in case of emergency. Unless otherwise noted by the Site Health and Safety Officer, the field crew will exit the site in an emergency in the same manner as the entrance to the site.

General emergency procedures and specific procedures for personal injury and chemical exposure are described below.

4.7.2 Chemical Exposure

Parsons ES adopts the buddy system in the field. If a member of the field crew demonstrates symptoms of chemical exposure, the procedures outlined below will be followed:

	Another team member will remove the individual from the immediate area of contamination. The member will alert the Field Team Leader by shouting or hand signals. The Field Team Leader will contact the appropriate emergency response agency.
	Precautions will be taken to avoid exposure of other individuals to the chemical.
	If the chemical is on the individual's clothing, the chemical will be neutralized or removed if it is safe to do so.
	If the chemical has contacted the skin, the skin will be washed with copious amounts of water.
	In case of eye contact, an emergency eyewash will be used. Eyes will be washed for at least 15 minutes.
	If necessary, the victim will then be transported to the Methodist Hospital located at 7700 Floyd Curl in northwest San Antonio (see map in front section of safety plan). If necessary, an Army ambulance will be called at (512) 221-7408 to transport the victim.
	All chemical exposure incidents must be reported to the office health and safety representative. The initial report must be followed up with a written report. The Site Health and Safety Officer or Field Team Leader is responsible for completing the accident report (see Appendix A).

4.7.3 Personal Injury

In case of personal injury at the site, the following procedures will be followed:

	Another team member will signal the Field Team Leader that an injury has occurred.
	A field team member trained in first aid can administer treatment to an injured worker. The Field Team Leader (or designee) will contact the appropriate emergency response agency.
	The victim will then be transported to the Methodist Hospital located at 7700 Floyd Curl (see map in front section of safety plan). If necessary, an Army ambulance will be called at (512) 221-7408 to transport the victim.
	The Site Health and Safety Officer will report the accident to the office health and safety officer.
	The Field Team Leader or Site Health and Safety Officer is responsible for making certain that an accident report form is completed (Appendix A). This form is to be submitted to the office health and safety representative. Follow-up action will be taken to correct the situation that caused the accident.

4.7.4 Evacuation Procedures

If site evacuation is necessary:

	The Field Team Leader will initiate the evacuation procedure by signaling the team. The Field Team Leader (or designee) will contact the appropriate emergency response agency.
	All personnel in the work area will evacuate the area and meet in the common area designated during the first on-site health and safety meeting.
	All personnel suspected to be in or near the contract work area will be accounted for and the whereabouts of missing persons determined immediately.
	Further instructions will then be given by the Field Team Leader.

4.7.5 Procedures Implemented in the Event of a Major Fire, Explosion, or On-site Health Emergency Crisis

	The Field Team Leader or Site Health and Safety Officer (or designee) will notify the paramedics and/or fire department, as necessary.
	All personnel will evacuate the area.
	All personnel will stay upwind of any fire.
	The Field Team Leader or Site Health and Safety Officer will keep area surrounding the problem source clear after the incident occurs.
	The Site Health and Safety Officer will report the incident to the office health and safety officer, complete accident report form, and distribute to appropriate personnel.

In addition, CSSA fire prevention and protection procedures (Fort Sam Houston 420-5) must be observed. This regulation is presented in Appendix C.

[Next Section]