Health and Safety Policy Statement – Quadrat Scotland

(For sub-contracted personnel)

Statement of Intent

It is the policy of Quadrat Scotland to ensure the safety of all field workers as far as possible. This is achieved by following the guidelines set out in this statement and providing the equipment detailed below.  However, all sub-contractors are self-employed and are expected to use common sense since health and safety is ultimately their own responsibility. It is recommended that all sub-contractor’s should have their own accident insurance.

Risk Assessment

Much of the work undertaken by Quadrat Scotland involves lone working and remote locations. In the interest of the health and safety of all personnel, Quadrat Scotland has undertaken to identify the hazards associated with lone working and to detail measures necessary to avoid or control these risks.

Hazards include:

  1. Abnormal and unpredictable weather
  2. Short winter days
  3. Inadequate survival equipment
  4. Inadequate knowledge of navigation and mountaincraft
  5. Inexperienced boat handling
  6. Tidal/inshore waters
  7. Moving across potentially dangerous natural hazards such as:
    1. Unstable surfaces e.g. scree
    2. Dangerous mire e.g. peat bog, Schwingmoor or quicksand
    3. Fast-moving and/or deep streams/rivers
    4. Waterfalls and gorges
    5. Mines and caves
  8. Crossing walls and fences
  9. High altitudes (up to 1,000m)
  10. Diseases, especially Lyme’s and Weil’s
  11. Medical conditions e.g. diabetes
  12. Lack of communication in remote areas
  13. Attack by animals/insects
  14. Guns (e.g. in stalking season)

In addition, urban sites present hazards of:

  1. Physical assault
  2. Toxic substances
  3. Subsidence
  4. Dangerous building

Working Practices

  1. All sub-contracted personnel must inform Quadrat Scotland of details of any medical condition that may make it unwise for them to work alone in the field.
  2. All personnel should be physically fit.
  3. For work in the uplands and remote areas, all personnel should have attended a course on personal safety and navigation by a qualified mountain leader (may be provided by Quadrat Scotland).
  4. All personnel must leave exact instructions with a responsible person as to their route and expected time of return (ETR) each field day.
  5. If not back within two hours of their ETR the responsible person must contact the police/mountain rescue.
  6. All personnel must always carry the following equipment in the field: a whistle, a compass, a relevant map, waterproof clothing, a watch and a small medical kit. For upland and remote areas the following additional equipment must be carried: an orange plastic survival bag, spare dry, warm clothes and food, and a torch.
  7. In very remote, mountain (over 600m asl.) or urban areas all personnel should work in pairs.
  8. Whenever a boat is used as a part of the work of Quadrat Scotland at least two persons must be present or as many more than two that are required for the safe handling of the vessel.
  9. Field workers should carry mobile phones. However most contracts in the past have been undertaken in areas in which mobile phones do not work well so, if one is carried, its efficacy should be tested in the field and the results shared with the responsible person in charge of safety to avoid unnecessary alarm.
  10. All personnel must be advised of the risks of Lyme’s disease if working in countryside where sheep and deer ticks are present and Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) if working around water.
  11. Personnel should take care when entering areas with farm animals that may be dangerous, in particular avoiding fields with bulls. Get advice from the livestock manager.
  12. Personnel should avoid climbing around on steep cliffs, rocky gorges or other dangerous terrain where there could be a risk of falling.
  13. Personnel should take care when crossing water, as far as possible using bridges and fords, and not crossing by wading where the water is too fast and deep.
  14. Personnel working in wetland or mire areas must take care not to enter potentially dangerous quags by using their knowledge of wetland and mire species to avoid such areas.
  15. There must be close liaison with any personnel likely to be shooting across the land to avoid coincidence in the field.

References

Eric Langmuir (1995) Mountaincraft and Leadership 3rd Ed. The Scottish Sports Council and The Mountain Leader Training Board.