Health and Safety in NZ Archaeology

Introduction

This part of the website is a portal to information regarding Health and Safety issues for archaeologists working in New Zealand. While every attempt to keep the relevant you should look at the various resources here and elsewhere to best stay SAFE!

Safety for the individuals

Archaeology and OSH

ACC website and in particular the Work Safety Section

Safety in Fieldwork Practice

Field survey

Working in the field can be one of the most dangerous places for an archaeologist. Surveys often take you through difficult terrain which can lead to all sorts of issues.

A template for a Health and Safety Plan which has been used for archaeological field survey work in New Zealand can be downloaded from the NZAA website - here

General Health Advice

1. Back pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Archaeologists (commonly caused by repetitive strain).
2. Be Sun-smart: "Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap' - Skin cancer is a real problem for archaeologists and you all know the drill!

General Safety advice

1. Work in pairs
2. Ensure that somebody knows where you are going and when to expect you return especially if you can't work in pairs
3. Ensure you have a GPS and mobile phone and they are fully charged when in the field
4. If possible identify areas that are unsafe and avoid if possible e.g., cliffs, tidal zones etc

Quadbikes

These are incredibly dangerous and we know of archaeologists who have had issues with these. There is no doubt that they can be very useful for field surveys so a few things should be kept in mind:

1. Realise that they are not toys and recognise that they can hurt and even kill you
2. Ensure you have some training and practice on them with somebody who knows how they work
3. Do not go over terrain that is too steep or rough: just get out and walk!

On Construction and Demolition Projects

Construction/demolition sites are very dangerous places for archaeology. Many construction projects require archaeologists to be qualified in basic construction site safety protocols. You may have to go an course on site safety before being admitted to a project site. Sites will often have a safety ticket system to be completed for each job - follow the rules!

Safety gear

(Often referred to Personal Protection Equipment/Clothing or PPE/PPC) including:

• Visibility Jackets - use the ones with reflectors
• Safety boots (steel caps)
• Hard hat

Optional gear that may be necessary include:

• Safety googles
• Masks
• Gloves

General Principles to follow

1. Communicate frequently with the construction/demolition team to identify, avoid, isolate and minimise hazards
2. Check site hazard boards regularly before entering a project area.
3. Don't go where your presence will be unexpected - clear it first with the supervisors.
4. If you are working near machinery keep in eye contact with the operator.
5. Don't walk under craned loads, don't put your hands or feet under craned loads.
6. Confined spaces are hazardous (not just wells - see following) - you can't see or necessarily smell a gas asphyxiation risk.
7. On large earthworks / mining sites bulk haul vehicles may travel on the right hand side of the road (consistent with their countries of origin) and other vehicles will follow this. Check before proceeding!

Wells

Wells are popular for archaeologists and although often good places for artefacts they are dangerous for archaeologists.

Importantly it is against the law to go into a well (that has any depth) without the proper safety gear and rescue plan. So our advice is essentially not to do it!

Known or potential wells should be identified clearly and properly covered to prevent accidental falls.

During excavations

Risks

You need to make your own list - here are a few starters:

Sunburn - can have short term consequences - and certainly is a long term cancer risk. Prevention is known to all. Shelter should be available for breaks. Supply sunblock.

Spider bites - Katipos on beaches, Aussie Red Backs in Central Otago and Taranaki, White Tailed Spiders (maybe - not proven). Awareness / avoidance for prevention. Medical aid if suspected.

Wasp and bee stings - acute reaction. People usualy know if they have had reactions in the past - ask, and don't wait for the symptoms if an acute reaction is possible - get medical help.

Trench collapse - regularly kills construction workers and has killed archaeologists too. Prevention is the proper safety planning of excavations. Collapses happen without warning (particularly so in drying sand). Victims are hard to rescue and fatalities are very often the outcome even of partial or shallow burial.

Giardia / Cryptosporidium - These infective cysts cause severe persistent gastric upsets and can be fatal with immuno-impared individuals. They occur in water contaminated with animal faeces. Ingestion is the infection route. As few as one cyst may be infective. Archaeologists working in wetland sites have been infected. Hand-washing before eating is basic when in contact with at-risk water. Face masks will assist if there are splashes / aerosol infection routes. Have hand-washing facilities available and face masks if appropriate.

Cyanobacteria toxins - blue green algae commonly bloom in shallow freshwater lakes - they are not always visible. Some species produce toxins at times that can be hightly toxic if ingested and can cause illness through skin contact / breathing of aerosols. Beware in wetland excavations adjacent to open water. Some local authorites operate a warning system for lakes. Don't drink from, or recreate in suspect lakes.

Tetanus - Encourage participants to have immunisation shots and boosters for those who have not had them recently.

Safety in Lab Environments

Rules within Laboratory environments are usually well established but if they are not then you should ensure that the necessary actions take place. Typical examples of some of these rules are presented here.

Safety in the office

We may like to think of ourselves as Indiana Jones but most of our time is spent in offices and dangers lurk even there!

Safety and contracts

Employing subcontractors can leave as much responsibility with the party letting the work as if the subcontractors were employees. Essentially the person letting the work cannot contract out of their responsibilities in this area.

It is legitimate in appropriate circumstances to require the subcontractors to have their own health and safety plan but where the employer is contolling a work site, directing work, or may be aware of hazards not obvious to the subcontractor the employer must have its own systems in place to manage risks.

Useful Resources

SiteSafe NZ

Links

• Safety Issues in Archaeology US website
• Basic Health and Safety Advice for Archaeology - UK PDF document