Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
it may have no rules at all. Some jurisdictions have firearm licensing requirements
which must be complied with, particularly when individuals wish to carry hand-
guns. Even if there are no prohibitions on carrying firearms, a member of a survey
crew may have philosophical objections to firearms, fear firearms or have little or
no experience with firearms. These considerations should be discussed before a
crew embarks on a survey where crew members may be subjected to danger, so
that every member will know what to expect, and be in a position to make a deci-
sion whether or not to participate in the work.
The decision whether or not to carry a firearm when working in areas where
dangerous creatures are known to exist, ultimately rests with each member
of the survey crew.
When considering whether to carry firearms, pepper spray or some other form of
protection, it should be born in mind that when land surveyors work together in a
crew, it becomes a joint enterprise. As anyone who has been a member of a group
exposed to the threat of injury or death knows, each person has a moral duty, and
in some situations a legal duty, to the welfare of his or her companions. A level
of selflessness comes into play which transcends personal concerns and ideology.
This duty must be the primary consideration when making decisions relating to
the safety of the crew. Even when considering the low probability of an attack by a
dangerous animal, if it does happen, you will not want to be in the position of hav-
ing to explain to the family of an injured or deceased person, why you were unable
to offer effective assistance. Surveyors are professionals who are held to a high
standard of duty and care. Surely, part of this duty is ensuring that all members of
the crew come home alive and well.
10.3 Safety When Working in the Field
The majority of dangers to which surveyors are exposed, occur in the field.
Surveying along a highway is one of the most dangerous places a survey crew can
work. One study showed that the risk of death in working alongside a highway is
seven times higher for roadway workers than for other workers. Driver inattention
is the single greatest cause of accidents. Other risk factors include bad weather,
poor lighting and curves and hills which obstruct driver vision. The use of cell
phones and texting while driving is increasingly dangerous to both pedestrians
and other drivers. A study of cell phone use while driving claimed that holding
a cell phone to the ear was not the real problem; the actual danger was caused by
the lack of attention to driving caused by the driver being engrossed in conversa-
tion. Apparently, the human brain is not as good at multitasking as some of us
might like to believe. Certain states have made the use of cell phones while driving
illegal. In some states cell phones can be used, providing they are not handheld.
