Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4.8. SAFETY AT DIFFERENT FIELD TYPES
There are four types of fields that may need to be sampled. One is the agricultural field,
in which soil or feed is sampled, to determine the level of plant or animal nutrients or
various agricultural chemicals present. The second type is the abandoned industrial or
waste field. Such fields are likely to contain a mix of dangerous or toxic chemicals. The
third is an active industrial field in which a spill or accident has occurred or is occurring.
The fourth situation is where there has been a spill or contamination of water. In all the
situations described below a CHP is essential. Such a plan (see below) involves
developing procedures for the safe handling of chemicals and chemical emergencies [3,
12, 13].
4.8.1. The Agricultural Field
An important safety precaution in sampling agricultural sites is to remember that they are
usually remote from both medical facilities and rescue services. Treatment for any type of
injury—physical (e.g., falling down and breaking a leg) or chemical (e.g., being
enveloped in a cloud of anhydrous ammonia) thus may be hours away. If you are only 30
min from the nearest rescue squad, it will take them 30 min to get to you and another 30
min to get you to the hospital!
Agricultural sites are often fields being sampled primarily for plant nutrients. Although
such fields are relatively safe (for exceptions see below), there are still some safety
precautions that must be taken. The first is that you should not sample alone. Even on a
farm on which all the surface of the land can be seen it is not safe to sample alone,
particularly if it is the first time sampling the field.
It is usually easy to determine what types of chemicals one is likely to encounter on a
farm. Indeed, the farmer should have MSDS sheets on the fertilizers, insecticides,
herbicides, and so on that he or she possesses and uses. In this situation a limited number
of MSDS sheets is needed. Two words of caution are needed here. There are a
tremendous number of old barns situated on agricultural lands. Many of these were
originally associated with houses that are no longer present. These old barns can contain
all manner of dangerous materials. Unless instructed to sample in and around an isolated
barn, stay away from them. (Also, see the section below about industrial-type situations
on farms.)
Proper clothing, which is capable of protecting the wearer from stickers and brush,
must be worn even if the weather is hot. Good-quality socks and sturdy boots are also
required. Other than that, sunscreen and insect repellent can be used as required by
location and conditions. It is often handy to have a jacket or vest with numerous large
pockets for carrying samples.
In some cases an agricultural sampling situation may involve a farm with animals
(horses, pigs, cattle, goats, sheep) as part of the farming operation. Although farm
animals are domesticated they are not safe to be around, especially if one is not familiar
with handling them. All of these animals are capable of killing, maiming, and in the case
of pigs eating humans. Sampling should never be attempted in fields containing animals
 
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