Surveying and Mapping March 2008
5A.1 CODE OF SAFE SURVEYING PRACTICE
Surveyors and field engineers face unique hazards, namely site conditions and logistics, which
must be afforded proper consideration to ensure health and safety of employees, consultants,
contractors and visitors. The following Code of Safe Surveying Practice was developed to
summarize health and safety policies uniquely pertinent to surveying and field engineering work:
1. Distribution. All surveyors and field engineers, including employees, consultants and
contractors, shall have ready access to this Code.
2. Philosophy. No project is so important or urgent enough to warrant compromising safe
field practices.
3. Responsibilities. The following describes the responsibilities that apply to individuals
and supervisors:
a. Individuals. All field personnel shall have a practical working knowledge of this
Code and the health and safety policies and practices of FLHO. Individuals are
responsible for:
● Doing everything reasonably necessary to protect life, safety and the
health of themselves, other field personnel and the public.
● Complying with all occupational safety and health policies, procedures,
laws, rules and regulations.
● Promptly reporting injuries, illness, accidents and unsafe conditions, tools
and equipment, to their supervisor or the lead worker in charge.
● Reporting to work mentally and physically able to perform all their
assigned duties without jeopardizing the health and safety of themselves,
other personnel, consultants, contractors or the public.
b. Supervisors. Supervisors or lead workers in charge are responsible for:
● Monitoring safety conditions and employee performance.
● Instructing employees about safety policies and practices affecting them.
● Prohibiting employees from working either when they appear to be unable
to perform their duties or if there is concern about their or others’ health
and/or safety.
4. Planning for Safety. Safety shall be given top priority in planning all surveys and field
engineering assignments. Factors considered when planning an assignment shall
include:
a. Scheduling work for the safest time of day.
b. Assigning the optimum number of personnel to accomplish the assignment
safely.
c. Assigning specially trained and qualified personnel to the more hazardous jobs.
d. Using methods that minimize exposure of personnel to hazardous conditions.
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Surveying and Mapping March 2008
e. Ensuring access to, and sufficiency of, specialized tools and equipment
necessary to conduct the assignment safely.
5. Personal Protective Equipment. Each employee must provide and wear clothing and
footwear that will provide adequate protection for the assigned task, including as
required or directed:
a. Necessary clothing, hat, gloves and boots to adequately protect against the
outdoor elements (e.g., heat, cold, rain, snow, rugged terrain, construction
hazards).
b. Orange or strong yellow-green vests, shirts or other highly visible garments when
exposed to vehicular or equipment traffic.
c. Hard hats and eye protection while exposed to vehicular and equipment traffic,
falling or flying material and other similar hazards.
d. Earplugs or muffs must be worn when working around noise levels that may
cause injury or hearing loss.
e. Other special safety equipment (e.g., chaps, climbing gear, boot covers).
6. Personal Health. Every employee must take precautions to avoid dehydration during
strenuous outdoor activity by drinking sufficient fluids and electrolyte replacement drinks
throughout the workday and by carrying water while working for long periods in remote
locations.
Additionally, each employee must have proper food, nutrition, lunch, etc.
It is important that every employee be in fit physical condition before performing work,
especially strenuous activity.
7. Safety Meetings. Special attention shall be given to matters of health and safety at the
project initiation meeting conducted at the start of the project. A project safety briefing
will be prepared including, as a minimum:
● Points of contact for reporting purposes.
● Phone numbers and locations of emergency medical support resources.
● Any special considerations related to the particular project.
Tailgate safety meetings shall be held at least once every ten working days. Hold safety
meetings as applicable to prepare for imminent and especially potent hazards, such as:
● Poisonous plants,
● Snakes,
● Insects,
● Animal hazards,
● Mountainous terrain,
● High fire hazard areas,
● Traffic,
● Heavy equipment,
● Water exposure, and
● Temperature extremes.
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8. Vehicular Traffic. Work, no matter how short the duration, must not be performed on or
adjacent to traveled roadways without instituting proper protective measures to protect
other drivers and pedestrians. These measures include using appropriate signs,
flaggers, lookouts and/or lane closures, as required to work safely.
9. Tools and Equipment. Only the proper tool, in the proper condition, should be used for
each job. Equipment should not be operated unless the employee is familiar with its use
and convinced it is functioning properly.
10. First-Aid Requirements. At least one member of each field survey team shall have
received first-aid training and possess a current certification. Each survey team vehicle
shall be equipped with a standard first-aid kit, Red Cross Manual and a fire extinguisher.
11. Vehicle Operation. Every field survey team member shall have a current driver’s
license. Each driver must drive defensively and observe all applicable traffic laws.
Every survey team vehicle shall have a current certificate of liability insurance.
12. Operational Precautions. Each field survey team member shall observe operational
precautions by:
● Not entering ditches, trenches or confined spaces until you are certain it is safe
to do so.
● Suspending operations when unsafe conditions or uncontrollable hazards
develop; and resuming work only when safe conditions have been restored.
● Check with others about safe procedures when working in an unfamiliar
environment.
● Using particular caution when working at night.
● Wearing reflective clothing when working near equipment or traffic during hours
of darkness.
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