kit technical

FIELDWORKSAFETY

Kit - technical

Whistle & torch If you are working in remote areas or on the coast you should carry a whistle and torch in order to give the International Distress Signal should you become immobilised. The International Distress Signal is: • 6 blasts on a whistle (or 6 torch flashes) • Wait 1 minute and then repeat Don’t forget to carry spare batteries and bulb to cover all eventualities.

Rucksack Ensure you use an appropriately sized rucksack. A small rucksack or ‘day bag’ will suffice on day trips. A 35 litre capacity rucksack is more than sufficient to carry the essential equipment, spare clothing, food and water needed for a day trip. For carrying heavier loads choose a rucksack with a hip belt to spread the weight onto your hips. Carrying a rucksack which is too heavy or badly packed will cause unnecessary fatigue and potential back injury. Loads should be less than one third of your body weight and rarely need to exceed 14kg. Pack your rucksack with heavier items close to the back and less dense items at the bottom of the bag.

GPS You can use specialist GPS equipment or use a GPS App on your mobile phone to check where you are in the field. However, this equipment can be unreliable if batteries fail or there is poor signal reception and are no substitute for using a map and compass to work out your exact position. WARNING: Under no circumstances should GPS be relied upon for determining accurate height above sea level.

Map & compass When working alone or in a small group you should carry a detailed map of the area. This is good practice even when in a supervised party just in case you become separated from the group. On guided field courses use topographic maps (1:50 000 scale). If working unsupervised use 1:10 000 or 1:25 000 scale maps. Record the grid reference of each locality. In remote areas it is essential to carry a compass for navigation and positioning.

Mobile phone This could be useful but remember reception can be poor in the hills and on the coast below cliffs. As noted in the page 'Medical emergencies it is worth registering your mobile phone with emergency SMS. WARNING: Smart phones with apps should not be used as a substitute for using map and compass equipment to position yourself.

Safety helmet A safety helmet is a hard hat that gives protection from falling objects and during falls. It is one of the most essential items of field equipment. The wearing of a hard hat is mandatory when working in all quarries, under cliffs and rock faces, in areas of nesting sea birds and in any place when there is danger from above. Safety helmets with a chinstrap are recommended when working in the wind in exposed situations.

Kit - geological equipment

A geological hammer is used for taking samples and providing fresh rock

surfaces, but remember that much information is shown on weathered

surfaces. Only use hammers when absolutely necessary. Don’t take

samples indiscriminately and never use hammers other than geological

hammers. Hammering of brittle rocks can produce high velocity rock and

metal fragments so you will need protective gloves and goggles.

Cold chisels can be used for extracting specimens. Never use a second

hammer as a chisel - this is likely to produce high velocity metal fragments

which may cause serious injury to yourself and others.

Remember:

Hammers must never be used in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

A compass-clinometer is essential for navigation and

positioning, particularly in remote areas or if you become

separated from your group.

This piece of equipment can also be used to measure:

• the altitude or thicknesss of inaccessible strata in

vertical cliff faces and

• dip and strike of geological structures.

If you are planning to work in a remote area or outside the UK detailed maps may be unavailable. Finding your position in such areas may be difficult. Before your visit information about geological structure and lithological variation across the area in which you are planning to work may be obtained from Google Earth. A penknife is invaluable for a variety of uses including performing scratch tests to aid in identification of minerals in the field. Finally - don't forget that you will need a small rucksack to carry your geological equipment, spare clothes and food and drink.

A good quality field notebook is essential for recording field data. Notebooks should be sturdily bound, have pages made of waterproof paper and measure about 20x30cm in size. Larger notebooks may not fit into your pocket; sketches will be harder to record in smaller notebooks. When it is raining it helps to use your notebook inside a clear plastic bag that is large enough to cover your notebook and hands. Do not be tempted to buy cheap notebooks, they will disintegrate within a few minutes of light rain. You will need both hard and soft pencils for recording data. These should be kept sharp. Don't forget you will also need an eraser.

Binoculars can be very useful for locating exposures and also for checking the terrain in advance. A hand lens is an essential piece of equipment. Geologists cannot adequately describe rocks without the use of a hand lens. X5 to x10 is the optimum magnification. (More powerful lenses tend to obscure textural relationships)

You may need to record information regarding the size of features. A grain size card, combined with the use of a hand lens will make it easy to estimate the grain size of sediments and crystal size in igneous rocks. It may also be used to estimate roundness and sphericity of sedimentary grains. A metal tape rule is useful for measuring bed thicknesses.

Mobile phone Rucksack Map and compass Safety helmet GPS Whistle & torch