August 2005 SMART:  Natural Hazards

by Mike Fogle and Victoria Hodge



Life at the Landfill can be full of surprises.  Not only do we get the unknown popping up in the trash or see the creative ways we can get in accidents, but Mother Nature likes to get in on the fun and games with a few surprises of her own.  She proved this to me last week when I stopped by a leachate pump station to get readings.  I bent down and was writing on my clipboard, turned my head and discovered I was eyeball to eyeball with a five-foot long snake.  Sometime next week, I'll go back after my clipboard.
Landfill compliance monitoring can present a variety of safety challenges.  Weather is a factor not only both hot and cold, but now that storm-water sampling is added to the mix, trying to get an outfall sample in a thunderstorm requires some common sense timing.  Methane probes and groundwater monitoring wells might be located on the "back 40" in undeveloped areas.  Gas extraction wells and leachate sumps present possible explosive capabilities.

Listed below are some precautions, which can allow your sampling technicians a safer work zone:
  • Well-heads and sampling areas should be mowed and trimmed on a regular basis to allow you to see where you are stepping. Hopefully, this will prevent you from twisting your ankle in a skunk burrow, stepping into a fire ant mound and lessens your exposure to ticks and chiggers. Snakes would also be easier to spot.

  • When opening a sample port, if it is not a sealed casing, use gloves and keep an eye out for Spider and Wasp nests.

  • When preparing for storm water sampling, preplan where you are going to retrieve the sample at your outfall because getting in the ditch may be tricky due to side slope instability when it is muddy. Use an attachment pole if necessary.

  • Going alone into "remote" locations of the property puts you at risk. (In case that snake decides to STRIKE) Use a "buddy system" or at the very least, use radio contact and make sure someone is aware of your location, before you leave and while you are out.

  • Be sure to maintain your fluid intake, carry some water and/or Gatorade™ with you.

  • Heat Stress can be serious, make sure you allow yourself time to become acclimated before spending extended periods of time outside.

  • When dealing with Cold Stress, layered clothing allows you to adjust for the changing temperatures during the day.

  • Smoking is not only bad for YOU, it could potentially contaminate your samples or you could blow yourself up at a methane well.

**DON'T FORGET TO USE…
  • Sunscreen (at least SPF 30)
  • Bug Repellant (not during groundwater sampling)
**Special Notes

Ground Water - Do not use colognes, bug repellants, insecticides for fire ants or wasps- as these may potentially contaminate your sample.

Methane - Again - NO SMOKING!!!

Storm Water - Look out for snakes while near culverts. While you are going in to get your sample, snakes are coming out looking for higher ground.