1. Safety

2. Safety Archaeology (and anthropology generally) are dangerous
See Nancy Howells’ monograph surviving Fieldwork
Need to take safety seriously
Must plan, prepare, and train for safety
Safety on the job
Generally subject to OSHA laws and regulations
Or the equivalent in foreign countries

3. Hazards Hazards related to travel
Hazards associated with physical labor
Hazards associated with working outdoors
Hazards related to construction sites
Hazards in foreign countries
Particular dangers associated with archaeology?

4. A Good Archaeologist

5. Common Threats and Perils
What is the most dangerous everyday archaeological activity?
What is the most common worker’s compensation claim among fieldworkers, at least in the eastern U.S.?
At what excavation depth do you need to take steps to protect yourself from cave-ins?
What should you do if you hear someone say, “Hey! Watch this!”?

6. Driving
Make sure you know how to drive vehicle, including locations of all controls
Make sure you are licensed and experienced for the vehicle type
Inspect vehicle, including tires, lights, brakes, and wipers, before using
Check for all legal documentation
Obey traffic laws
Drive cautiously and defensively, especially off-road
Never drive tired
Never drive impaired

7. Driving You should learn to drive different kinds of vehicles, e.g.,
Manual transmissions
4-wheel drive
Big pickups and SUVs
You should learn to drive under different conditions
Off-road (under various conditions)
In different kinds of weather
Heavy rain, ice and snow, etc.
Do you know when it’s safe to cross a ford or river?
Learn to navigate in the vehicle
Keep you license clean, or you may be uninsurable by your employer
That can cost you your job

8. Excavation Max legal depth for trench pit: 1.5 m/5 ft.
Deeper excavations need to be shored or sloped (stepped back)
At 6.1 m (20 ft), shoring needs to be designed by registered professional engineer
Keep heavy equipment away from edges
Keep surcharge loads, such as backdirt at least 0.6 m (2 ft) away from edges
Inspect excavations at start of each shift
Inspect after rain

9. Outdoor hazards Getting lost. How prevent/survive it?
Slipping, falling. How prevent/survive it?
Hypothermia. How prevent/survive it?
Hyperthermia. How prevent/survive it?
Drowning. How prevent/survive it?
Bees, wasps. How prevent/survive it?
Snakes? How prevent/survive it?
Predators? How prevent/survive it?
Poison ivy, oak, sumac? How prevent/survive it?
Spiders, Scorpions? How prevent/survive it?
Lightning? How prevent/survive it?
Interpersonal violence

10. Physical labor hazards/traumas
Strains
Broken bones from falls
Broken heads (hardhats, helmets)
Cuts, especially machetes
Repetitive motion injuries

11. Diseases Mosquito-borne diseases Tick-borne diseases
West Nile
Chikungunya
Malaria
Others
Tick-borne diseases
Lyme
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Fly-borne diseases
Leishmaniasis
Flea-borne diseases
Plague
Water-borne diseases
Giardia spp.
Others
Rabies
Histoplasmosis
Hantavirus
Valley Fever

12. Archaeological perils
Caves
Diving
Cave diving
Trench collapses/construction sites
Lightning

13. How to Protect Yourself
Safety principles
Safety is everyone’s responsibility
Planning
Education
Be prepared!
Be professional and conscientious
Training on safety
First aid
CPR
HTRW
Diving
Preparation
What should you carry with you?
First aid kits
Food, water, matches, compass, maps
What should you know?
Where’s the hospital
Emergencies
Worker’s comp