Attach_5_Contractor_Safety_Highlights.docx

Allegheny National Forest - Safety by the Seasons Safety Sheet for Employees/Contractors/Volunteers/Researchers

* Note many hazards can occur all year round.

Spring

1. Roads: Roads are narrow, often with no berms and pullouts. Some roads are domed with high prisms and made with different surfacing materials that offer traveling challenges in often changing conditions including such things as rocks on road, ruts, mud, ice, washboard, potholes, trees, branches, low visibility and sight distance. Road construction on public highways typically increases.

2. Gates: Forest Service gates offer unique challenges and for your safety here are a list of hazards. Gates contain sharp cutting metals, alignment problems that causes gate to drop from your hands, wasps and hornet nests, hot metals, heavy mechanisms, and sometimes can be booby trapped.

3. Traffic: Multiple use traffic can occur at any time. Heavy truck traffic from timber and oil and gas development often brings large vehicles on narrow roads. Increase in recreational use and traffic in the spring from hunters, fisherman, and others enjoying the scenery exists.

4. Wildlife and Plants: Beware of wildlife on the move. Spring brings emerging wildlife from den sites, including young wildlife such as bear, deer, and snakes. Keep your distance! The same with plants. Poison ivy and other plants can cause skin irritation and sickness. Avoid them!

5. Hunting: Spring gobbler season traditionally occurs from late April to late May. Take precautions around hunters.

6. Fishing: Increase in traffic, parking, canoers, boaters, and fisherman on our waterways.

7. Weather and Daylight: Spring brings severe weather occurrences such as rain, ex: flooding, and lightning. High wind events with an occasional tornado do occur. Daylight savings time affects light and dark conditions.

8. Tree and Snag hazards: Forest health issues have caused tree decline and that coupled with severe weather, especially high winds, can cause falling tree hazards.

9. Fire: There can be a high fire danger, and it traditionally occurs before vegetation leaf out.

10. Vegetation: Green up occurs in a short time and can limit sight distance on the road or in the Forest. Tripping hazards in the form of branches, sticks, trees, rocks and holes exist.

11. Hazards that bite: Ticks, mosquitos, snakes, and a wide variety of mammals bite and can inflict injury or transmit disease such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Hanta virus, and rabies.

12. Private property: The Forest is broken up by private land and property owners. Land, private right of ways, and oil and gas facilities dot the landscape. Stay clear of these areas and equipment. When in doubt ask before traversing.

13. Communication: Know where you are and where you are going. Do you have a contact person? How will you communicate where there is no cell service? Situational Awareness: One final rule. Be aware of your surroundings at all times!

Summer

1. Roads: Summer truck and recreation traffic continues. Dual use on trails and roads (ATV/UTV) picks up. Dust and lack of visibility can be a major concern where rainfall is deficient. Road construction on public highways is heavy. Slow down!

2. Weather: Spring storms turn into summer storms. Higher heat and humidity can occur. Keep hydrated and take plenty of breaks.

3. Hazards that bite: Populations of wildlife fluctuates but the concerns still exist. Higher probability of insects increase. Insects such as ground nesting bees, wasps, and hornets that nest in structures are difficult to see.

4. Illegal drugs: Encounters in the Forest have been documented. Growing gardens and meth labs may be seen. Know what to look for!

Fall

1. Roads: Recreational use of roads and trails continues. Traffic can increase from hunting season and scenic viewing. Changing weather conditions such as rain and early snows and falling leaves make the roads slick and difficult to see obstructions, road edges, and ditches. Road hazards increase.

2. Hunting and target season: The season is long. From September to late January there are days set aside to hunt a variety of game species. Firearm season for deer, bear, and turkey from late October through mid-December has the heaviest use. Wear fluorescent orange!

3. Fire: There can be a high fire danger, and it traditionally occurs after leaves fall and before the first snowfall.

Winter

1. Roads: Traffic typical decreases, except dual use on roads that serve as snowmobile trails. Ice and snow make travelling on roads hazardous. Many roads are not plowed and accessibility is limited. Gate locks are typically frozen.

2. Weather: Winter storms can occur with heavy snow and wind and low temperatures, but more often than not the ANF receives ice and rain. Dress appropriately. Wear proper footwear for slippery conditions and cold temperatures.

3. Hunting Season: Continues, but use drops off after January 1, but precautions still need to be taken.

ANF Forest Safety Committee - 2018 image6.jpeg image7.png image8.png image9.png image10.png image1.jpeg image2.png image3.png image4.png image5.png