Water Resources Discipline Policy for Safety Training Associated with Over-Water Activities
In Reply Refer To:
Technical Operations Program
Mail Stop 405
Sunset Date: February 2005
February 27, 2001
WATER RESOURCES DISCIPLINE POLICY MEMORANDUM NO. 2001.05
Subject: Water Resources Discipline Policy for Safety Training Associated
with Over-Water Activities
This memorandum updates Water Resources Division (WRD) Memorandum No.
2000.11, entitled "Water Resources Division Policy for Safety Training
Associated with Over-Water Activities," and provides alternate procedures
to be developed in the event that certified lifeguards are not available
for in-the-water training.
Many employees of the Water Resources Discipline (WRD) conduct fieldwork
in, over, and around water. WRD policy for safety associated with making
discharge measurements, taking water samples, and performing related
streamgaging activities was defined in WRD Memorandum No. 99.32. An
important component of the policy outlines the required use of Personal
Flotation Devices (PFD's). Successful implementation of the policy
requires management and employees to fully understand its provisions, and
for field employees in particular, to know how to properly use and care
for PFD's.
To help ensure that employees safely conduct their fieldwork in, over, and
around water, it is WRD policy that all employees (permanent, temporary,
and contract) who perform duties in this environment must receive safety
training. At a minimum, the training must include an overview of WRD
Memorandum No. 99.32, the use of Job Hazard Analyses (JHA's), the proper
care of PFD's, and in-the-water training to simulate the use of PFD's.
Employees are required to receive the training within 6 months of their
assignment to over-water duties; and refresher training will be repeated
every 5 years. The office responsible for the work of these employees
will conduct the training. The in-the-water training is to be conducted
in a controlled environment and in the presence of a certified lifeguard.
If a certified lifeguard is unavailable, training may be conducted under a
district-approved "in-the-water training" JHA that identifies
the potential hazards and safety procedures to be followed during the
training session, and identifies first aid/CPR-trained personnel assigned
as rescuers. A generic "in-the-water-training" JHA is available on the
WRD Safety Home Page under "Job Hazard Analyses" at the following URL:
http://1stop.usgs.gov/Safety/Topic/jha/index.shtml
This generic JHA must be modified to meet local conditions and safety
needs. Several district offices have already conducted water-safety
training for their employees. The South Dakota District developed a
particularly effective course. The outline is available on the WRD Safety
Home Page under "Generic Helps" at the following URL:
http://1stop.usgs.gov/Safety/Training/water_inst_guide/cover.shtml
The training should also make use of relevant videos such as "Swept Away,"
that are available on loan from Regional Safety Officers. Completion of
training should be documented on form SF182. Please contact your Regional
Safety Officer if you have questions, or require assistance in conducting
the training.
/SIGNED/
Stephen F. Blanchard
Acting Chief, Office of
Information
This memorandum supersedes previous WRD Memorandum No. 2000.11.
This memorandum is distributed by email only.
Email Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO,
GS-W Safety Com,
GS-W SO,
GS-WRD Archive
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Steve Blanchard National Center,
MS409
Acting Chief, Office of Information Reston, VA 20192
U.S. Geological Survey Phone: 703-648-5629
Fax: 703-648-5002
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