662 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers III

Protection Against Natural Hazards

Protection against most natural hazards can be achieved by wearing protective clothing such as boots, gloves, and long sleeved shirts and pants of sturdy material. General safety precautions include the following:

• Avoid plants and animals suspected of being poisonous;
• Wear high boots or chaps and heavy gloves if entering into a suspected snake habitat;
• Wear a gauze mask if gnats or similar annoying insects are present;
• Wear heavy pants, long-sleeved shirt, boots, and gloves if poisonous spiders are expected;
• Wear gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants of heavy material if traversing outlying areas with thorny plants; and
• Identify site workers who are allergic to wasp or bee stings to be alert to the possibility that these people may go into anaphylactic shock if bitten or stung. Instruct these workers to carry appropriate medication with them on the job.

Potential exposure to biological hazards can be ascertained before approaching a hazardous material incident by reviewing the following information:

• Location of the facility (to determine which indigenous plants or animals may be present);
• Age of buildings and equipment (older facilities may house rodents);
• Layout (or floor plan) of building(s) (open buildings may allow animal and insect access); and
• Inspection task (whether the incident has occurred inside or outside of a building).

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