Personal Safety
1. Review Posted Safety Information. Before the work day event, be sure you have read and understood the safety-related information and instructions that are posted at mariposatrails.org.
2. Age Restriction. Children under 18 years of age are not permitted on “trail tending days.”
3. Don’t perform work your body is not ready for. You and your doctor know your body best. Don’t be afraid to speak up or decline to participate if you believe you cannot perform any travel or requested task. It is your responsibility to be able to undertake the physical challenges presented in the outing, or to opt out.
4. Be Certified/Trained as appropriate. Be sure you are properly trained and certified before cutting either standing or fallen trees with a chainsaw or crosscut saw.
5. Wear the right personal protective equipment: MARIPOSA TRAILS will provide gloves, hard-hat and safety glasses; each volunteer will need to supply other items:
- - Gloves: Work gloves are necessary to grip tools as well as to protect the hands from blisters, thorny brush, poison oak, or any other minor scratches associated with trail work.
- - Long pants & Long-sleeve shirts: Long pants and long-sleeve shirts should be worn as well to protect the skin from these hazards.
- - Hard Hat: Protective headgear (hard hats) are to be worn at all times when working on the trail as there could be danger of falling debris from: 1) above the work area [tree canopy or falling rocks]); 2) accidental falls; 3) other forms of released energy; or, 4) due to the actions of nearby volunteers.
- - Sturdy Footwear: Sturdy shoes or boots protect your feet from glancing tools and provide good nonskid footing when working.
- - Safety Glasses: Safety glasses should be worn when using power tools, breaking rock, or anywhere flying debris is present.
6. Bring essential personal gear. MARIPOSA TRAILS will provide a trauma-level first-aid kit; each volunteer will need to supply other items:
- -Trauma-level First Aid Kit: The contents of this kit will include, among other items, gloves, extra water, trauma pads, large gauze dressing pads, triple antibiotic ointment, antiseptic towelettes, tweezers, tape, bandages, shears, and medications.
- - First Aid Kit: A standard first aid kit should contain the basic components to handle minor incidents (blisters, splinters, small cuts, etc.) that may occur during a workday.
- - Water and Food: All workers should carry adequate water and food supplies; crew leaders should carry extra water and/or water filters. Workers should minimize or stop work if there is not an adequate supply of drinking water at the worksite.
- - Protective Creams: Insect repellant and sun block are essential. Creams can be used as a pre- or post- treatment for poison oak or ivy exposure.
Tool Use
1. Prepare Tools
- - Inspect hand tool condition before use. Make sure handles are sound, smooth, and straight, and that the heads are tight.
- - Make sure your tool is sharp. A dull tool that bounces or glances off of what it was attempting to cut can be very dangerous. A sharp tool will cut faster and be less tiring.
2. Tools in Transport
- -Secure tools in vehicles. Load and unload tools with care. Avoid transporting tools loose in vehicles.
- - Carry the tool properly. Never carry tools over your shoulder. Always carry tools in your hands and down at your side on the downhill side of the trail, with blades forward and the handles behind. If you should slip, drop the tool to the side to prevent falling on the blade.
- - Space yourself along the trail. Stay at least 10 feet apart on the hike in and out from the work site.
- - Pass tools safely. Never throw a tool, and pass tools so others avoid grasping a cutting edge.
- - Create safe tool staging areas. Designate a central drop point for tools near the worksite so tools are less likely to be lost or accidentally stepped on.
3. Tools in Use
- - Work as a team. Productive, safe crews depend on each member being alert, informed, and caring. Every volunteer is responsible for working in a safe manner; it is not just a crew leader responsibility. Everyone needs to be aware of and point out unsafe practices and hazards to others.
- - Choose the right tool for the job. The wrong tool can make you work in an awkward stance which will wear you out.
- - Form a good grip. Wet or muddy gloves may cause a tool to slip from your hands, striking you or someone near you.
- - Be alert for hazardous footing. Make sure you have a firm, balanced, and comfortable stance before starting your work. Clear limbs, sticks, loose rocks, or other debris from your footing area. Particularly with striking tools—make sure your feet are spaced well away from your target area.
- - Watch out for people around you. When chopping or brushing, be aware of any people in the surrounding area. The combined length of your arm and tool could reach a person working near you. Also, be aware of trail users. Often a user may try to pass right into your back swing. If you see someone coming, stop work, notify your co-workers and wait for them to pass.
- - Make sure you have a clear area in which to swing. Watch out for overhead or side hazards. A hazard is anything that could interfere with the complete swing of your tool, and knock it from your hands or down onto any part of your body. Keep your tool in front of you at all times. You should never need to swing your tool over your head.
- - Be aware of the state of your mind and body. Stop working if you feel faint dizzy, exhausted or have any feeling of discomfort.
4. Tool Care after Event
- -Protect tools. Store tools safely and out of the weather.
- - Maintain the Trail Tools. Identify tools that need maintenance; schedule time for repairing or replacing tools.