2017 TR01 Air travel, Nadi & Labasa airports, road travel and accommodation in Nadi

Transcription

1 Opwall Risk Assessments Fiji 2017

2 Contents 2017 TR01 Air travel, Nadi & Labasa airports, road travel and accommodation in Nadi G02 Village Accommodation G03 Forest Accommodation G04 Trekking and Survey work in Natewa G05 Encounters with fauna and flora G06 Natewa Bay Dive site G07 Diving and in-water activities G08 Sporting activities

3 2017 TR01 Air travel, Nadi & Labasa airports, road travel and accommodation in Nadi An aeroplane carrying Operation Wallacea volunteers or staff has a serious accident L H Incident in Nadi or Labasa airport, or whilst in the hotel in Nadi RTA or other vehicle related incident This risk is reduced by ensuring that flights are booked with airlines with a excellent safety record. For the internal travel between islands Fiji Air is used and this is rated Category 1 in the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA). L L We ensure that all participants are given Opwall contact details prior to the expedition should an accident occur. All school groups are instructed to stay as a group while travelling through the airport. All participants are advised to keep their wallets and passports concealed and on their person whilst travelling through the airports. All participants who are staying in Nadi prior to the expedition are met at the airport by an Opwall partner organisation. L H All drivers are hired through Opwall s partners in Fiji who are responsible for ensuring that the vehicles are in good condition with regard to tyres, lights and brakes and ensure that the vehicles comply fully with Fijian standards. Drivers are briefed prior to every journey to ensure that vehicles travel at a safe speed and over-take carefully. All passengers are advised to sit down inside the back of the vehicle and not sit in the doorway or stand whilst the vehicle is moving. Each vehicle is to carry a mobile phone in case of an emergency and an Opwall staff member accompanies each transfer to ensure that driving is done to safe standards Stomach problems L L We ensure that all volunteers are told to drink bottled or filtered water only whilst on route to or from the expedition site. We ensure all volunteers are told to wash their hands prior to eating and after visiting the toilet. We ensure that participants are advised to eat at the Grand Melanesian hotel restaurant where the hygiene standards have been checked by Opwall staff prior to the expedition start. Terrorists or political instability L VH Travel advisories suggest that there is a low risk of terrorism in Fiji but Operation Wallacea staff will continually monitor the political situation. The likelihood of a terrorist attack on the Operation Wallacea sites is extremely small given the remoteness of the villages, forests and reefs where the groups will be staying. 2

4 Volunteers attacked in hotel L M Crime levels in Fiji are very low. Hotels that are being used will be safe and secure and have lockable windows and doors. Volunteers will be advised to only go out in groups with a teacher in attendance. Control measures not L M The local Opwall coordinator will be responsible for auditing the control measures on a regular basis (see relevant audit form). These audit reports including details of non-compliances and corrective measures will be available for inspection on site G02 Village Accommodation Attack from locals L H Local support for the project is very strong, the Fijians are naturally a very friendly and welcoming people, and students will only be placed in houses where the owners are known and recommended by our local partners. Dangerous or inappropriate accommodation L L Only pre-approved accommodation will be used, where the property has been inspected to ensure that the building is safe and rooms lockable. Fire L H No smoking will be allowed inside the buildings, and each house will be checked to ensure that there is a clear escape route in the case of a fire. Illness from poor food L M All food is prepared centrally and food hygiene standards are checked by the Opwall staff. preparation Theft L L The students will have an Opwall staff member staying with them in the village and are constantly reminded about the need to not leave their valuables lieing around. Note the villagers are very supportive of the project and will come down hard on any local thought to be involved in theft. Dressing inappropriately L L Whilst dressing inappropriately will not cause any danger to the students it will reduce support for them. Fijian villages have strong traditions and ensuring that for girls arms are covered and long sarongs are worn over shorts or skirts will ensure this support remains. This dress code applies only to when the students are staying in the local villages. Dog attack L L There are dogs in the villages but these are very nervous around people and highly unlikely to attack. Students will be told to not approach or try to pet them. There is no rabies in Fiji. 3

5 Control measures not L H The local Opwall coordinator will be responsible for auditing the control measures on a regular basis (see relevant audit form). These audit reports including details of non compliances and corrective measures will be available for inspection on site 2017 G03 Forest Accommodation Tripping or falling M L The ground can be very uneven and steep in parts, and in the camp sites, can be slippery especially after rain. We remind all volunteers to watch their footing and to take a torch if walking at night. Fire L H No smoking will be allowed inside of any of the tents or in the covered areas for eating. Fuel for the generator will be stored well away from the camp. Illness from poor food preparation or drinking water problems Control measures not L M All food is prepared following hygiene standards. These will be checked by the Opwall staff. Drinking water is sourced from a stream at the top of the catchment where the quality is very pure. The campsite will be downstream of the drinking water intake. Toilet facilities are downstream at a distance of more than 100km from the water intake so there is no contamination of the water supply. L H The local Opwall coordinator will be responsible for auditing the control measures on a regular basis (see relevant audit form). These audit reports including details of non-compliances and corrective measures will be available for inspection on site 2017 G04 Trekking and Survey work in Natewa Injury or exhaustion during hike from village to campsite L L Access to the camp is along a trail that can be driven by 4X4 s. Teams to be led by an English-speaking staff member who knows the path well and who can communicate with the campsite and the village via 4

6 Participant sustaining injury whilst trekking for surveys radio and phone respectively. Staff members will ensure that the group stay together, travel at a suitable pace and take rest breaks if needed. L M All teams must be led by a designated leader. The team trekking must sign out and sign back on their return and the team leader must carry a radio. The team leader should also check that each member of the team is sensibly clothed and equipped and has sufficient water. Groups to stay together and travel at an appropriate pace. Dehydration M H We will ensure that all staff and volunteers are informed that this is a significant risk and that they carry at least 2 litres of water with them when they leave camp. When hiking ensure that the survey leader stops regularly for the group to rest and checks for signs of dehydration or exhaustion. Sun burn M M Long sleeves should be worn or sun screen should be applied to prevent sun burn when the groups are not under canopy. The team leader should check that this is done for those with susceptible skin. Volunteer becoming lost in the forest and unable to find the camp Falling down steep slopes or tripping on poor surfaces. L M No-one is allowed to leave the camp unless they are in a group with a leader who carries a radio to communicate back to the camp (radio check needs to be done before leaving camp), and has signed the group out on the white board. The sign out procedure requires the name of the leader, the group members, departure time, destination and estimated time of return. The group leader to check all group members have sufficient water, suntan cream and hats and are dressed appropriately for the terrain before leaving camp. Standard trek procedure is for the slowest person in the group to be put immediately behind the group leader so the group stay together throughout the trek. It is the responsibility of the group leader to check that the group have remained together throughout the trek. The group leader also needs to ensure the group return by the estimated return time on the whiteboard or if there has been a delay to inform the camp manager by radio of the delayed return time. It is the responsibility of the camp manager to ensure all groups have returned by the estimated return times on the whiteboard and if not to first contact by radio for an update and if this is not possible to take a search team from the camp to the location identified for the missing group on the whiteboard. L M Most surveys will be using pre-marked trails and all surveys are done in groups with a leader who will be watching out for hazardous part of the transect and warning the group members. There are a few surveys (e.g. forest structure) where the surveys are done away from the main trails and here the group leader needs to check the steepness of the site first before allowing the rest of the group to start the survey work. 5

7 Control measures not L H The local Opwall coordinator will be responsible for auditing the control measures on a regular basis (see relevant audit form). These audit reports including details of non compliances and corrective measures to be available for inspection on site 2017 G05 Encounters with fauna and flora Arthropod bites M L Mosquito numbers are low and there is no malaria in Fiji. However volunteers are advised to bring suitable repellents to protect them from mosquitoes, to cover up in the late evenings and early mornings when there is most insect activity and to sleep under mosquito nets in the hammocks or within mosquito netted tents. The same precautions should be taken with biting insects as though malaria did exist since mosquitoes can carry other diseases such as Dengue Fever or Chikingunya. There is a centipede species and a few spiders do have a harmful bite. These species are uncommon and bites can be avoided by checking your clothing and bedding carefully. Snake bites L M The only venomous snake in Fiji is the Burrowing Snake, a small species (approx. 30cm) which is rarely seen. It is possible these will be captured in the pitline surveys but students are not allowed to handle snakes and all captured species will be handled by a herpetologist with venomous snake handling experience. Indeed because of mongoose predation snake numbers are so low that none were seen at all I the first month of surveys. 6

8 Encounters with dangerous mammals L L There are no large or dangerous wild animals in Fiji that would affect human safety. There are feral cats and invasive mongooses that have done a lot of damage to the native fauna, but are not a threat to humans. Berries and fruits L M Volunteers should not eat fruits and berries unless they have been identified as being edible. Scratches and cuts from vegetation M L Volunteers to be advised to wear long sleeved clothes and trousers and not to grab at any spiny vegetation for support. Saw grass is widespread in open areas and this can cause cuts if grabbed for support when Control measures not going up or down steep sections. L H The local Opwall coordinator will be responsible for auditing the control measures on a regular basis (see relevant audit form). These audit reports include details of non-compliances and corrective measures to be available for inspection on site G06 Natewa Bay Dive site Being hit by falling coconuts L M All staff and volunteers are briefed about not sitting under coconut trees. Coconuts in the vicinity of the dive centre and accommodation will be removed before the start of the expedition Falling/Tripping over M M All staff and volunteers instructed to walk sensibly around the site and wear shoes in the surrounding area. All staff and volunteers told to use torches at night. All staff and volunteers told to keep to the main footpaths. No alcohol to be consumed on-site. Fire on site L H No Smoking policy observed in all buildings. Flammable materials, especially fuel, to be stored away from other buildings. Electrical checks to be carried out pre-season and spot checks carried out through the season. Fire extinguishers and buckets of sand available in all communal buildings. All staff and volunteers are briefed on the location and use of fire extinguishers. Electric shock M VH Stringent electrical checks to be carried out pre-season and spot checks carried out through the season. Volunteers and staff told to report any potential electrical hazard immediately. Theft L M Volunteers and staff warned to lock valuables inside locker located within the dive center. 7

9 Assault, mugging or other violent crime. L H Very unlikely as the local community are very supportive of the project and crime rates are very low in Fiji. Opwall staff members always to be on the site and contactable in the event of any problems. All volunteers to be told the location of the Opwall coordinators bedroom in the case of an emergency during the night. Local security guards are to be stationed at each end of the marine camp site. Natural disaster L VH In the highly unlikely event of a tsunami warning all volunteers and staff to evacuate to the high ground Control measures not in Natewa National Park. Note the survey season is outside the season for cyclones. L M Site manager to be responsible for auditing the control measures on a regular basis (see relevant audit form). These audit reports including details of non-compliances and corrective measures to be available for inspection on site G07 Diving and in-water activities Tanks falling off dive benches or other surfaces L M Ensure all staff and volunteers are instructed to lay tanks down onto dive benches at all times when they are not holding the tank. Pressure gauge relief value bursting L H Ensure all staff and volunteers make sure that they turn on cylinder valves slowly and face the gauge away from them. Dropping weight belts on feet. M M Ensure all staff and volunteers are instructed to be careful when carrying weight belts and to lay them down on dive benches whilst kitting up. Ensure all staff and volunteers make sure that weight belt clips Falling over whilst getting into & out of dive boat with equipment. Stepping on poisonous animal or cutting feet when getting into boat are secure. M H Make sure that all staff and volunteers hand equipment to boat handlers with care and make sure it is secure in the boat. Staff and volunteers should take care when getting into and out of dive boats to avoid falling or slipping. M M All students to be instructed to wear booties or crocs when wading out to the dive site or accessing the boat. 8

10 Falling out of dive boat whilst going to dive sites. L H Ensure all staff and volunteers are instructed not to wear weight belts on dive boats, and stay seated at all times. Make sure staff and volunteers are instructed to sit evenly on each side of the boat. Slipping over on dive boat. L M Ensure all staff and volunteers are instructed to move around the boat carefully and holding onto the side when necessary whilst kitting up for the dive. No-one should move around the boat whilst it is in motion. Hitting head when performing a backwards roll into water at the dive sites or tipping over the L M Ensure all staff and volunteers are told to check behind them and let the boat leader know that they are going into the water. Ensure the divers enter the water in an agreed order so that the boat is not unbalanced. Ensure divers are aware of the possibility of the boat hitting their head when hanging onto the mooring rope. boat on entry Decompression sickness L H Ensure all diving procedures are followed completely. Limit dives to 2 per day, maximum depth 18m for survey dives, and maximum depth of 30m for pleasure dives advanced divers or equivalent only. Maximum dive time of 50 minutes with a 3 minute stop at 5m before surfacing. Ensure that the dive procedures are audited every month throughout the season. Ensure that all boats carry oxygen supplies and that there are sufficient oxygen supplies at the dive centre to continue treating the patient throughout the period of the evacuation. Ensure that there is a qualified medic available either in the local hospital or on-site, and qualified staff who can administer oxygen. Ensure evacuation plans are in position for getting the patient to recompression facilities and that all relevant staff are aware of the procedures. The nearest recompression chamber is in Brisbane so the site manager is to ensure that that the medivac company has been contacted prior to the season and have confirmed availability of low flying helicopters Being hit by boat on surfacing from a dive for emergency evacuations should they be needed (see medical and evacuation procedures). L VH Surface slowly with arm raised and slowly turning to check for risks. Very little to no boat traffic exists within Natewa Bay. Being hit by a boat whilst snorkelling Being left in water at the end of a dive L H Ensure that all staff and volunteers snorkel in pairs or groups, and with a Divemaster or Rescue Diver, either in the water, or on shore cover, if the snorkel survey is close to shore. Snorkel groups to have an SMB so as to increase the visibility of the group. L M Ensure all dive boat leaders operate the boat roster system for each dive. Ensure that the dive safety procedures are audited every month throughout the season. Ensure that all groups of divers have an SMB with them for inflation at the end of the dive. 9

11 Becoming separated from buddy Being carried away by currents or to greater depths by down currents L M This is unlikely because all dives are done in groups and the visibility is good. However, ensure that all staff and volunteers are trained in the lost diver procedure and that there is an effective and practiced recall procedure in position. L H Ensure that risk assessments are completed for each dive site and used by all staff in dive planning. Ensure that the Dive Leader checks the conditions on the day before the group enters the water. Barotraumas M M All staff and volunteers informed of risk of barotraumas when diving and the safe equalisation procedure, which includes aborting the dive if equalisation is not possible. All staff and volunteers to be informed that they should not dive with an upper respiratory tract infection. All staff and volunteers to be informed of the dangers of using decongestants when diving. Ensure all volunteers and staff are informed of the serious danger of breath holding whilst scuba diving. Injuries from dangerous marine animals Dive sites not being appropriate for in-water activities Factors increasing risk of accident due to: Alcohol Inexperienced divers Medically unfit divers Non-operation of buddy system L H Ensure that all staff and volunteers are trained in the identification of all marine species likely to be encountered that can cause injury. Ensure that all divers are instructed never to touch the coral or any organism and do not cause an aggressive response from any marine creature by approaching too closely. L VH Experienced dive staff check each of the confined water dive sites to ensure there is no current, appropriate bottom composition and a shallow drop-off. Maximum depth is to be less than 3m for confined water dive sites. Each of the Open Water sites is visited pre-season to ensure suitable depth, and that the topography has not been altered in any way that would compromise the safety of the dive site. Each dive site is checked pre-season for dangers such as strong current and dangerous marine organisms, and any site that represents a high risk to Open Water Students is taken off the list of suitable dive sites (and consequently not used). Each site is checked pre-season for its suitability in terms of depth, topography, salient marine organisms, current, etc. Any site that represents a risk to students is taken off the list of suitable dive sites until it can be reviewed by senior dive staff. M H No alcohol will be available on site. Ensure that all divers, irrespective of qualification and experience level, have an opportunity to be assessed by an Opwall Dive Instructor or Divemaster during their first dive. All staff and volunteers to complete a medical questionnaire and appropriate medical advice sought before the expedition should the answer to any of the questions on the questionnaire be positive. All dive procedures to be followed precisely. All accidents and near misses to be reported immediately to the Dive Manager who will compile the statistics every two weeks and hold a staff meeting to discuss ways of avoiding further instances of accidents which do occur. 10

12 Control measures not L M Site Manager to be responsible for auditing the control measures on a regular basis (see relevant audit form). These audit reports including details of non-compliances and corrective measures to be available for inspection on site G08 Sporting activities Injury during sports event L M All sports (which should be non contact) activities to be conducted in a friendly manner and with an appointed referee to make sure that both teams behave sensibly. Evacuation vehicle to always be available from any sports location, and staff to always to be in attendance during any organised sporting events. 11