Risk Assessment and Management in Ecuador & Galapagos 2018
Contents 2018 01 San Carlos Hosteria, Quito... 2 2018 02 Transfers to and from sites... 2 2018 03 Transfers within Sani Lodge... 3 2018 04 Sani Lodge camp and survey work... 3 2018 05 Trekking and wildlife surveys... 5 2018 06 Night trekking and survey work... 6 2018 07 Camp building and maintenance... 7 2018 08 Santa Cruz Island general... 8 2018 09 Diving and snorkelling... 9 2018 10 Wildlife encounters on Santa Cruz... 10 1
2018 01 San Carlos Hosteria, Quito (Key: H=High, M=Medium, L=Low) Theft L L The hostel is close to the airport and away from the main city. The grounds are completely walled and there are security staff Uneven pavements M L Some of the sidewalks in the area outside the hostel are uneven and have examples of open drops into drainage channels or tunnels. All participants to be briefed on the risks of walking around the area. Being injured from traffic L M Ensure all staff and volunteers are told of the dangers of the lack of concern by vehicle users. Ensure all staff and volunteers are told to behave, regarding road use, as they would in any developed country to look before crossing the road, to walk on the sidewalk rather than in the road, etc. 2018 02 Transfers to and from sites RTA or other vehicle related incident L H All drivers used by Opwall to have a public passenger driving license, and full liability insurance. All drivers are told to drive slowly and carefully at all times and that there is always an English-speaking staff member on board. All vehicles to be vetted for mechanical errors, ensuring that the vehicle is suitable for the journey and in good working order. Each bus to have a mobile phone, the necessary equipment for changing the wheels and to carry a torch and sufficient water for the journey in case of Vehicles attacked on the road between Quito and the forest site Long boat transfer along the Napo River breakdown. L H Very unlikely, there are random police check points on all major highways surrounding Quito and patrol cars in regular use. All transfers are done during daylight hours. There is always an Englishspeaking staff member on each transfer and they have phone contact with emergency numbers. The departure time, progress reports and estimated times of arrival to be phoned through to the Opwall site Coordinator during all the transfers. L M The boats have twin engines so the loss of one would still allow the journey to be completed. There are life jackets for all on board, numbers of students per boat is strictly regulated by the Port authorities and the boat drivers have radio contact with the port at all time, plus there is mobile phone 2
coverage for most of the journey. In addition, all transfers are accompanied by English speaking Opwall staff. The boats also have canopy covers to shade from the direct sun or heavy rain. Getting lost in the airport L L The airport at Quito is well lit and well signposted, however groups will be accompanied to check-in, advised to stay together, and will be given detailed instructions of the meeting point at the Galapagos, including phone numbers for the relevant Opwall staff. 2018 03 Transfers within Sani Lodge Small boat accident L H All small boats in the Sani reserve are operated by local staff and are paddle only. The use of lifejackets by all passengers is strictly enforced. Passengers becoming sunburned or soaked during the journey M M All passengers travelling by canoe to be told to use sunblock and carry ponchos in case of rain. 2018 04 Sani Lodge camp and survey work Volunteers poorly equipped or with a lack of fitness to survive the forest conditions Medical problem for volunteer or staff member L M Staff to fully brief volunteers prior to the start of the walk and check they have the appropriate equipment with them. Staff to watch the new volunteers carefully for signs of exhaustion and to adjust the distances covered according to the fitness levels. M M There will be a qualified medical officer in the camp. Medical staff will interview all incoming volunteers and staff and record on standard medical record forms previous medical conditions and any treatment given on site. An extensive First Aid kit is available on site to treat most minor conditions and to provide life support facilities (eg intravenous fluid supplies, pain relief etc) whilst more seriously injured patients are transported to hospital. More serious medical problems will require emergency evacuation to the hospitals in Coca or Quito. 3
Need for emergency evacuation L H Canoe stationed at Sani Lodge and ready for emergency evacuation of volunteers and staff by canoe, long boat with outboards and driving to the hospital in Coca (4 hours). More urgent evacuations can be done by helicopter see medical and evacuation plans. Lack of hygiene increasing risk of disease L M Ensure at the camp design stage that toilet facilities are away from any kitchen facilities and that these are kept clean always. Change the dishwashing bucket water frequently and ensure there are numerous buckets with disinfectant and water around the site for volunteers and staff to wash hands Fire L H Ensure that staff are trained in the fire and evacuation to a safe point procedure Volunteer becoming lost in the forest and unable to find the camp Falling down holes or tripping on slippery surfaces Mosquito bites leading to malaria or dengue fever Mosquito bites leading to Zika virus infection No smoking to be allowed in any tents or buildings in the camp. L H No volunteer or staff member to leave the camp or trek without a guide and sufficient water. All groups leaving camp must sign out on a whiteboard system with details of where they are intending to go and estimated time of return. If the group does not return on time then the Camp Manager to make contact with the group by runner and if this is not possible to organise a search and rescue team after informing Camp. Expedition members to be provided with training on what to do if they do get lost and how to avoid separations. M H All students and staff must stick to designated paths in the forest along which any potential hazards will be roped off. Handrails are installed where needed. All river crossings to be done with trained staff leading and where necessary the use of ropes H M Ensure that all staff and volunteers are told in advance to bring adequate supplies of malaria medication and that they start taking them at least one week before joining the expedition. All staff and volunteers to be informed that anti-malaria medication is only partially effective against malaria and that the first line of defence should be to cover up during the day and evening. Insect repellent should be worn than contains either 40% DEET or Mosiguard Natural which is a biodegradable product that has been clinically tested by the London School of Tropical Medicine and found to be just as effective as 40% DEET for up to 10 hours L M Ensure all staff and volunteers are told in advance to cover up as much as possible and the risks to pregnancy are fully explained. Advise all participants to avoid unprotected sex during and after expedition for a period of 28 days and to avoid attempting to get pregnant within this window. Attack from local people L H All camps and main base station are sufficiently far from local communities that the risk of attack from locals is extremely low. Besides the local community are the ones benefiting from the groups so all visitors are made to feel very welcome. 4
Insufficient Communication facilities L H The key to effective emergency planning is to ensure that there is adequate communications between the research base and rescue facilities. There is a satellite phone for communication between camps. In the case of emergency, the satellite phone will be used to contact the emergency services. Allergic reaction to food M H All participants to submit dietary and allergy information at least 3 months prior to the expedition. Camp managers to make kitchen staff aware of all relevant allergies. Where allergies are serious (e.g. severe nut allergies), no trigger foods to be prepared or served in camp whilst the relevant participant is on-site (e.g. a total nut ban). 2018 05 Trekking and wildlife surveys A fall resulting in serious bleeding or a bone fracture L H Ensuring that all staff and volunteers have footwear with good grip. Ensure volunteers are shown how to walk with stick as an aid when descending and ascending slopes. Ensuring that ropes are used when descending, climbing or traversing steep inclines. Ensuring that a Medical Officer with a First Aid kit is in close attendance and in radio contact or have a runner so that additional help can be summoned quickly. Ensuring that an evacuation plan is in position for each location in which the staff and volunteers will be Dehydration leading to death working. L VH Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are informed that this is a significant risk and that they drink 3 litres of water per day. Ensuring that all trek members carry sufficient water supplies for the duration of the trek. Ensuring that the Trek Leader stops every 30 minutes for the group to rest and checks for signs of dehydration or exhaustion. Snake bite VL H The main threat comes from pit-vipers, particularly the Fer de lance Bothrops asper as this one of the most aggressive of the snakes present in the area. There is a herpetologist in the camp and they are instructed to remove all venomous snakes encountered close to the camp or on the trails. If a snake is encountered then all must be treated as venomous and not approached. No volunteer is allowed to handle a snake and herpetologists are not allowed to bring venomous species back to camp to show volunteers. Volunteers must wear boots/wellingtons, long trousers and long-sleeved shirts when trekking through the forest. Staff and volunteers are advised to be particularly vigilant following rainfall as the 5
snakes are often forced out of their holes and rock crevices during these times. If a snake bite were to happen though the response is to apply a light pressure bandage, immobilise the patient and evacuate them to hospital. Anti-venom is readily available at all local hospitals, and the expedition leader will ensure that this is the checked prior to the expedition. Evacuation routes including use of helicopters and winches have been organised for each site so that the patient can be in hospital in a short period of time and the anti-venom administered under hospital conditions. Large cat attack L H All volunteers and staff to travel in small groups in the forest. The likelihood of this type of incident is extremely low. Small mammal or bat bite L H Only volunteers and staff who have received rabies injections to be allowed to handle bats and small mammals. Any volunteer or staff member bitten by a bat to be given booster rabies injections Bees and ants M M Trek leaders to identify any major hives and ensure trails avoid these areas Scorpions L M Ensure all volunteers and staff check their shoes before putting them on. Stinging plants M M Ensure all volunteers and staff are informed to try and avoid contact with plants Electrofishing accident M M The electrofishing equipment is built to the same standard as required by the UK water industry for all such surveys. The generator frame is isolated from the generator winding and the anodes have dead man switches so if anyone gets near to the current it can be stopped immediately. The current only works for about a metre around the anode. Handling fish M L Species captured may include those that stun prey using electric shocks. The fisheries scientist will do all handling of these species and will be wearing gloves throughout the process. Other species such as piranha can bite so again handling will be done wearing gloves. 2018 06 Night trekking and survey work Inappropriate site selection and planning L H Ensuring that only the Forest Operations Manager is allowed to approve site selection, which has to be free of the risk of flooding, becoming stranded on the far side of a swollen river and with a sufficiently rapid evacuation route available. Sites where radio or telephone contact cannot be maintained with emergency contacts cannot be used. Biodegradable waste to buried to a depth of not 6
less than 0.3m and 30m away from the river and non biodegradable waste to be collected and removed from the forest. Ensure no dead trees in the vicinity of the camp or any trees that look unstable and may fall on the camp during storm events. Serious cuts from machete use L H Volunteers only allowed to use machete after training by staff and must always cut away from the body. Expedition medical kit maintained at the base camp. Burns from cooking or fires L M Fuel stored away from fire. Care taken when moving pans of boiling oil or water. No fire left unattended. Stomach problems from poor sanitation M M In field camps boil all water for at least 10 minutes unless filtered water is available. Ensure all volunteers and staff members adhere to strict personal hygiene. 2018 07 Camp building and maintenance Not being able to see resulting in a fall H L Night surveys to be kept to a minimum and along designated forest trails, ensuring all staff and volunteers on night walks have a head torch or hand torch. Ensuring that staff members give a briefing including night-trekking techniques prior to the trek group's departure. Ensure that all safety precautions are taken in line with the control measures for trekking Bites and stings L M Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are advised to use their torches to identify any branches or parts of plants which could cause a danger to themselves or others in the trek group. Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are told not to approach any snakes or try to pick them up. Ensuring that the Medical officer is trained in the snake bite procedures. Ensuring that the Medical kit carries antihistamines and that treatment is available for anaphylactic shock. Ensuring that the groups of volunteers remain together at all times in the forest to dissuade attacks by any large cats or other animals. Ensuring all night time work is minimised as far as possible and a staff and volunteers told to keep a safe distance from any snakes encountered. 7
Drowning L VH Survey work will not involve river crossing and will not be conducted near deep water. All students must be accompanied by the trek leader, stay close together and only work is designated areas using a head torch. 2018 08 Santa Cruz Island general Getting lost L L All volunteers to be given a briefing and orientation about the camp site on arrival. No students are allowed to leave the Pajaor Brujo reserve unless accompanied by a staff member. RTA L L All vehicles in Santa Cruz move very slowly, and the volunteers are only transported by rented buses driven by professional drivers. Drowning or water related L H The schedule is so tight that there is no time allowed for unsupervised activities. incident outside of scheduled activities Attack from local L M All volunteers to be advised to keep their valuables in their tent or in a safe in the base nd not to walk around with large quantities of money. Fire L H Fire extinguishers are available in the campsite, and volunteers to be briefed where to assemble in the case of a fire. Sun-stroke/dehydration M M All volunteers to be briefed of the dangers of dehydration and the need for sunscreen and covering exposed skin, especially early in your stay and when you are on boats (when the wind makes it harder to feel the effect of the sun). All volunteers should have a minimum of 2 litres of water when on treks around the island, and at least a litre if on snorkel practicals at the beach. Illness from poor food hygiene Illness or injury needing immediate medical care L M All meals to be taken in the Pajoro Brujo campsite and the cooks are trained and briefed in food hygiene. Staff to check the facilities prior to the arrival of the volunteers so as to ensure good standards. All volunteers to be told to wash hands before meals, and good facilities to be made available to ensure that this is easy to do. M H There are excellent doctors and a small hospital within 15 minutes if where the students will be staying. Evacuation plans for more serious injuries that require evacuation to the mainland or repatriation to the 8
country of origin are in position and are described in the Medical and Evacuation plan. Allergic reaction to food M H All participants to submit dietary and allergy information at least 3 months prior to the expedition. Camp managers to make kitchen staff aware of all relevant allergies. Where allergies are serious (e.g. severe nut allergies), no trigger foods to be prepared or served in camp whilst the relevant participant is on-site (e.g. a total nut ban). 2018 09 Diving and snorkelling Accident underwater L H All Discover Scuba trainee divers are accompanied by a Dive Instructor in a maximum group size of 4. Those students who are completing the first two of their Open Water dives will be supervised by a Dive Instructor and Dive Master in a maximum group size of 8. Qualified divers after their check dive will be accompanied by a Dive Masters in a group size of no more than 6. Water visibility is normally round 40m and the group all stay together. Students can only dive twice in a day to a maximum depth of 12m if doing Discover Scuba or 18m if doing Open Water and with a maximum dive time of 50 minutes. They have to stop at 5m for 3 minutes on their way to the surface and the minimum surface interval time is 1.5 hours. If one of the students is in trouble then the Dive Master returns to the surface with them. If one of the divers gets into trouble the whole group returns to the surface. Running out of air VL H All divers have to indicate to their DM when they have reached 100 bar and they have to be at the surface with no less than 50 bar in their tanks. Air in and air out is recorded for all divers and if this rule is broken then the offender will be stopped from diving on the next dive. Being hit by a boat on the surface Stings or bites from marine species L VH All snorkelers have to be accompanied by a Dive Master or Rescue Diver who has to carry an inflatable orange marker buoy to alert boats there are people in the water. The whole team has to look up every 2 minutes for approaching boats and if there are boats in close proximity the snorkelling should be stopped. L M All in water activities are recommended to be done wearing full wetsuits and bootees or appropriate equipment (e.g. rash vests). Students are instructed not to touch any animals in the water and are fully briefed with a health and safety presentation. There are no high-risk venomous marine organisms in Ecuador but there are several species of jelly fish and coral which can cause discomfort. 9
Decompression sickness VL VH The dive protocols are more conservative than the safety limits set by PADI so there should never be a reason for a student to need recompression. However, if it is needed then the patient will be taken to the recompression chamber in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz (max travel time 30mins). The dive operators are to have enough oxygen to cover the travel time to the recompression chamber in chamber. Snorkellers or divers getting caught in heavy tides or surges and washed onto rocks or other dangerous areas Injury during entrance/exit from water M M Opwall supervisors to monitor the weather carefully, and in days of strong currents or surge, in-water activities to be aborted. There is a green/yellow/red flag system on the beaches around Santa Cruz to act as a guide (red flag means no swimming prohibited, yellow means swim with caution, green flag means swimming allowed). On supervised snorkels, the leader to ensure that all snorkelers are shown where to swim to avoid rocks or being caught in the stronger tides/currents. M M All dives are boat based, so controlled back rolls are usually used, which are to be carefully supervised by the dive staff. For snorkels, the entrance to the water can be rocky and some of the rocks are sharp (although not in the extreme). The group leader to instruct all students in how to enter and exit the water carefully, including walking in backwards whilst wearing fins, and to show them the suitable routes to do this. Snorkelling only to be permitted from agreed locations where there is a recognised entrance/exit point. 2018 10 Wildlife encounters on Santa Cruz Bitten by iguana L L All volunteers to be briefed not to touch the iguanas. They are very docile so would only bite if provoked by being handled or touched. Attacked by sea lion L H Volunteers to be warned to keep at least 2 metres away from the sea lions, and to keep an increased distance from any pups so as not to provoke the mothers. Shark attack L L Only small sharks are present in the waters around Santa Cruz (e.g. black tipped and white tipped reef sharks) and these are not aggressive. All volunteers to be advised never to try and touch any animals whilst under water with them. Stung by sting ray L M Volunteers to be advised to watch where they are placing their feet when wading into the water, and not to touch any animals whilst in the water. Cut or scratched by L L Volunteers to be advised of the type of vegetation which could cut or harm them (such as the cat s 10
vegetation claw tree with sharp thorns, and not to grab on to vegetation whilst moving around. 11