For recreational safety on the coast see the Coastal Code. The following points cover work precautions.
- Have a suitable first aid kit on hand at the work site.
- All volunteers should be immunized against tetanus.
- Coastal work sites are usually very exposed. Conditions may be deceiving, so take care to avoid sunburn, heat exhaustion and wind chill. Use lotion before the first signs of burning. If you start to feel dizzy, rest in the shade with a drink. A hot drink, which cools the body by increasing perspiration and evaporative heat loss, refreshes more than a cold drink. Wear a hat. Take a change of clothing if working in wet conditions. In cold weather, have lunch and tea breaks in the lee of a dune or belt of scrub to get out of the wind.
- Tools are hazardous when used in water or in slippery, muddy conditions. Keep a safe distance from other people, even when working in a team. Avoid using edged tools in wet conditions, particularly where visibility is limited by tall vegetation.
- Your back and knees are under great stress in all heavy clearance work. Sand is deceptively heavy, especially when wet, so be very careful when shovelling and lifting. Do all heavy lifting with the back as straight as possible, bending from the knees to take the strain on the leg muscles. When shifting a pile of earth or sand, shovel from the bottom of the pile.
When carrying a heavy shovel load, swing it around to the hip as shown below. This reduces strain on the back and allows you to empty the load with a turn of the wrist.
- Wear adequate foot gear: mud and sand disguise glass, rusty tins, shell fragments and thorny plants even on the cleanest coastlines.
- Take care when crossing mud or sand flats and salt marshes. Try to avoid drainage channels and other depressions. Always travel with at least one other person unless you know the area intimately. Deep mud is the usual hazard. Quicksand is rare but does occur in certain areas. If you stumble into it, try to fall onto your back with your limbs outstretched and ‘swim’ to safety.
- Do not drive a vehicle onto the foreshore or tidal flats unless you are certain it is safe. Cars are easily trapped when they try to cross ‘fulls’ (raised undulations) on otherwise firm beaches, where they may sink up to their hubs. Crests of fulls are best crossed where they are cut by shallow channels. Always seek expert local advice before venturing out into silty or muddy areas, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Never drive into dune areas except on hardened tracks. Not only are you likely to get stuck, you may severely damage the soil and vegetation as well.
When driving a Land Rover across the foreshore or an area of blown sand, select the appropriate gear before venturing onto the soft terrain. Second gear in low ratio is often right. Drive at a steady speed and moderate revs (you may stall at low revs and spin if they are too high). Do not stop until you are across the area, since if you do the wheels may spin as the clutch engages when starting up again. Always carry shovels and, if the vehicle is fitted with a capstan winch, carry a sturdy rope and a 1.5m (5′) fence post for use as a ‘dead man’ when winching. You may have to lower tyre pressure to ’emergency soft’ to drive over such areas. - Take extra care when working alongside large machinery. The operator is unlikely to hear or see you, so watch out for him. Wear a protective helmet. Work out signals in advance when directing the operator from a distance. Never hang onto the cab or the cab door of the machine when in use.
- It is best to avoid working at a cliff foot, for fear of rock falls or earth slips. Wear a safety helmet if such work is essential. Never work under an overhang. Do not work within 6m (20′) of a cliff edge unless absolutely necessary, eg to complete the end of a strip of fencing or to remove dangerous or unsightly debris. If you do have to work near the edge, follow these precautions:
- Check the amount of undercutting before starting work.
- Rope off a ‘no go’ area towards the edge, using rope or bunting, to warn other workers and passers-by.
- Tie a rope, shorter than the distance to the edge, to a secure support (eg a stake or tree) with the other end around your waist. Use bowline knots at both ends.
