1st July 2004, 02:36 PM
You might be weak-kneed as a consequence of your archaeological labours!
However, you have raised a serious issue. Has anyone heard anything out of SCAUM? They used to send round H&S stuff. Last I heard from them they sent an empty folder entitled 'Health and Safety in Field Archaeology' with the promise of contents to follow, that was in early 2003 and they never have! In any case the old SCAUM manual does not really cover manual handling and trowel injuries.
Much anecdotal evidence of bad backs, bad knees, arthritis etc. Those of us who work with standing buildings as part of our archaeological repertoire will certainly have been exposed to asbestos regardless of any provisions in 'documentation', which will kick in in another 30 years. Some truly bizarre and appalling accidents on site, and two deaths that I am aware of in the last twelve years (although in fairness one of these was not directly related to H&S on site).
And the stress of the job makes it rather difficult to give up booze and fags - I wonder if sclerosis of the liver and emphesymia are above average in the archaeological population?
However, you have raised a serious issue. Has anyone heard anything out of SCAUM? They used to send round H&S stuff. Last I heard from them they sent an empty folder entitled 'Health and Safety in Field Archaeology' with the promise of contents to follow, that was in early 2003 and they never have! In any case the old SCAUM manual does not really cover manual handling and trowel injuries.
Much anecdotal evidence of bad backs, bad knees, arthritis etc. Those of us who work with standing buildings as part of our archaeological repertoire will certainly have been exposed to asbestos regardless of any provisions in 'documentation', which will kick in in another 30 years. Some truly bizarre and appalling accidents on site, and two deaths that I am aware of in the last twelve years (although in fairness one of these was not directly related to H&S on site).
And the stress of the job makes it rather difficult to give up booze and fags - I wonder if sclerosis of the liver and emphesymia are above average in the archaeological population?