Health and Archaeology

[Wax]

I have been a non smoker all my life but this is mainly because I was asthmatic. When I took up archaeology the pull of the social fag was alomost iresistible. Fortunately I did not succumb, as I get older the number of my contemporaries and those slightly older who have been taken by lung cancer is ever increasing. Of family and friends who have gone cancer has been the biggest killer with lung cancer outrunning all the others. It's pretty depressing. I think I'd better take up kite flying (a non archaeologist friend of mine went to one of John's talks and was very impressed by it)

[Keaya]

Safety hazards in the field include dangers related to the use of heavy equipment (particularly backhoes), the use of power and hand tools, work in trenches and excavations (including encounters with underground utilities), underwater work and the use of boats, work along transects and on steep slopes, and work in inclement weather.

[Dinosaur]

100% smoking workforce where I was last week. One of those does, in fact, own an E-fag, but seems to have gone back to rollies so high-tech may not be the solution? Are E-fags waterproof? And how long does one last between charges?

[John Wells]

Lung Cancer statistics: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-h...wgodRB4ASg

[Mike.T.]

Yet to see an archaeologist smoking an I-fag by the way, but its probably only a matter of time.....

Seen quite a few archaeologists smoking them. They usually go back to the real thing after about 2 days.

Of course back in the 1980's smoking on site was compulsory, as was going to the pub at lunchtime and returning to work having had a skinful.

How times have changed ....

[kevin wooldridge]

Actually saw a few folk at TAG conference smoking these things....decided at least one was a student so not sure if that is just a phase they are going through....

[cosmin]

Of course it can be hazardous to your health: Nazis shooting, rolling boulders, crazy murderous locals, snake pits, booby traps and all that... Serious question: Have there been cases of actual booby traps found or even functioning booby traps?

[Dinosaur]

What, like the steel grid pin located in the bottom of a water-filled feature that went through my welly a few years back? Yeah, sure, sites are covered in booby traps, its what you do when the archaeology's boring/absent }

[John Wells]

Has anyone encountered any eczema-like skin conditions associated with working on sites?

[Dinosaur]

Suspect that people with such complaints rapidly find another line of work? Like people prone to infected cuts?