Health & Safety+

Biosecurity

H&S: Risk Assessment

• Know where you are going• Carry out a Risk Assessment

– day and/or night visits?– Identify hazards on your route

and at your survey site• Use a “survey buddy”

– agree check-in times, contact details

– Carry a mobile phone

H&S: Some considerations

• Follow advice provided (see sheets)• Safety of area• Adder bites and other medical issues• Weather (cold/wet/heat/sun)• Terrain (rough ground, steep ponds)• Other animals!?• Site hazards (tanks, bikes, guns, broken

glass etc.)

H&S: Ponds

• ALL PONDS should be regarded as a potential source of disease

• Do not immerse open cuts• Don’t eat, drink or smoke• Wear suitable gloves where possible and

anyway wash hands after surveying• Consider your impact on the pond!

Biosecurity: amphibian diseases

• Amphibians are in decline – globally• Diseases are contributory

– chytrid fungus– Ranavirus (red leg)

• Change or clean ALL equipment between ponds >1km apart– vehicle tyres?– nets and equipment– boots and clothing

Biosecurity: amphibian diseases

Beware of high risk sites:

• Has amphibian disease has been reported in the area?

• Are non-native species present?

Biosecurity: cleaning

• Veterinary disinfectants can be used

• 4% bleach spray may be more practical

• Helps prevent other problems….

Biosecurity: invasive plants

• Several species of alien aquatic plants alter pond ecology and can cause loss of amphibians, other wildlife… and the pond!

• Crassula (stonecrop)• Parrot’s feather• Azolla (water fern)• Other garden centre invasives!

Biosecurity: invasive plants

Crassula

Biosecurity: invasive plants

Parrot’s feather

Biosecurity: invasive plants

Azolla

Biosecurity: invasive plants

All three!!!

H&S: One last thing…

• Consider insurance…– ARC (where volunteer agreement – for volunteer

surveys only!)– ARG-UK– Wildlife Trust etc. (your employer?)

• A trained volunteer who has signed an ARC volunteer agreement can be accredited for protected species survey.

Photographs

• Photographs used in this presentation are by Ben Driver, Chris Gleed-Owen, Fred Holmes, Phyl King, John Robinson, Will Watson and John Wilkinson

• Copyright of all photographs remains with the photographers and ARC.

• These photographs should not be used for purposes other than NARRS training without the permission of the photographers.