Safety: Insects, Animals, Plants, and Hazardous Materials
The site is a workplace, not a park
Inspectors spend hours in tall grass, near water, and around heavy equipment, so hazard awareness is part of the job, not an interruption of it. Before you leave the truck, know the site's traffic pattern, the location of the spill kit and first-aid kit, and where the Safety Data Sheets are kept.
Biological hazards
Ticks carry Lyme and other diseases; wear light-colored long sleeves and pants, use repellent, stay on mowed paths, and do a full-body tick check at the end of the day. Bees and wasps nest in pipe ends, valve boxes, and sediment basin risers - look before you reach. Mosquitoes near standing water in basins and traps are both a nuisance and a disease vector. Watch for snakes (especially near warm rock and dense vegetation), free-roaming dogs, livestock, and ground-nesting birds. Learn the poisonous plants: poison ivy, oak, and sumac (leaves of three), and giant hogweed, whose sap plus sunlight causes severe burns. Wash exposed skin and clothing after contact.
Hazardous materials and physical hazards
Fuels, oils, wet concrete (caustic burns), silica dust from cutting, welding fumes, and confined spaces such as inlets, vaults, and basins all appear on construction sites. Never enter a confined space without training, atmospheric testing, and a rescue plan. Do not attempt spill cleanup beyond your training - secure, notify, and document. In traffic, wear high-visibility clothing, park so you never have to back up, make eye contact with operators, and never walk behind equipment.
Rule of thumb: build a 15-minute end-of-day routine - tick check, hand wash, photo download, and a quick note of any exposure.