SURVEYING LABORATORY SAFETY RULES

Safety is a top priority in any laboratory setting, including a surveying laboratory. Here are some essential
safety rules and guidelines to follow:
General Safety Rules:
1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
 Always wear appropriate PPE, such as safety glasses, a hard hat, high-visibility clothing, gloves,
and steel-toed boots when required.
2. Training:
 Ensure that all personnel are adequately trained in surveying techniques and laboratory
equipment operation before conducting any experiments.
3. Emergency Procedures:
 Familiarize yourself with the location of emergency exits, first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and eye-
wash stations. Know how to use them.
4. Hazard Communication:
 Be aware of chemical hazards in the laboratory. Label and store chemicals properly, and
understand the safety data sheets (SDS) for each chemical.
5. Equipment Inspection:
 Regularly inspect and maintain surveying instruments and equipment. Report any damaged or
malfunctioning equipment to supervisors.
6. No Eating or Drinking:
 Do not consume food or beverages in the laboratory area to prevent contamination or accidental
ingestion of hazardous materials.
Field Work Safety Rules:
1. Traffic Safety:
 When conducting fieldwork near roadways, wear high-visibility clothing and set up warning signs
and cones to alert drivers.
2. Site Inspection:
 Prior to fieldwork, inspect the site for potential hazards, such as unstable terrain, overhead
obstacles, or wildlife.
3. Weather Considerations:
 Be prepared for changing weather conditions. Carry appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and
hydration for outdoor work.
4. Safety Briefings:
 Conduct safety briefings before each field activity to discuss potential hazards and safety
procedures.
Instrument Safety:
1. Tripod Safety:
 Secure tripods and ensure they are stable before mounting surveying instruments. Use
sandbags or other weights if necessary.
2. Leveling Instruments:
 When using leveling instruments, avoid sudden movements that could cause the instrument to
fall or become unlevel.
3. Total Station Safety:
 Handle Total Stations with care to prevent damage to delicate components. Use protective
covers when transporting.
4. Battery Safety:
 Follow proper procedures for charging and storing batteries. Do not short-circuit or expose
batteries to extreme heat.
Data Collection and Recording:
1. Data Integrity:
 Double-check all measurements and data entries to ensure accuracy before leaving the field or
laboratory.
2. Record Keeping:
 Maintain detailed records of all field and laboratory activities, including observations,
measurements, and instrument calibrations.
Environmental and Ethical Considerations:
1. Environmental Impact:
 Minimize environmental impact by avoiding damage to vegetation, soil, and wildlife during
fieldwork.
2. Respect Property Rights:
 Obtain necessary permissions to access private property and respect landowners' rights.

Remember, safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone working in the surveying laboratory must be
vigilant and proactive in identifying and addressing potential hazards to ensure a safe and productive
work environment.
 Introduction to Lab Procedure

I. Introduction

Most of the tasks will be carried out in the field is in this lab. In your field book, a record of each
field assignment is kept. Your field book must be kept neat and tidy, as it will be regularly gathered
and assessed throughout the quarter.
II. Objectives

a. After completion of this course the student should be able to:

Your field book shall include your name and group information on the first single page and a table of
contents on the next page.
PENCIL ONLY, PREFERABLY Mongol 2 PENCIL

Each field book entry shall include, at minimum, the following information:
1. Group Name and Number
2. Page Number
3. Laboratory title
4. Field Measurement
5. Calculation
6. Weather Condition
7. Date of Fieldwork
8. Field Survey Party
9. Procedure
10. List of Equipment use
11. Sketch (including, at min.: north arrow, scale or indicate not to scale, use straight edge for lines,
adequate information to show the location of work).
12. Signature of each member
Note: The consistency, completeness and correctness of your field book is primarily the basis of your final
grade in this class.
A. Survey Party
The following is a list of persons who may compose a field survey party. Their duties and responsibilities
are given:
1. Chief party – The person who is responsible for the survey party's overall direction, supervision,
and operational control. He / She is also responsible for a field survey operation 's logistical and
technological specifications and problems.
2. Assistant Chief Party – the person whose duty is to assist the chief party and takes over the
survey party during the absence of the chief.
3. Instrument Man- The person who is to set up, level and operate surveying instruments such as
the transit, engineer’s level, theodolites and etc. He/ She responsible for checking the instrument
to make sure that the instrument to be used in the field work operation is working properly.
4. Technician- the person who is responsible for use and operation of all electronic Instrument
required in a field work operation.
5. Recorder- the person whose duty is to keep a record of all sketches, drawings, measurements
and observation taken or needed for a fieldwork operation.
 6. Head Tape man – the person who is responsible for the accuracy and speed of all linear
measurements with tape.
7. Rear Tape man – the person whose duty is to assist the head tape man during taping operations
and in other related work.
8. Flagman- the person whose duty is to hold the flagpole or range pole at selected points as
directed by the instrument man.
9. Rodman- The person whose duty is to hold the stadia rod or leveling rod when sights are to be
taken on it.
Note: A chief party should be appointed for each lab assignment. The Crew Chief will be in charge of that
particular lab and will be responsible for checking out and returning the equipment at the end of the lab
session.
B. Survey Equipment:
Equipment for each lab assignment will be checked out at the beginning of the lab and checked back in
when the assignment is finished. Some important things to remember about the use and care of the
equipment are as follows:
1. Much of the equipment we will use is very expensive and quite sensitive, great care should be taken to
protect the equipment from damage.
2. Instruments should be transported in their cases when taken to and from the field. These instruments
may be carried on the tripod from station to station as long as they are held vertically at all times.
3. Steel tapes should be straightened out prior to being wound onto their reels. Care should be taken so
that the tapes do not kink, bend or snap.
4. Malfunctioning equipment should be reported to the instructor.