A party working on a highway where vehicular traffic is proceeding is in great danger of being struck. Every motion made by a member of such a party must be made with a continuing, full awareness that vehicular traffic is, in fact, proceeding as usual. The dangers of the situation should be minimized as much as possible by the following measures as well as by others that some situations may require.

Work should be scheduled as much as possible to take place during those hours when traffic is slack. Work during "rush hour" on a metropolitan highway, for instance, could be so dangerous as not to be a practical endeavor. Adequate traffic warning signs, such as "Men Working," "Drive Slowly," "Single Lane Ahead," and the like, should be placed where they will be most effective in warning drivers and, if possible, in detouring traffic away from the field party. If detouring requires two-way traffic on a single lane, a flagman has to be posted at each end of the lane.

Signs, barriers, and equipment in use, such as instruments, targets, and the like, should be made as conspicuous as possible by the attachment of bright-colored bunting. Personnel should also make themselves as conspicuous as possible by wearing orange-colored shirts, vests, or jackets. One last word of advice may seem inconsistent with your standards about what constitutes proper performance of duty. Suppose you are functioning as an instrumentman with a party on a highway, and you suddenly observe that a car out of control is bearing down on the instrument at high speed. You will have a strong impulse to attempt to rescue the instrument. Do NOT do this if it could result in death or injury to yourself.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF A SURVEY CREW

Other tasks that you might perform as a survey crew member include the maintenance of various surveying equipment and accessories, preparation of the field partys essential needs, field sanitation, and the conducting of prestart checks and operators maintenance of government survey vehicles.

MAINTAINING SURVEYING EQUIPMENT

Generally, the maintenance of surveying equipment and accessories involves proper cleaning and stowage. For example, steel tapes, brush hooks, axes, chain saws, and so forth, must be cleaned and dried and, if necessary, a thin coat of oil applied after each days work before they are stored for the night. Never stow any surveying gear (especially if made of ferrous material) without checking it thoroughly to make sure it is clean and dryparticularly steel tapes. The reason for this is that, in the SEABEEs, we have a multitude of jobs done under variable conditions. Suppose that today you are sent to a job that does not require the same equipment you used yesterday and failed to clean. You are kept on this job for a few days. There is a good chance that the equipment you used the first day will be rusty when you return to use it again.

Remember that you are liable for payment for any loss of government property caused by your own negligence.

You will be required to sharpen surveying clearing tools, replace any broken handles, especially those on sledgehammers, and do many other things. For delicate equipment, consult the manufacturers handbook or other applicable publications before you attempt any servicing or cleaning, and, if necessary, ask your senior EA to explain the correct procedure to follow.