The hook
Surveyors work near traffic, heavy equipment, snakes, weather, ladders, rough terrain. Safety isn't bureaucracy — it's how you go home with all your fingers. The essentials: signage, PPE, traffic control, and basic first aid.
Memorize these
Concepts that show up on the exam
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment. Hard hat, safety vest (high-vis ANSI Class 2 minimum), safety glasses, steel-toe boots, gloves. Job-site dependent.
MUTCD
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Federal standard for signs, cones, flaggers in roadway work zones. Required for any work in or near traffic.
Work zone classification
Long duration (>3 days), short duration (<3 days), short-term stationary (<1 hour), mobile. Different signage and flagger requirements per type.
Confined space
A space large enough to enter, with limited entry/egress, not designed for continuous occupancy. Manholes, tanks, vaults. Requires permit + atmospheric monitoring + retrieval system.
Fall protection
OSHA: required at 6 ft above lower level for general industry. Surveyors on roofs, ledges, deep cuts must use harness + anchor.
First aid kit
Required on every survey crew. Should include: bandages, antiseptic, snake-bite kit (in snake country), tourniquet, eye-wash, emergency contacts.
Heat stress / cold stress
OSHA-recognized hazards. Hydration, breaks, rotating crews in extreme weather. Heatstroke can kill in hours; hypothermia can kill before you notice.
Don't fall for these
What trips people up
Skipping the high-vis vest near roadways
Surveyor fatalities in work zones happen every year. ANSI Class 2 vest + hard hat is the legal minimum next to traffic. No exceptions.
Working alone without check-in
One-person field crews are common. They REQUIRE a check-in protocol — texting the office at fixed intervals, sharing GPS location. A surveyor who falls in a remote area without check-in is on their own.
Underestimating snake / wildlife risk
In snake country, treat every step as if a snake is there. Tall boots, snake gaiters in season, first aid + emergency contact ready. Bee/wasp allergies are deadly within minutes — know your crew.
Test yourself
How well did it stick?
A quick 5-question check on Safety. See where you stand and what to review.