PLANNING YOUR TRIP

All crew members must know the plan. The crew will meet as a group to discuss specific route(s) to follow and what possible hazards may be encountered. The standard Safety Task Analysis (STA) will be discussed and filled out at this time. Now is when everyone should ask questions and determine exactly what they should do and where they should meet if anything goes wrong. Everyone needs to know where to meet if groups become separated – following tracks, meeting at a drill rig, etc.

It is important to follow the planned route so that you can be found if a breakdown or trouble develops.

The specific tasks to be accomplished that day should be discussed. There is a job to be done, and input from all crew members is needed at this point so that everyone’s understanding is assured.

The Party Chief or other designated crewman will call the office with the crew's plan. This report will include the time that the crew expects to finish work and when to be back at the truck. Contingencies for not meeting proposed timing will be discussed and agreed upon. The office has to know when to start worrying and when to send out assistance. (Cell phone coverage increases every year up on the Slope and hopefully soon, cell phones will allow for full-time communication between the field crews and the office.)

When working from snowmachines, two machines are the minimum (the buddy system) and three are preferred. If we are working more than five miles from the survey van, a Tucker snowcat or other track vehicle will be used to support the operation. Having a warm snowcat to take breaks in, or go to in emergencies, is a vital part of safe operations in the harsh arctic environment.