2.3 Rubber boots, or boots that fully cover the foot (not sandals!) and preferably are at least 10 inches (25 centimeters) high

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Vincent Dawson
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1 EMIA Snakes & Scrpins S3EMIA-313-ATT Hazard 1.1 Snakes have the ability t inject venm. A bite frm a venmus snake, which may inject varying degrees f txic venm, is rarely fatal but shuld always be cnsidered a medical emergency. 2.0 Persnal Prtective Equipment 2.1 Lng pants and shirts 2.2 Heavy glves if staff will be handling debris r be clse t the grund 2.3 Rubber bts, r bts that fully cver the ft (nt sandals!) and preferably are at least 10 inches (25 centimeters) high 2.4 Snake Chaps that cver at least the shin 2.5 Persnal first aid kit 3.0 Restrictins 3.1 Staff must nt wrk alne in areas where the risk f a snake encunter is high. 4.0 Safe Wrk Practice 4.1 Prir t ging int the field, staff shuld research the area and identify what species are present. Once cnfirmed, staff shuld cntact lcal hspitals t identify which carry anti-venm and include that infrmatin int the SH&E Plan and THA. 4.2 Staff wrking in areas knwn t be inhabited by venmus snakes shuld take extra precautins, be able t identify the lcal snake species, and understand the best practices fr administering first aid. 4.3 Preventin Befre venturing ut int the wilderness, familiarize yurself with the snakes in yur area, bth venmus and nn-venmus species Learn which habitats the venmus species in yur regin are likely t be encuntered in, and use cautin when in thse habitats Try as much as pssible nt t take a snake by surprise Stay n trails where pssible, and watch where yu place yur hands and feet, especially when climbing r stepping ver fences, large rcks, and lgs, r when cllecting firewd. Take care when verturning any bjects n the grund when in snake cuntry If yu see a snake, give it as much rm as pssible. Mst snakes have a strike distance that is nly half the length f their bdy If yu get very clse t a rattlesnake, hld very still until it calms dwn and starts t mve away. Then slwly mve backwards until yu are at least ne snake-bdy length away. PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 1 f 7

2 5.0 Treatment 5.1 Snake Bite First Aid Treatment: Prevent secnd bite r bite t first aider. ID snake if pssible. Remve all jewellery and tight clthing, minimize use f bitten extremity and place belw heart level. Splint if necessary t immbilize, d nt allw splint t becme a turniquet if swelling persists. Lightly cmpress the limb abve the bite, nt a turniquet, just light rlled bandage cmpressin Swab clean and keep swabs fr later testing. Clean with sap and water if available after swabbing. Bandage wund. DO NOT allw the persn t becme ver-exerted. If necessary, carry the persn t safety. DO NOT apply a turniquet. DO NOT apply cld cmpresses t a snake bite. DO NOT cut int a snake bite with a knife r razr. DO NOT try t suctin the venm by muth. DO NOT give the persn stimulants r pain medicatin unless instructed t d s by a dctr. DO NOT give the persn anything by muth. DO NOT raise the site f the bite abve the level f the persn's heart. 5.2 Sea Snake First Aid Treatment: As fr general first aid plus: Apply pressure immbilizatin f the bitten extremity as quickly as pssible because it may impede venm spread. Rapidly wrap the limb with a brad pressure bandage, starting at the wund site and extending as high up the extremity as pssible. The bandage shuld be wrapped t venus cclusive pressure in a manner similar t wrapping a sprained ankle. An extremity splint cmpletes the immbilizatin. Fingers r tes shuld remain pink, this is nt a turniquet! Pressure-immbilizatin is recmmended fr: sea snakes. 5.3 Wrkers in scrpin habitat have the ptential t be stung. Scrpins usually hide during the day and are active at night. They may be hiding under rcks, wd, r anything else lying n the grund. Sme species may als burrw int the grund. Mst scrpins live in dry, desert areas. Hwever, sme species can be fund in grasslands, frests, and inside caves. Wrkers shuld wear lngsleeves and pants. Clthing and shes shuld be shaken ut befre puttn n. Symptms f a scrpin sting may include: A stinging r burning sensatin at the injectin site (very little swelling r inflammatin) Cnvulsins Staggering gait Slurred speech Drling Muscle twitches PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 2 f 7

Abdminal pain and cramps 5.4 First Aid Treatment fr scrpin stings: Primary first aid fr scrpin stings is t reassure the victim wh will be suffering frm shck.

If pssible keep the site f the sting cld by placing it in iced water. Althugh fatalities are very rare, d seek medical help, particularly in the case f small children and invalids wh are mst at risk.

0 Species Cmmn adder The cmmn adder is a small true viper that has a shrt temper and ften strikes withut hesitatin. Its venm is hemtxic, destrying bld cells and causing tissue damage.

3 Abdminal pain and cramps 5.4 First Aid Treatment fr scrpin stings: Primary first aid fr scrpin stings is t reassure the victim wh will be suffering frm shck. Clean the wund and then try t islate it by immbilizing the sight f the sting. Use a firm supprting bandage but nt a turniquet, and hld the limb up t avid the venm ging directly t the heart. If pssible keep the site f the sting cld by placing it in iced water. Althugh fatalities are very rare, d seek medical help, particularly in the case f small children and invalids wh are mst at risk. In sme cases, anti-venm can be administered and these wrk well if given early enugh. Hwever, in ther cases a pain killer is all that can be given but recvery shuld be rapid. 6.0 Species Cmmn adder The cmmn adder is a small true viper that has a shrt temper and ften strikes withut hesitatin. Its venm is hemtxic, destrying bld cells and causing tissue damage. Mst injuries ccur t campers, hikers, and field wrkers. Lng-nsed adder Deaths have been recrded. Its venm is hemtxic, causing severe pain and massive tissue damage. The rate f survival is gd with medical aid. Ursini's viper They will readily strike when apprached. Their venm is hemtxic. Althugh rare, deaths frm the bites f these vipers have been recrded. PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 3 f 7

The Eurpean Hrn-Nsed Viper The venm has bth prtelytic and neurtxic cmpnents and cntains hemtxins with bld cagulant prperties, similar

Bites prmte symptms typical f viperid envenmatin, such as pain, swelling and disclratin, all f which may be immediate.

Arabian Cbra All species in the genus Naja are capable f delivering a fatal bite in a human.

causes swelling, necrsis and has a significant anticagulant effect.

4 The Eurpean Hrn-Nsed Viper The venm has bth prtelytic and neurtxic cmpnents and cntains hemtxins with bld cagulant prperties, similar t and as pwerful as in crtalid venm. Other prperties include anticagulant effects, hemcncentratin and hemrrhage. Bites prmte symptms typical f viperid envenmatin, such as pain, swelling and disclratin, all f which may be immediate. There are als reprts f dizziness and tingling. Arabian Cbra All species in the genus Naja are capable f delivering a fatal bite in a human. Mst species have strngly neurtxic venm, which attacks the nervus system, causing paralysis, but many als have a hemtxic feature which causes swelling, necrsis and has a significant anticagulant effect. Hrned Sand Viper A ptentially dangerus snake, having large venm injectin fangs at the frnt f its muth. The pisn is ptent and the bite leaves tw distinct puncture marks in the skin. Persian Hrned Viper Its venm exhibits strng hemrrhagic activity typical f mst vipers. PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 4 f 7

Saw Scaled Viper Envenmatin results in lcal symptms as well as severe systemic symptms that may prve fatal.

In very bad cases the swelling may extend up the entire affected limb within 12-24 hurs and blisters frm n the

and defibrinatin which may persist fr days t weeks.

The latter classically ccurs a few days fllwing the bite.

Relapses may ccur lng after the bite. Arabian Gulf sea snake It is dangerus and a bite can be fatal.

5 Saw Scaled Viper Envenmatin results in lcal symptms as well as severe systemic symptms that may prve fatal. Lcal symptms include swelling and pain, which appear within minutes f a bite. In very bad cases the swelling may extend up the entire affected limb within hurs and blisters frm n the skin. Carpet Vipers Mst f these species have venm that cntains factrs that can cause a cnsumptin cagulpathy and defibrinatin which may persist fr days t weeks. This may result in bleeding anywhere in the bdy, including the pssibility f an intracranial hemrrhage. The latter classically ccurs a few days fllwing the bite. Mle Viper r Burrwing Asp Is venmus and will bite sme can inflict severe tissue necrsis e.g. if the victim's thumb is bitten, the tip f that digit may be lst. Relapses may ccur lng after the bite. Arabian Gulf sea snake It is dangerus and a bite can be fatal. Yellw Sea Snake Is reputably aggressive. The bite ptentially fatal. The venm is highly txic and capable f causing death within a few hurs PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 5 f 7

Andrctnus crassicauda Victims f stings feel a sharp pain fllwed by numbness, drwsiness and an itching f the thrat.

If large amunts f venm have entered the bld system, difficulties in c-rdinatin arise and bdy temperature increases while the prductin f saliva and urine are reduced.

Andrctnus pterygcercus The venm f all buthid species cntains pwerful and dangerus neurtxins. Andrctnus australis This is ne f the wrld s mst dangerus scrpins, with very ptent venm.

6 Andrctnus crassicauda Victims f stings feel a sharp pain fllwed by numbness, drwsiness and an itching f the thrat. This can be accmpanied by excessive saliva and the tngue becmes sluggish with the jaw muscles cntracted. If large amunts f venm have entered the bld system, difficulties in c-rdinatin arise and bdy temperature increases while the prductin f saliva and urine are reduced. Tuch and sight can be affected, with sensitivity t strng light. There may als be hemrrhages and cnvulsins with increasing severity. Andrctnus pterygcercus The venm f all buthid species cntains pwerful and dangerus neurtxins. Andrctnus australis This is ne f the wrld s mst dangerus scrpins, with very ptent venm. The symptms f its sting resemble strychnine pisning. 6.1 Snake Bite First Aid Treatment: Prevent secnd bite r bite t first aider. ID snake if pssible. Remve all jewellery and tight clthing, minimize use f bitten extremity and place belw heart level. Splint if necessary t immbilize, d nt allw splint t becme a turniquet if swelling persists. Lightly cmpress the limb abve the bite, nt a turniquet, just light rlled bandage cmpressin Swab clean and keep swabs fr later testing. Clean with sap and water if available after swabbing. Bandage wund. DO NOT allw the persn t becme ver-exerted. If necessary, carry the persn t safety. DO NOT apply a turniquet. DO NOT apply cld cmpresses t a snake bite. PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 6 f 7

7 DO NOT cut int a snake bite with a knife r razr. DO NOT try t suctin the venm by muth. DO NOT give the persn stimulants r pain medicatin unless instructed t d s by a dctr. DO NOT give the persn anything by muth. DO NOT raise the site f the bite abve the level f the persn's heart. 6.2 Sea Snake First Aid Treatment: As fr general first aid plus: Apply pressure immbilizatin f the bitten extremity as quickly as pssible because it may impede venm spread. Rapidly wrap the limb with a brad pressure bandage, starting at the wund site and extending as high up the extremity as pssible. The bandage shuld be wrapped t venus cclusive pressure in a manner similar t wrapping a sprained ankle. An extremity splint cmpletes the immbilizatin. Fingers r tes shuld remain pink, this is nt a turniquet! Pressure-immbilizatin is recmmended fr: sea snakes. PRINTED COPIES ARE UNCONTROLLED. CONTROLLED COPY IS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY INTRANET. Page 7 f 7

Safe Work Method Statement. Mouse Blood Collection

Safe Work Method Statement. Mouse Blood Collection Flinders University Safe Wrk Methd Statement Muse Bld Cllectin Versin 6 Cllege f Medicine and Public Health Animal Facility SWMS Number RA Number RA Scre Cntents The SOP Muse Bld Cllectin cntains the fllwing