PS Exam Preparation

Comprehensive preparation for the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam. 5 modules covering all 5 exam domains with 50 in-depth topics.

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Lesson 4

Safety Procedures

Learning Objectives

After completing this topic, you should be able to:

Identify OSHA requirements applicable to surveying operations
Develop site-specific safety plans and hazard assessments
Apply traffic control principles for roadway work zones
Explain the 811 utility locating process and legal requirements
Specify appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for various field conditions
Recognize environmental, biological, and site-specific hazards
Understand employer and employee safety responsibilities

Overview

Field surveying is inherently hazardous work. Surveyors operate in active construction zones, along busy roadways, in remote terrain, and near underground and overhead utilities. OSHA statistics consistently rank construction-related activities among the most dangerous occupations. The PS exam tests your knowledge of safety regulations, hazard assessment, and risk mitigation procedures -- not as a secondary concern, but as a core professional competency.

A surveyor who cannot manage field safety risks is not qualified to manage a survey project.

OSHA Regulatory Framework

Federal OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets minimum safety standards for all workplaces. Key regulations affecting surveying:

Standard	Citation	Application
General Duty Clause	Section 5(a)(1)	Employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards
Construction Standards	29 CFR 1926	Applies when surveying on construction sites
General Industry Standards	29 CFR 1910	Applies to office operations and non-construction field work
Excavation Standard	29 CFR 1926 Subpart P	Trenching and excavation safety
Fall Protection	29 CFR 1926 Subpart M	Protection from falls over 6 feet
Electrical Safety	29 CFR 1926 Subpart K	Working near energized conductors
Hazard Communication	29 CFR 1910.1200	Chemical exposure information

State OSHA Programs

Twenty-two states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved programs. These must be at least as stringent as federal OSHA and may impose additional requirements. Surveyors must comply with whichever standard is more protective.

Employer Responsibilities

Under OSHA, employers must:

Provide a safe workplace free from recognized hazards
Comply with all applicable OSHA standards
Provide safety training appropriate to job hazards
Provide required PPE at no cost to employees
Maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses (OSHA 300 Log)
Post required OSHA notices in the workplace
Report fatalities within 8 hours and hospitalizations within 24 hours

Employee Responsibilities

Employees must:

Comply with all applicable safety rules and regulations
Use provided PPE properly
Report hazardous conditions to the employer
Report work-related injuries and illnesses
Not tamper with safety devices or equipment

Hazard Assessment

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

A Job Hazard Analysis is a systematic process for identifying and mitigating worksite hazards before work begins:

Step	Action	Example
1. Identify tasks	List the tasks to be performed	Monument search in roadway median
2. Identify hazards	For each task, identify potential hazards	Traffic, overhead lines, underground utilities
3. Assess risk	Rate likelihood and severity	High-speed traffic = high likelihood, severe consequence
4. Determine controls	Identify measures to eliminate or reduce risk	Traffic control plan, lane closure, high-visibility apparel
5. Document	Record the JHA and communicate to all crew members	Written JHA reviewed at tailgate meeting

Figure PS.4.6 — Hierarchy of Safety Controls

Hierarchy of Controls

OSHA's hierarchy of controls, from most effective to least effective:

Level	Control Type	Surveying Example
1. Elimination	Remove the hazard entirely	Schedule work when roadway is closed
2. Substitution	Replace with a less hazardous alternative	Use GNSS instead of total station to reduce time in traffic
3. Engineering controls	Isolate workers from the hazard	Traffic barriers, delineators, temporary barriers
4. Administrative controls	Change work practices	Limit time in hazard zone, buddy system, training
5. PPE	Protect the individual worker	High-visibility vest, hard hat, safety glasses

PPE is the last resort, not the first. Effective safety programs address hazards at the highest feasible level.

Tailgate Safety Meetings

Before each day of field work, the party chief should conduct a brief safety meeting covering:

Specific hazards at the day's work site
Traffic control plan (if applicable)
PPE requirements
Emergency procedures and contact numbers
Communication protocols
Weather conditions and precautions
Any changes from previous days

Traffic Control

Work Zone Components

Per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), work zones consist of four areas:

Zone	Purpose	Elements
Advance Warning Area	Alert approaching motorists	Warning signs at prescribed spacing
Transition Area	Guide traffic around the work area	Tapers using cones, barrels, or delineators
Activity Area	Protect workers and equipment	Buffer space plus work space
Termination Area	Return traffic to normal patterns	End construction signs, taper

Taper Lengths

Taper length depends on posted speed and lane width:

Speed Limit	Minimum Taper Length (per lane)
25 mph	75 feet
35 mph	175 feet
45 mph	360 feet
55 mph	540 feet
65 mph	720 feet

Actual taper lengths should be calculated using the MUTCD formula: L = (speed squared) / 60 for speeds above 40 mph, or L = width x speed / 2 for speeds at or below 40 mph.

Surveyor-Specific Traffic Control

Surveying operations present unique traffic control challenges:

Mobile operations -- Surveyors frequently move along roadways, making fixed work zones impractical
Short-duration occupancy -- A few minutes at each setup does not justify full lane closure
Shoulder work -- Often the only practical location for control points and boundary monuments

Minimum protection for mobile operations:

Vehicle-mounted warning signs or arrow boards
Vehicle emergency flashers
High-visibility apparel (Class 2 minimum; Class 3 for high-speed roads)
Shadow vehicle positioned upstream of work area
Rotating beacon or strobe lights on survey vehicles

Flagger Operations

When flaggers are required:

Must be trained and certified (in most jurisdictions)
Must wear Class 3 high-visibility apparel
Must use STOP/SLOW paddle (minimum 18 inches)
Must be positioned with adequate sight distance
Must have an escape route

Underground Utility Locating

The 811 System

The national 811 "Call Before You Dig" system is the primary mechanism for preventing underground utility damage:

Step	Action	Timing
1. Call 811	Contact the one-call center	At least 2-3 business days before excavation (varies by state)
2. Provide information	Location, type of work, extent of excavation	At time of call
3. Receive ticket	Confirmation number for tracking	Immediately
4. Wait for marks	Utility owners mark their facilities	Within the notification period
5. Respect marks	Hand dig within the tolerance zone	During excavation

Utility Marking Standards (APWA Uniform Color Code)

Color	Utility Type
Red	Electric power lines, conduit, cables
Yellow	Gas, oil, steam, petroleum
Orange	Communications, alarm, signal lines, cable TV
Blue	Potable water
Green	Sewer and storm drain
Purple	Reclaimed water, irrigation
Pink	Temporary survey markings
White	Proposed excavation outline

Surveyor Applicability

Surveyors must call 811 when:

Setting monuments that require excavation below the surface
Driving posts or pipes deeper than typical stake depth
Core drilling or augering for monument installation
Any subsurface disturbance that could contact utilities

Tolerance Zone

The tolerance zone is the area around a marked utility within which hand digging (or other careful methods) is required. Typical tolerance zones are 18-24 inches on either side of the mark, but this varies by state.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Minimum PPE by Work Environment

Environment	Required PPE
Active construction site	Hard hat, safety glasses, high-visibility vest, safety-toe boots
Roadway work zone	High-visibility apparel (Class 2 or 3), safety glasses
General field work	Appropriate footwear, sun protection, seasonal clothing
Near water	Personal flotation device (PFD) when working from boats or near deep water
Near heavy equipment	Hard hat, hearing protection, high-visibility apparel
Confined spaces	Atmospheric monitoring, retrieval harness, attendant

High-Visibility Apparel Classes

Class	Minimum Background Material	Minimum Retroreflective Material	Application
1	217 sq in	155 sq in	Low-traffic areas, parking lots
2	775 sq in	201 sq in	Most survey field work
3	1240 sq in	310 sq in	High-speed roadways, low-visibility conditions

Hearing Protection

Noise levels requiring hearing protection (85 dBA over 8-hour TWA):

Surveyors may encounter excessive noise near:

Heavy construction equipment
Pile driving operations
Pavement sawcutting
Demolition activities
Generators and compressors

Environmental Hazards

Heat Illness

Heat illness is a serious risk for outdoor workers. The progression from heat stress to heat stroke can be rapid:

Condition	Symptoms	Response
Heat cramps	Muscle cramps, heavy sweating	Move to shade, hydrate, rest
Heat exhaustion	Headache, nausea, weakness, heavy sweating, cool/clammy skin	Move to cool area, loosen clothing, hydrate, seek medical attention if symptoms worsen
Heat stroke	Confusion, hot/dry skin, rapid pulse, loss of consciousness	Medical emergency -- call 911, cool the person immediately

Prevention:

Acclimatize new workers gradually (over 7-14 days)
Provide water (at least one quart per hour in hot conditions)
Schedule heavy work for cooler parts of the day
Provide shade for rest breaks
Train all workers on heat illness recognition

Cold Stress

Cold-related hazards include:

Hypothermia -- Core body temperature drops below 95 degrees F
Frostbite -- Tissue freezing, especially extremities
Trench foot -- Prolonged wet/cold exposure to feet

Prevention:

Layer clothing (wicking base, insulating mid, waterproof outer)
Protect extremities (insulated gloves, warm headwear)
Take warming breaks
Monitor each other for symptoms
Keep dry clothing available

Biological Hazards

Common biological hazards in field surveying:

Hazard	Risk	Prevention
Ticks	Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever	Permethrin-treated clothing, daily tick checks, long pants tucked into boots
Venomous snakes	Envenomation	Watch where you step and reach, wear boots, carry a first aid kit
Poison ivy/oak/sumac	Contact dermatitis	Learn to identify, wear long sleeves, wash exposed skin promptly
Stinging insects	Allergic reactions, anaphylaxis	Carry epinephrine if allergic, avoid disturbing nests
Mosquitoes	West Nile virus, other diseases	Use repellent, wear long sleeves in infested areas

Overhead Power Line Safety

Minimum Approach Distances

When working near overhead power lines, maintain minimum clearance:

Voltage Range	Minimum Clearance
Up to 50 kV	10 feet
50 kV to 200 kV	15 feet
200 kV to 350 kV	20 feet
350 kV to 500 kV	25 feet
500 kV to 750 kV	35 feet

Surveyor-Specific Considerations:

Prism poles and GNSS antennas extend the worker's reach -- add the height of the pole to the person's reach
Metal range poles and leveling rods are conductive
Guy wires on utility poles may be energized if insulation has failed
Survey equipment on tripods near power lines increases risk

Common wrong path — forgetting pole/antenna height when judging overhead clearance. Minimum approach distances to energized overhead lines are measured from the highest point of the worker or the longest conductive object the worker is holding or carrying — not from the worker's body or feet. A surveyor holding an 8-ft range pole or a GNSS survey pole with antenna must add the pole's length to their own height when judging clearance. Students sometimes answer "10 ft" to an overhead clearance question without accounting for the equipment, producing a dangerously wrong clearance calculation. OSHA and utility operators assess approach distance from the closest conductive object the worker can extend — metal range poles, leveling rods, and GNSS antennas all count. Exam questions test this by describing a setup where the person is 6 ft tall but their pole reaches 14 ft; the approach clearance must account for the pole.

Quick retrieval check — try before reading on.

▶A 6-foot-tall surveyor is using a 14-foot prism pole on a project near a 12 kV overhead distribution line. The minimum approach distance for up to 50 kV is 10 feet. What clearance must the surveyor maintain?

The measurement is from the highest point of the surveyor or their equipment, whichever is closer to the line. In this case, the prism pole is the limiting dimension. If the surveyor holds the pole vertically above their head, the top of the pole is at approximately 6 ft (surveyor height) + 14 ft (pole length) ≈ 20 ft above the ground (accounting for where the pole is gripped).

To maintain the 10-ft minimum approach distance, every point on the pole must remain at least 10 ft from the line in any direction. If the line sags to 25 ft above ground and the pole's top reaches 20 ft, vertical clearance is only 5 ft — well inside the minimum. The surveyor must either lower the pole, move horizontally away from the line, or in high-voltage areas, contact the utility for a safety standby (temporary de-energization or observation). The safe practice: visually estimate the line height, add a generous safety margin, and when in doubt, call the utility. Metal equipment, pole-mounted antennas, and leveling rods are all conductive — the 10-ft rule is measured from the closest conductive extension, not from the worker's feet.

Exam Tips

OSHA questions on the PS exam focus on practical application, not citation numbers -- know the concepts
Understand the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE) and that PPE is the last resort
Know the APWA utility marking color code -- this is frequently tested
Traffic control questions test your knowledge of work zone components and when flaggers are required
Heat illness prevention is a common exam topic -- know the progression and appropriate responses
Understand that employer responsibilities include providing PPE at no cost and maintaining injury records
The 811 system and its requirements are testable -- know the process and timing