Safety for Better Rockhounding
BY THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
The following rules were adapted by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality from the Code of Ethics of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies. These rules are heartily endorsed by the State Geologist and his staff and should be observed at all times when collecting minerals, fossils, and any other materials on public or private land in Michigan.
Wear protective equipment: safety glasses, safety shoes or boots, hard hat, and gloves.
Plan your work in advance and follow the plan. This will help minimize accidents and make your trip more enjoyable.
Obtain the services of someone who knows the particular collecting area. This person will not only make your trip safer, but will save you time finding the best collecting areas.
Do not work alone. Let someone else know your schedule. If you get lost or hurt, help can be dispatched more quickly.
Obtain permission wherever you collect.
Know the area you are working in.
Learn the location of emergency aid and telephone — this could mean the difference between life and death if an accident should occur.
Carry a first aid kit; know how to use it.
Watch out for others, particularly small children and inexperienced adults.
Never work directly above or below anyone else.
Do not work near steep or high vertical walls. The chance of rocks falling is great, and no specimen is worth injury or death.
Do not enter abandoned mines, buildings or equipment. Most are unsafe.
Do not work near deep water without a life preserver. A slip or fall could result in injury — or even death by drowning.
Do not swim in flooded quarries. The water is usually too cold, and danger of drowning cannot be over-emphasized.
Remember, you are responsible for your own safety when rockhounding.
We give you these safety tips in hopes that our community is as safe as possible, but we are not responsible for individual safety. We make strong efforts to educate our community on safety, but know that it is your duty to provide your own safety and safe rockhounding procedures. Please do your own research and prepare for your rockhounding outings responsibly and with care.
