The University of New MexicoThe University of New Mexico& &

The Office of Animal The Office of Animal Research, Ethics, Care, and Research, Ethics, Care, and

ComplianceCompliance

presentpresent

Field Safety Training:Field Safety Training:UndergroundUnderground

A learning module developed by OARECCA learning module developed by OARECC

IntroductionIntroduction• This module was developed to prepare you This module was developed to prepare you

while at the University of New Mexico, for while at the University of New Mexico, for doing field research in caves or mines. doing field research in caves or mines.

General Information on General Information on CavesCaves

• Caves provide a unique environment for animals Caves provide a unique environment for animals and have their own specialized ecosystemand have their own specialized ecosystem

• There are unique hazards associated with the There are unique hazards associated with the area where the work will be done and the area where the work will be done and the species that will be encountered.species that will be encountered.

• Caves often require specialized training and Caves often require specialized training and equipment to make them accessibleequipment to make them accessible

• Follow established trails or tracks to minimize Follow established trails or tracks to minimize damage to the cave. damage to the cave.

• Follow the National Speleological Society motto: Follow the National Speleological Society motto: "Take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time, "Take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time, and leave nothing but well placed footprints."and leave nothing but well placed footprints."

The following pertain to Field Research The following pertain to Field Research in Cavesin Caves

The following pertain to Field Research The following pertain to Field Research in Cavesin Caves

• General Health and physical General Health and physical wellbeing of the participantwellbeing of the participant

• Specialized Training and EquipmentSpecialized Training and Equipment

• Protective gearProtective gear

• Species that might be encounteredSpecies that might be encountered

General Health of the General Health of the ParticipantParticipant

• A cave environment has many physical A cave environment has many physical demandsdemands

• Terrain can be treacherous and unforgivingTerrain can be treacherous and unforgiving

• Access may require long hikes or climbing Access may require long hikes or climbing with gear and supplieswith gear and supplies

• Temperature and Humidity may be factorsTemperature and Humidity may be factors

• Potential health risks include fungi and their Potential health risks include fungi and their spores (e.g. Histoplasma capsulatum, which spores (e.g. Histoplasma capsulatum, which causes histoplasmosis), bacteria and viruses causes histoplasmosis), bacteria and viruses (e.g. the virus that causes rabies), and (e.g. the virus that causes rabies), and dehydration and hypothermiadehydration and hypothermia

Specialized TrainingSpecialized Trainingand Equipmentand Equipment

• All persons working in caves must have All persons working in caves must have appropriate training. appropriate training.

• Training can be obtained from grottos Training can be obtained from grottos (chapters or clubs) of the National (chapters or clubs) of the National Speleological Society. Locally our grotto is Speleological Society. Locally our grotto is the Sandia Grotto the Sandia Grotto (http://www.sandiagrotto.org/)(http://www.sandiagrotto.org/)

• All persons working in caves must have All persons working in caves must have appropriate equipmentappropriate equipment

• Documentation of training must be filed with Documentation of training must be filed with the OARECC prior to doing any work in the OARECC prior to doing any work in cavescaves

Appropriate TrainingAppropriate Training• Review the Location and the Nature Review the Location and the Nature

of the Work to be doneof the Work to be done• Some caves have clear paths and Some caves have clear paths and

easy accesseasy access• Some caves require hard climbing or Some caves require hard climbing or

even rappelling on ropeseven rappelling on ropes• Some caves are small and narrow Some caves are small and narrow

and require crawlingand require crawling• Caves can generate a feeling of Caves can generate a feeling of

claustrophobia in those who are claustrophobia in those who are susceptiblesusceptible

Appropriate TrainingAppropriate TrainingCan YOU:Can YOU:

• Rappel on a rope down a rock face or open Rappel on a rope down a rock face or open hole?hole?

• Pack supplies over a considerable distance?Pack supplies over a considerable distance?

• Climb up and down rocks?Climb up and down rocks?

• Crawl through confined spaces?Crawl through confined spaces?

Protective GearProtective Gear

What to Wear?What to Wear?

• Filter masks should be worn in caves when Filter masks should be worn in caves when absolutely necessary, use HEPA-filter masks absolutely necessary, use HEPA-filter masks where animal droppings are presentwhere animal droppings are present

• Sturdy, non-marking boots are essential to keep Sturdy, non-marking boots are essential to keep from damaging caves by leaving black scuff from damaging caves by leaving black scuff marksmarks

• Sturdy clothing appropriate to the temperature of Sturdy clothing appropriate to the temperature of the cave, which can vary from -2the cave, which can vary from -2ooC to 20C to 20ooC in NM.C in NM.

• Leather gloves should also be worn because of Leather gloves should also be worn because of sharp rocks and surfacessharp rocks and surfaces

• Use the rule of threes: Take three sources of Use the rule of threes: Take three sources of lights (one helmet mounted)lights (one helmet mounted)

• A helmet is needed for falling rocksA helmet is needed for falling rocks

• Cave dwellers will be dependent upon the area Cave dwellers will be dependent upon the area – Tropical caves will have different species from – Tropical caves will have different species from Desert caves andDesert caves and Many cave species are Many cave species are endemic to just one cave or the county in endemic to just one cave or the county in which they occurwhich they occur

• Research your area to determine what are likely Research your area to determine what are likely inhabitantsinhabitants

• Commonly, you will see bats, birds, cave Commonly, you will see bats, birds, cave crickets, and other arthropodscrickets, and other arthropods

• Depending upon the location and time of year, Depending upon the location and time of year, you may also find larger mammals in the caveyou may also find larger mammals in the cave

• Some cave dwellers have the potential to be Some cave dwellers have the potential to be dangerous or even venomousdangerous or even venomous

Typical Cave DwellersTypical Cave Dwellers

Cave DwellersCave DwellersCommon:Common:

• Troglobites, trogloxenes and troglophilesTroglobites, trogloxenes and troglophiles

TroglobitesTroglobites• (Literally "cave dwellers") are (Literally "cave dwellers") are

obligate cave dwellers that live obligate cave dwellers that live their entire lives in caves their entire lives in caves

• Include: Flatworms, Isopods, Include: Flatworms, Isopods, Amphipods, Eyeless cave shrimp, Amphipods, Eyeless cave shrimp, cave crayfish, bristletails, cave crayfish, bristletails, collembola, eyeless fish, cave collembola, eyeless fish, cave beetles beetles

TrogloxeneTrogloxeness

• (Literally "cave guests") (Literally "cave guests") Cannot complete their life Cannot complete their life history in the cave history in the cave

• Includes: crickets, bats, pack Includes: crickets, bats, pack rats, flies and gnats rats, flies and gnats

TroglophilesTroglophiles• (Literally "cave lovers") Can pass their (Literally "cave lovers") Can pass their

life history either in cool, dark, moist life history either in cool, dark, moist areas outside the cave or in caves if areas outside the cave or in caves if there is sufficient food there is sufficient food

• Include: segmented worms, snails, Include: segmented worms, snails, copepods, spiders, phalangids, mites, copepods, spiders, phalangids, mites, pseudoscorpions, millipedes, cave pseudoscorpions, millipedes, cave beetles (carabids)beetles (carabids)

Cave EnvironmentCave Environment• The cave world does not change as rapidly as our sunlit The cave world does not change as rapidly as our sunlit

world; however, change does occur. world; however, change does occur. • Typically, in the Deep Zone of caves the temperature Typically, in the Deep Zone of caves the temperature

does NOT vary and in fact approximates that of the does NOT vary and in fact approximates that of the mean annual temperature for the region unless you're mean annual temperature for the region unless you're deep enough to start seeing the effects of geothermal deep enough to start seeing the effects of geothermal heating.heating.

• In a sense, the cave has its own weather system. In In a sense, the cave has its own weather system. In some caves wind is created by temperature differences some caves wind is created by temperature differences between the entrance and interior passageways. This between the entrance and interior passageways. This causes a "chimney effect," resulting in a wind chill factor causes a "chimney effect," resulting in a wind chill factor underground. The chimney effect can also produce underground. The chimney effect can also produce "rain" inside the cave by altering the dew point. "rain" inside the cave by altering the dew point. Condensation in caves can be promoted by other factors Condensation in caves can be promoted by other factors than the chimney effect.than the chimney effect.

• The final contributor to cave weather is the barometric The final contributor to cave weather is the barometric pressure. Barometric pressure causes caves to breathe pressure. Barometric pressure causes caves to breathe and suck, which indirectly affect humidity or dew point.and suck, which indirectly affect humidity or dew point.

Remember:Remember:• Be prepared – clothing Be prepared – clothing

and protective gearand protective gear

• Cave temperatures and Cave temperatures and humidity can vary humidity can vary greatly from the greatly from the surfacesurface

• Caves contain a fragile Caves contain a fragile ecosystemecosystem

• Many caves require Many caves require specialized training and specialized training and a strong physical ability a strong physical ability to accessto access

This Concludes Module 12 – This Concludes Module 12 – Where’s the Work: Where’s the Work:

UndergroundUnderground• Please download the exam, complete it, then e-mail it Please download the exam, complete it, then e-mail it

to to Kmirowsky@salud.unm.eduKmirowsky@salud.unm.edu• For more information, or if you have questions, please For more information, or if you have questions, please

contact OACC @ 272-6806contact OACC @ 272-6806

• This training module was reviewed by UNM expert Dr. Diana Northup• Content approved by IACUC, 03 April 2006