FMD, University of Waikato
Issue No: 34 - August 2005
Antarctica
Health & Safety
Schools/Divisions
FASS
SCMS
SOE
FMD
ITS
LAW
Library
SASD
SSE
VC’s Office
WMS
Totals
Accident
Condition
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
1
2
Incident
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
3
4
Recently Tony, John and I attended a TEFMA workshop in
Christchurch. Amongst other things there was a presentation
from a Canterbury University researcher on the complications
of doing research and providing facilities in Antarctica.
I will share with you three of the more “interesting” items from
her presentation.
1.
During research field trips, they camp away from the
base for three weeks at a time. During the three weeks
you never take your clothes off. As you can imagine this
results in some interesting smells, and severely
complicates toilet procedures, especially for women.
Toileting is a two-person exercise involving special
“implements”.
2.
The air is very dry, and this along with the cold causes
interesting biological changes such as everyone growing
hair all over their bodies at a vastly accelerated rate. It
also results in constant runny noses, which then,
because of the extreme cold, develop into what they call
“snoticles”. The over-mittens worn in Antactica have a
special surface on the back of them for the sole purpose
of wiping off the snoticles, so that they can then be
removed from the gloves by banging your hands
together.
3.
Back to toileting! As Antarctica is an environmentally
delicate area, all people visiting are personally
responsible for their waste, and its removal from the
continent. Consequently, all human waste is stored into
blue plastic bag “ice cube”. On the flight home to New
Zealand each person carries their own waste ice cubes,
and as the plane nears New Zealand the temperature
rises, and the “ice cube” melts ……..
1
15
During the period from 1st April to 30th June 2005 there were 27
events reported as the above table shows. Staff events comprised
of 5 accidents, 15 incidents and 4 OOS type conditions. This time
last year, FMD had 5 accidents reported so it is very pleasing to
see that we doing quite well in keeping safe around campus.
Keep it up
Reminder to all staff:
Please remember to report and document all accidents, incidents
and hazards to your line managers. A copy of this can be found at
http://waikato.ac.nz/hrm/internal/health&safety/ , from your line
Manager or from Karleen your Health & Safety Rep.
Karleen Smith, FMD H&S Rep
Advice to NZ Travellers Planning to Drive in Europe
From NZ Herald 23 July 2005
Beware of the basic requirements to have in a vehicle:
John Cameron
A breakdown warning triangle
A First Aid Kit
A Fire Extinguisher
A spare set of Bulbs for each light
Without any of these an instant fine of $600.00 applies plus in
France, Spain and Germany the confiscation of your licence.
Additionally in Spain it is an offence to run out of fuel, also drivers
requiring glasses must carry a spare pair.
Provided by Robin Dunmall
Dilbertisms
Some of Dilbert's newest additions to add to your vocabulary
in the 2000s office environment:
Blamestorming:
Sitting around in a group discussing why a
deadline was missed or a project failed and who
was responsible.
Cube Farm:
An office filled with cubicles.
SITCOMs:
What yuppies turn into when they have children This boat was made by Clive Hobson and used on the stage
and one of them stops working to stay home with at the Academy of Performing Arts in August. You may have
the kids. Stands for Single Income, Two Children,
caught a glimpse of it on TV1’s Headliners programme!
Oppressive Mortgage.
Well done Clive – we have had lots of positive feedback about
Contributed by Robin Dunmall
your boat!
The boat that Clive built!
Don’t forget - this is your newsletter – if you want to contribute something you think will be of interest to others,
please let Judy Brighting know. Just remember, it goes on-line on the FMD website so content needs to be
carefully selected!!
A Chinese boy uses a tricycle to carry a plastic bag of natural gas stolen from an oil well in Pucheng, in China’s central Henan province. Local
farmers often steal natural gas from oil wells of Zhongyuan Oil Field despite a ban by authorities.
Picture/Reuters
Extract from NZ Herald 11/8/05
I don’t think we’ll ever see the FMD staff travelling around campus like this!!
FMD Social Club
Hatch and Dispatch Conundrums
THAMES TO PAEROA BOAT TRIP – WAIHOU RIVER
Answers from John Badham, to the
questions in Issue 33 – July ‘05
A booking has been made for Saturday 24th September for a bus trip which will take you
to Thames for a Thames to Paeroa boat trip down the Waihou River. Cost $40
(subsidised by FMD social club). This includes bus, boat trip with lunch and afternoon
tea. We will be met by the bus at the end of the boat trip in Paeroa and have dinner at
the Club in Paeroa before heading back home. Those interested, please put your name
down on the board in the FMD tearoom. Cost to those who don’t purchase raffle tickets
is $50.
Don Llewellyn Pavilion:
Don’t forget that we meet regularly, after work, at the Pavilion on the last Friday of the
month. For those who are interested, some attend more often than once a month!!
Q1: Sons are part of a set of triplets,
the other being a daughter.
Q2: Sheik borrows a camel from
neighbour = total 18; half is 9,
third is 6, ninth is 2; total = 17;
returns borrowed camel to
neighbour with thanks.
The New Parking Building Project
John Badham Project Manager was seen to be conducting radical space saving trials in a bid to get more space for the project
dollar.
Supplied by Laurie Drummond
Facilitation will be produced monthly. This publication is available online at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/fmd/
For communications relating to the FMD newsletter please contact Judy Brighting, ext 4980, email [email protected].