Transcript Black Bear Encounter Policy

Black Bear Encounter Safety
Policy
Ministry of Natural Resources
Introduction
MNR undertakes a variety of operations that
involve employees working in black bear
habitat, occasionally this may result in an
encounter
Objective: To provide an overview of the
policy and ensure that you understand all of
your responsibilities as related to policy
requirements
Scope
All MNR employees who may be required to
work in field locations known to be black
bear habitat
All contractors
Any MNR employee responsible for storage
and/or transportation of Ministry issued bear
spray
Policy can be located in Outlook under public
folders-Natural Resources-Health&Safety
Purpose
To ensure individuals to whom this policy
applies are aware of the ways to prevent
and respond to a black bear encounter
Policy does not govern nuisance bear
management
Will provide a means for employees to
request bear spray and address the
hazards associated with its use
Requirements under OHSA and Criminal
Code of Canada (prohibited weapons)
Training Standard
All staff must receive training or instruction
in black bear awareness and encounter
techniques and review material in Appendix
one of policy, before working in field
Will view two video’s
Staying Safe in Bear Country
Working in Bear Country
Appendix two, specific training in bear
spray safe work procedures, must be
completed if spray is issued/responsible for
storage or transport
Mandatory Requirements
Records of training must be kept on file at the
workplace and made available to JHSC
A supervisor may only grant an employees
request for bear spray if:
1.The individual received training per appendix one
2. The individual received training per appendix two
3. If the individual has a medical condition ( allergy, asthma)
a clearance/approval must be obtained from a physician
Mandatory Requirements
Bear spray canisters are to be a maximum size of
260 grams and must display a pesticide control
product act registration #
A bear spray inventory form must be filled out
and kept on file for all bear spray being issued
Any lost canisters of spray are to be reported to
supervisor and issuer
All employees must carry a whistle, air-horn or
both while engaged in field activities
Mandatory Requirements
If issued bear spray an employee must:
1. Store in a locked cabinet or other secure place when not in field
2. Transport in a vehicle in such a way that accidental discharge
will not effect occupants (not in passenger compartment)
3. Not transport in aircraft (MNR/Commercial). Turbo Beaver float
compartments only
4. In field carry in manner that provides immediate access
5. Ensure it is not shared or available to anyone not properly
trained or instructed
6. Return any discharged or partially discharged canister for
replacement
Mandatory Requirements
All issued spray remains property of the
MNR, and must be returned:
1. At the end of the field session
2. When their employment with MNR ends
3. Following accidental or intentional discharge for replacement
4. Upon request from the MNR
Any instances of discharge (except training),
must be documented and reported to:
1. The Supervisor
2. The local JH&SC
3. The Occupational Health and Safety Unit in the HR Branch
Mandatory Requirements
If transporting an air-horn by aircraft, three
conditions must be followed:
1. The air-horn must contain tetrafluorethane, so that it will
not fall under dangerous goods (IATA legislation )
2. It must be disassembled, and a cover placed on the canister valve
3. The pilot must be advised of the presence of the air-horn
Where the ministry has contracted for services of
another employer, confirmation must be obtained
from the contractor that they are aware of the
policy
Responsibilities
Managers:
1. Review work activities to determine policy application
2. Ensure mandatory requirements are implemented in local operating procedures
3. Provide the local JH&SC or Health and Safety Rep with a copy of the policy
Supervisors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ensure employees have all required training/instruction
Confirm employees are complying with bear safety working procedures
Ensure all records ( training, storing and issuing ) are maintained
Account for all bear spray in the workplace
Review all reports of bear spray use, conduct investigation if required, report
any cases to Occupational Health and Safety Unit and local JH&SC
Responsibilities
Employees/Workers
1. Works in compliance to the policy, training and instruction provided
and uses issued spray only in accordance to Ministry instructions
2. Does not use bear spray that appears to be defective or unsafe,
notifies supervisor of such incidents
3. Reports any black bear encounter where employee felt threatened,
and reports any use of bear spray (accidental or intentional)
JH&SC or Health and Safety Rep
1. Monitors the application of policy as part or regular committee duties
Black Bear Awareness and
Encounter Techniques
Hazards and Situations:
1. Activities that require frequent stooping/bending, increase chance of a
surprise encounter. Stand up and scan often
2. Working in thick bush or under noisy conditions (windy, rivers)
3. Seasonal food sources ( spawning, various berries, dumps). Also the
smell of rotting carrion. ( a presence of scavengers, ie. Ravens may
indicate a rotting carcass)
4. Fresh Bear sign, ( moist vs. older dry sign ) learn to recognize, scat,
tracks, recent digging, recent feeding areas, marking trees/posts
5. Females with cubs, especially in the spring ( unwilling to move ). Will
usually send cubs up a large tree making a distinct sound
6. A close encounter with cubs may result in vocalizing, huffing, moaning or
jaw popping or a bluff charge
7. Dogs are not advised
8. Base sites or camps often attract bears, take appropriate actions before
bear activity starts
Preventative Measures
Stay alert, pay attention, take advantage of
increased lines of sight ( ridge tops )
Making frequent noise when moving may limit the
chance of startling a bear
Avoid wearing perfumes/colognes that may cause
a bear to investigate the smell
If carrying food, ensure it is in an airtight container
Avoid carcasses, if you do come on one, walk
slowly away in a direction that is open
If you see a bear, move away in a direction that
gives the bear an escape route.
Preventative Measures
Bears will travel over 100kms to a food source
The majority of problems occur due to improperly
stored garbage/food, bears can quickly associate
humans to food sources
Bears will lose their natural fear of humans with
repeated exposures to a food source and may
become destructive or dangerous
Never intentionally feed bears, even from a
vehicle
Besides garbage dumps, pet food left outdoors,
compost, fruit trees, beehives, bbq, bird feeders,
sweetcorn and grain fields may attract bears
Preventative Measures
Avoid camp areas often used by others
Plan your camp to reduce the likelihood of setting
up near abundant natural food sources
Select a site that is open and provides good
viewing prior to stepping out of tent/trailer/cabin
Keep site clean, don’t burn food scraps or fat in fire
pit
Do not cook, eat or store food/toiletries in your
tent
If bears become aggressive and enter tent/trailers,
think about installing electrical fencing
Encounter Techniques-Common Encounter
A bear may avoid you without your knowledge,
the bear will sense human activity and leave
without you knowing it was present
If sighted from a distance the bear may leave the
area
The bear runs in the opposite direction when it
first sees you, the bear wants to avoid human
contact
If a bear seems unconcerned with your presence
it usually means you are outside its personal
space. The bear may be feeding, do not approach
Encounter Techniques-Close Encounter
A bear that does not avoid you could be curious,
asserting dominance or in extremely rare cases be
predatory
Surprise- most encounters that lead to contact are
caused by the bear being startled at close range
A bear’s personal space differs from bear to bear
A bear will show signs when you are entering it’s
personal space (a change in body posture such as
head down, eyes narrowed or ears back). This may
lead to snorting or huffing, jaw popping, avoiding
eye contact, swatting vegetation, foot stomping
and finally a bluff charge
Reasons why a bear will approach
Defensive- you are too close, the bear will show
signs of stress
Curious- bear may stand, ears forward, nose in air,
information gathering not threatening
Testing Dominance- bear may glance your way with
ears up and no stress signs
Food Conditioned-has associated humans to a food
source without any previous bad experiences
Predatory-eyes fixed, following you, may press
closer and closer assessing if it is safe to attack.
This is extremely rare
Your Response
Depends on circumstances and bear behaviour
If acting defensively, assess and respond
Remain calm, stand your ground, do not run.
Raise your arms and talk to bear in calm voice.
You are assuring the bear you are not a threat
Try to slowly move upwind and back away from
the bear the way you came, always keep your
eyes on the bear
You cannot outrun a bear
Your Response
If you must continue forward give the bear time to
leave. Make noise and proceed with caution.
A female with cubs does not want to risk any injury
to her offspring, give lots of personal space
Predatory like behaviour may just mean you are in
the intended path of the bear, move slowly away
leaving a clear path for the bear
If you have responded accordingly and the bear is
still intent and focused on you, its time to become
aggressive
Becoming Aggressive
Make yourself appear as large as possible
Stand on high ground
Raise your arms high
Shout aggressively
Utilize a whistle or air-horn
Use a shovel or stick whatever is available in an aggressive
manner
You want the bear to think it may become injured if it persists
The bear cannot think you are prey by acting subordinate, you
must act as if you are dominant to the bear
Becoming Aggressive
If a black bear attacks (defensive or predatory),
for whatever reason your response is the same
DO NOT PLAY DEAD (disregard advice
from video “ staying safe in bear country”)
Fighting is your best chance to end the attack
Fight back with everything you have
Strike at face and eyes, use whatever you can,
rock, stick, pen etc.
NEVER GIVE UP