Geography / All / Source: / BC Municipal Safety Assn.
SAFETY TALK HANDOUT ON BEARS
BENEFITS
Workers who work outside in industries such as construction, mining, forestry and park management face safety hazards that indoor workers don’t face, such as the risk of attacks by bears. If your workers are at risk of encountering bears on the job, you have a duty to protect them from possible attacks. For example, you should train workers on how to avoid encounters with bears and what to do if they do run into or are attacked by a bear.
HOW TO USE THE TOOL
Adapt this handout, which is based on material from the BC Municipal Safety Association, for your operations and OHS program, and the requirements in your jurisdiction’s OHS laws on protecting workers from wild animals. Give it to workers as part of a safety talk to educate them on bear encounters.
OTHER RESOURCES:
BC Municipal Safety Association
Protecting Outdoor Workers from Insects & Wild Animals
Bear Safety Training Checklist
SAFETY TALK HANDOUT ON BEARS
Bear-human encounters are becoming far more frequent as workers reach further into bear habitat or as we develop in their habitat. There are two terms used to describe bear behaviour in proximity to humans:
Habituation: Habituated bears are those that become comfortable around people and tolerate them at a closer distance. They no longer behave as if they fear humans. A bear learns to increase its tolerance toward humans if repeated exposure results in no negative or positive outcome.
Food Conditioning: This means that the bear is not only willing to be around people, but also attracted to the places where people live, camp or travel because it hopes to get food from them. Repeated food rewards reinforce the bear’s continued presence.
Habituated or food conditioned bears are still wild animals and still retain their self defense behaviours. Bears are basically solitary animals. Each has its zone of personal space, which varies from animal to animal. If you invade this space, a response in the form of a bluff charge, bodily contact or outright attack may result. Often bears will simply ignore humans unless their “space” is invaded or they have cubs.
BEAR SAFETY TIPS
If you’re working in an area that you suspect has bears in the vicinity:
• Make noise. Let the bear know you’re there. Call out, clap, sing loudly, especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches.
• Watch for fresh bear signs. Leave the area if you spot any.
If you encounter a bear:
• Don’t approach the bear.
• Make sure you’re not standing between the bear and its escape route.
• Stay calm and don’t alarm the bear with screams or sudden movements. Your calm behaviour can reassure it. Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by false charging, woofing, growling, snapping their jaws and laying their ears back. Remain calm if a bear reacts this way – sudden movement or screaming may trigger an attack.
• Speak to the bear – talk calmly and firmly to let the bear know you’re human and not prey. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its head about, it’s trying to see and smell you to identify what you are.
• Back away from the bear slowly. Keep it in sight, but don’t make eye contact (seen as a sign of aggression).
• Don’t run. A bear can instantly reach speeds of 30 to 35 miles per hour; never try to outrun a bear – you won’t! Running from a bear may elicit a chase response.
If you are attacked (which rarely happens):
• If the bear is acting defensively—if it’s feeding, protecting its young and/or unaware of your presence—it attacks because it sees you as a threat. Play dead. Lie on your stomach with legs apart and position your
arms so your hands are crossed behind your neck. This position makes you less vulnerable to being flipped over and protects your face, back of your head and neck. Remain still until you are sure the bear has left the area.
• If the bear is predatory: Try to escape into a building, car or up a tree. DO NOT PLAY DEAD.
• Fight back! Intimidate the bear—shout, hit it with a branch or rock, do whatever it takes to show the bear that you’re not easy prey.
This tool and hundreds more available in the OHS Toolbox at www.ohsinsider.com. Templates and tools from OHS Insider are provided for members of our service. Members may use this document as is or as a starting point to customize their own documents. OHS Insider assumes no responsibility for the effectiveness or legality of any of its online templates or tools. Always consult your legal counsel and management before implementing any new policies or procedures.