Forest Road Drainage Installation Practices
in the Pacific Northwest
16 - Shutdown Guidelines	When To Stop Work Before Leaving The Site

Voluntary Shutdown Guidelines

You should consider stopping work at the site if one or more of the following conditions apply:

• Any aspect of the required work can not be completed safely.
• Fish are spotted in what was classified as a non fish-bearing stream.
• Fish are spotted at the work site in spite of prior fish removal.
• The rain gauge on site indicates that the established precipitation limits have been exceeded (legal requirement in some jurisdictions).
• Instream work required can not be completed without uncontrolled sediment transport, and sediment control measures and stream diversion dams can no longer handle stream flows.
• A long-term reduction of water quality can not be avoided.
• Culvert material for instream work is being washed away.
• Cross-drain culverts can not be installed without draining significant volumes of ponded or running ditchline water.
• Ditch erosion occurs, carrying water towards work site.
• Water on road surface washes material down tire or machine tracks towards the stream crossing, and the road prism at the crossing installation site is saturated from ponded or seepage water.
• Piled soil materials do not stand at their rated angle of repose which means that soils are too saturated.
• Culvert bedding material is too wet to allow compaction.
• The work plan calls for action that in the opinion of the operator or supervisor is unclear or may result in damage to the environment.

Remember that if an enforcement agency shuts down an operation, they are the only institution that can authorize that the work be resumed. If an operator or supervisor shuts down a work site voluntarily, they can recommence operations as soon as they see fit.

Before You Leave the Site

• Take steps to minimize further negative environmental impacts which may include backup cross-ditches, erosion protection, and sediment control measures at the stream crossing and the adjacent areas. Utilize tools from the sediment control kit.
• Try to work somewhere else away from the sensitive site for the remainder of the day if possible. Check the sensitive site periodically to initiate or modify emergency measures if necessary.
• Take a picture of the emergency measures in case the actions are questioned later.
• Notify your supervisor of the voluntary shutdown, the steps taken if any, and your intentions for the remainder of the day.
• Park equipment in safe place; avoid sensitive sites, riparian and unstable areas, steep grades, switchbacks, steep sidehills and road cuts.
• Before leaving for the day, account for all other workers in the area.

Responsibilities of Employers and Employees

Employers should provide training so that workers, supervisors and designated individuals are familiar with their responsibilities in:

• basic first aid and evacuation procedures;
• rainfall shutdown limits and rain gauge measurements;
• forest fire reporting and suppression;
• recognition of existing and potential instability;
• reporting of landslides and other environmental emergencies;
• spill responses and reporting;
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods procedures.

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PLANNING ISSUES   Introduction  1   Site Selection  2   Structure Selection  3   Initial Risk Assessment  4   Revised Risk Assessment  5   Diversion Plans  6   Other Issues  7   Pre-Work Checklist  8

INSTALLATION PRACTICES     9  Compaction   10  Fisheries Issues   11  Diversion Dams   12  Ditch Management   13  Erosion Protection   14  Sediment Control   15  Culvert Position   16  Shutdown Guidelines

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