twppo TWP Site Visit Briefing
Tropical Western Pacific Climate Research Facility
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Before Leaving for Overseas:
  1. Submit a visit request via the ARM Site Access Request System.
  2. Obtain/renew passport well in advance of travel.
  3. If you are visiting the Darwin Site (ARCS-3), obtain visa for Australia from your airline.
  4. If you are visiting the Nauru Site (ARCS-2), contact TWPO (phone at 505-667-1186 or e-mail at ljones@lanl.gov) to arrange hotel, rental car, and visa for Republic of Nauru.
  5. If you are visiting the Manus Site (ARCS-1), contact TWPO for recommendations of hotels, rental car, and visa for Papua New Guinea.
  6. Send TWPO the following information (send fax at 505-667-9122 or e-mail at ljones@lanl.gov):
    • Your travel itinerary
    • Copy of your passport
  7. Make sure your laptop has virus protection.
Logistics:
  1. Power is 240/50hz - use power converters and outlet adapters.
Observer Interactions and Site Rules:
  1. Check in with Officer-in-Charge (OIC), a lead Observer.
  2. Read the Site Safety Plan and sign in acknowledging that you have read the Plan.
  3. Stay out of local work politics.
  4. Include Observers in your work whenever possible.
  5. Take time to train Observers
  6. Keep site and the vans clean (set an example!)
  7. Work to procedures (set an example!)
  8. Do not bring alcohol to the Site.
Site Regulation Jurisdiction Guidance:
  1. Darwin ARCS-3 site:
  2. Nauru ARCS-2 site:
  3. Manus ARCS-1 site:
General Hazards (Site Safety Plans can be found on the TWPO Website):
  1. Before starting work, analyze any possible hazards.
  2. Plan for the hazards.
  3. Stop work if there are any concerns for ESH incidents.
Electrical Hazards:
  1. Power panels:
  2. Lock-out/tag-out required for all work on energized systems.
Other hazards:
  1. SMET tower - take care in lowering mast and with 2 people minimum.
  2. MPL is eye-safe laser.
  3. MMCR - stay off I-Van roof near MMCR antenna.
  4. Pressurized gasses:
  5. H2 Generator caustic chemicals must be handled only by trained electrolyser personnel (BOM).
  6. Gasoline (petrol) shall be stored in proper containers.
  7. Operate portable gasoline generator according to Owner's Manual on site.
  8. Hand tools to be used by RESET technicians only.
  9. Stairs are on site for the instrument platforms, use them instead of ladders.
  10. During thunderstorms/lightning, stay inside (Darwin).
  11. Be aware that there are Middle East refugees:
  12. In Port Moresby, stay in the hotel complex and NEVER travel in the city alone. If you need to be out of your hotel room, travel with a local person (best with National Weather Service personnel), but NEVER travel at night; there have been shooting incidents.
Safety Equipment at Site:
  1. Emergency contact phone numbers in E-Van.
  2. Site Safety Plans in Operations Center (at Darwin) or in E-Van (at Manus and Nauru).
  3. Fire extinguishers in each van.
  4. Outdoor Emergency shower near H2 Generator (Manus, Nauru).
  5. First-Aid kit, defibrillator in E-Van.
  6. Safety glasses, gloves in storage van.
  7. Dollies, rolling carts for boxes and gas cylinders available.
  8. Ear protection in U-Van GENSET.
  9. Iridium phone in Manus under D-Van seat.
Taking Care of Your Health:
  1. See your doctor, go over the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations and get your shots well before leaving (e.g., malaria, hepatitis, and typhoid).
  2. First-Aid/CPR, defibrillator training recommended.
  3. Emergency evacuation insurance recommended for PNG and Nauru - know how to engage it (LANL provides this with foreign travel packages).
  4. Take along general medicines such as general antibiotic, diarrhea medicine, and decongestants.
  5. Take along ample supply of special medications you need - they will probably not be available overseas.
  6. Carry critical medicines (malaria, asthma, etc.) on your person -not in checked luggage.
  7. Inform teammates of your medical conditions they should be aware of
  8. Drink only bottled water in PNG and Nauru.
  9. Malaria at PNG - you must take appropriate medicine (and avoid mosquitoes).
  10. Melioidosis at Darwin - don't hand dig in the dirt during wet season.
  11. Know signs of dehydration and heat stroke.
  12. On first day at site, visit lead should buy enough bottled water for EVERYONE for the week and keep it at the site (usually reimbursable).
  13. Use sunscreen, especially if using doxycycline.
  14. Do NOT work alone on site.
Driving:
  1. Drive slowly!! (Pedestrians are everywhere!)
  2. Do not drink and drive!!
  3. Avoid driving after dark (take along iridium phone in Manus).
  4. Travel in pairs.
  5. Drive on left side, use care in stepping off curb.
Recreation and Social Life:
  1. Respect local culture.
  2. Go places in pairs.
  3. Snorkel/swim in pairs.
  4. Do not boat alone and take life preservers (available in storage vans).
  5. Be careful of Crocs (in Darwin and Manus), jellyfish and snakes (in Darwin).
  6. Do NOT go out alone after dark.
Special Issues/Conclusion:
  1. Because of the 9-11 events, we are very concerned about your safety.
  2. When on travel, travel in pairs, lock your hotel doors, keep track of your stuff, and do not flash cash in public.
  3. Be aware of your surroundings, use common sense, keep a low profile, don't advertise that you are from the USA.
  4. The ARM management has trusted in our judgment to make the call on your foreign travel. Do NOT put TWPO in jeopardy by betraying that trust with a "rules-don?t-really-apply-to-me" attitude.
  5. USA travelers, call 505-667-1186 upon arrival in Australia, Nauru, Manus (VERY IMPORTANT because of the 9-11 events) - TWPO has a checklist to show its Division Leader to prove that it is keeping track of you.
  6. Call 505-667-1186 upon your return to home base.


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