28th October 2005, 02:57 PM
Quote:quote:There have been a few posters who have moved to desk-jobs after less than 10 years in the field, because of physical problems caused by the job.
I wonder how many people have not had accidents but have health problems resulting from fieldwork? backs is the most common.
To be worn out after 10 years indicates that something is wrong with the training given.
No, no, no... you cannot train away physical wear and tear. You can only try and limit the worst effects, but time gets us all eventually.
I am currently in post-ex exile because of a general physical breakdown, hopefully not permanent. I made it to 10 years and fully intend to make it to 20, I'll just have to slow down. The point is that I accepted this likely effect many years ago.
There are plenty of things H&S related that are wrong in archaeology, but general wear and tear is not among them. Unless we are going to start excavating sites entirely by trowel while suspended in warm vats of comforting gel, then we are going to get worn down. The trouble is that we end up doing more physical labour than any other job I've ever seen. That includes the building industry. (We are constantly being offered labouring jobs because we graft more than builders)
The only other profession where I've seen similar physical labour was farming, admittedly not one that is overly familiar with H&S legislation.
The solution must be to stop limiting any segment of the workforce to site duties only. A healthy break doing post-ex allows me to heal up for the next campaign, but some of my colleagues don't have that luxury. If they did, they would be better excavators and more engaged with the whole process. Less likely to get disillusioned with the profession and leave as well, I reckon.