An interview with senior ecologist Kurtis Kemp.
Tell me about the value ‘Flock’ at E2M
Flock means that everyone returns back to the E2M nest safely and it’s a value we definitely embody. Sometimes we need to take an extra day for fatigue. We stand by each other when a decision is made around safety. Our clients are always focused on safety too, so that alignment of values ensures it’s always accepted and valued as an outcome.
What’s the safety difference at E2M?
The difference is being understood as an ecologist by ecologists. So we understand the complexities of tasks and the time it takes to complete them.
The equipment is top quality here. The Trimbles save us time in data collection, and industry standard motion cameras and bio-acoustic recorders make such a difference. Many other companies don’t have the capacity to invest in equipment that makes life easier.
At E2M the focus is on being the best ecologists we can, in the safest way, using the best technology to deliver the best outcome for our client.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
I think driving is the biggest risk. It’s important to keep in mind that at the end of the day when you’re tired, you still need to drive home. Always check in with your colleague to make sure they’re doing okay and offering to drive if they’re tired. Its important to be up front when you’re not fit to drive.
It’s important to remember that you’ve got another colleague’s life in your hands.
What are the processes in place to deal with safety issues?
Each Project will have a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) which covers all hazards and risks we might encounter and how to manage these risks. The team will prepare these to be project specific and be across them prior to mobilisation.
The goal is always the same – safety first.
What do you look at in the safety management plans?
The plan outlines all of the risks and then we work through how to mitigate them. It starts with your numbers, so who is on the shift, lists your contacts and your emergency call procedure. And the process follows from there. At E2M, we have our own set of safety standards and an IMS which we incorporate in addition to client demands, to ensure all risks are considered.
Can you give me an example of when you’ve had a safety situation and how you handled it?
There are practical elements to consider. I had a situation when safety gear hadn’t been tagged and tested before heading out on site. It’s critical to pull the equipment aside and raise it as an issue before it causes an incident. As a team, we share the safety learning and acknowledge that it was a safety incident averted.
And what about looking after mental health when you’re on and off-site?
You definitely have to be quite resilient and a lover of outdoors. We spend long days walking around in the sun, and overheating or dehydration is a real risk. When you’re frustrated, your mood can go down quickly and lethargy often follows.
There’s a point in the day we call ‘2pm sadness’.
This usually happens when it’s a bit hot and you don’t have lunch to look forward to anymore. So we need to raise awareness of how we’re feeling, work together to keep morale up and ensure we’re all watching out for each other’s mental and physical safety.
Is there a difference between flora and fauna field work?
Yes. A flora team will generally have a fairly normal shift. So 7am – 5pm or 6am – 4pm. For fauna sometimes it’s a dusk and dawn split shift. A recent survey was 5am until 10am then we have a break and work from 5pm – 10pm. During these surveys there are often fatigue days in the middle where we change trapping locations or just have a break.
How do you manage fatigue?
When doing split shifts, some people can nap in the day and others can’t. We regularly check in to see how sleep is going for everyone and if there’s an issue with fatigue that we need to manage with additional breaks or a modified schedule. So being adaptable is a critical part of what we do.
Tell me about your most demanding project?
We had to do a very rural project, where we had to take camper trailers into the bush. And the site was 2 or 3 hours drive from our camp. We had to be prepared for all eventualities, and make sure we had enough rest. It’s so important to make sure you get enough sleep.
There was another example where we were working along a highway in a small area where there had been a landslide. While we did some assessments from a safe car park area, but we couldn’t access the rest of the site safely. So, we called it a day and organised for traffic control to close the lane so that we could get full access. Our decision was commended afterwards by E2M and the client – safety is always our priority.
How’s team camaraderie?
As ecologists, we have an interest in the same things. So there is usually something to talk about and bond over on a long trip. After 11 or 12 days away together, you get to know people pretty quickly. This is nice for when we are back in the office and are able to communicate and collaborate more effectively.
Tell me something people wouldn’t know about you.
I am a trained and qualified animal handler with licences. I have been through a lot of training to know where to hold a possum, and a cockatoo, or a microbat. For me this is the fun part of wat we do. When you’d ID’ing microbats, you have to count the spines on their penis and for reptiles you have to ID the scales on their fingers. We also have to know how to remove an animal from a trap. Especially venomous snakes.