Friday, October 2, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hello Julie,
I am a senior at San Francisco State University. For my senior project I have been researching the effectiveness of the current warning signs posted at most entrances of Ocean Beach.
I would love a chance to ask you some questions regarding the logistics involved in the development of the current signs.
Thank you,
Aaron C. Mason
I am a senior at San Francisco State University. For my senior project I have been researching the effectiveness of the current warning signs posted at most entrances of Ocean Beach.
I would love a chance to ask you some questions regarding the logistics involved in the development of the current signs.
Thank you,
Aaron C. Mason
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Reclamation Guidlines
Notes from: Reclamation Managing water in the west
Sign Guidelines for planning , Designing, Fabrication, Producing, Procuring, Installing, and
maintaining signs for outdoor public use area's, U.S. Department of the interior Bureau of Reclamation
"The Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for the stewardship of lands under it jurisdiction." The Civic Center Library Host's this journal about signs in Reclamation area's. It maintains that there are many guidelines these areas must follow in order insure the safety of its visitors.
In Chapter 1 the introduction states;
Signs Should:
Deliver understandable messages to the visitors.
Established Reclamation seal shall be used. (where appropriate)
Help protect the safety of visitors of Reclamation lands and facilities.
Provide direction and guidance for the use of facilities
Sign should use international symbols and established, and established signing industry standards for design , fabrication,
installation, and maintenance.
Guidelines must comply with pertinent federal State, and Local laws in out door public use areas.
Signs must comply with reclamation's VIP
Sign shall be manufactured and/or fabricated to eliminate sharp corners, slivers of wood, or metal, and placed so as to not to produce a tripping hazard or danger from contact with the sign.
Signs must be submitted to the regional sign coordinator for review.
SAFETY WARNING SIGNS USED BY RECLAMATION ARE STANDARDIZED.
ANSI Z535.2 Environmental and facility Safety signs
ANSI Z53.1 Safety and color code (note: I did not forget the five)
ANSI Z535.3 Criteria for Safety symbols
RSHS Section 9 to facilitate communication and recognition
Sign Guidelines for planning , Designing, Fabrication, Producing, Procuring, Installing, and
maintaining signs for outdoor public use area's, U.S. Department of the interior Bureau of Reclamation
"The Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for the stewardship of lands under it jurisdiction." The Civic Center Library Host's this journal about signs in Reclamation area's. It maintains that there are many guidelines these areas must follow in order insure the safety of its visitors.
In Chapter 1 the introduction states;
Signs Should:
Deliver understandable messages to the visitors.
Established Reclamation seal shall be used. (where appropriate)
Help protect the safety of visitors of Reclamation lands and facilities.
Provide direction and guidance for the use of facilities
Sign should use international symbols and established, and established signing industry standards for design , fabrication,
installation, and maintenance.
Guidelines must comply with pertinent federal State, and Local laws in out door public use areas.
Signs must comply with reclamation's VIP
Sign shall be manufactured and/or fabricated to eliminate sharp corners, slivers of wood, or metal, and placed so as to not to produce a tripping hazard or danger from contact with the sign.
Signs must be submitted to the regional sign coordinator for review.
SAFETY WARNING SIGNS USED BY RECLAMATION ARE STANDARDIZED.
ANSI Z535.2 Environmental and facility Safety signs
ANSI Z53.1 Safety and color code (note: I did not forget the five)
ANSI Z535.3 Criteria for Safety symbols
RSHS Section 9 to facilitate communication and recognition
Definition Of Terms
CMYK - Cyan , magenta, yellow, keystone (black)
Guidelines - Sign guidelines
NPS - National Park Service
PMS - Pantone Matching System
VIP - Visual Identity Program
OB - Ocean Beach
Riptide - Seaward pulling current generated by the bottom contour of the ocean floor and waves.
Undertone - Seaward Pulling current created by the waves
Long shore current - Current pulling parallel to shore caused bye tidal flow and swell direction.
Swell - A system of waves generated by off shore whether
NPS - National Park Service
What is policy? A policy is a guiding principle or procedure that sets the framework and provides direction for management decisions. Our policies are guided by and consistent with the Constitution, public laws, Executive proclamations and orders, and regulations and directives from higher authorities. Policies translate these sources of guidance into cohesive directions. Policy direction may be general or specific. It may prescribe the process by which decisions are made, how an action is to be accomplished, or the results to be achieved. The primary source of NPS policy is the publication Management Policies 2006. The policies contained therein are applicable Service-wide. They reflect our management philosophy. Director's Orders supplement and may amend Management Policies. Unwritten or informal "policy" and people’s various understandings of NPS traditional practices are never relied on as official policy.
in progress
Guidelines - Sign guidelines
NPS - National Park Service
PMS - Pantone Matching System
VIP - Visual Identity Program
OB - Ocean Beach
Riptide - Seaward pulling current generated by the bottom contour of the ocean floor and waves.
Undertone - Seaward Pulling current created by the waves
Long shore current - Current pulling parallel to shore caused bye tidal flow and swell direction.
Swell - A system of waves generated by off shore whether
NPS - National Park Service
What is policy? A policy is a guiding principle or procedure that sets the framework and provides direction for management decisions. Our policies are guided by and consistent with the Constitution, public laws, Executive proclamations and orders, and regulations and directives from higher authorities. Policies translate these sources of guidance into cohesive directions. Policy direction may be general or specific. It may prescribe the process by which decisions are made, how an action is to be accomplished, or the results to be achieved. The primary source of NPS policy is the publication Management Policies 2006. The policies contained therein are applicable Service-wide. They reflect our management philosophy. Director's Orders supplement and may amend Management Policies. Unwritten or informal "policy" and people’s various understandings of NPS traditional practices are never relied on as official policy.
in progress
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Interview with Sean Scallon. Head Safety officer National Park Service.
1. Do you feel the the existing signs at ocean Beach are up to date? They are alright. Alot of victems say that they never saw any signs, and the ones that did say they didn't realize how dangerous the ocean really was.
2. Why aren't there any lifeguard towers? Ocean beach is not a swimming beach. It is too dangerous, plus there are only 8 lifeguards working full time for 10 months out of the year. In the off season there are only 2. Instead of using towers we have two trucks that patrol the beach and look for people who have visibly passed there limit.
3. When are the on and off seasons?
Spring and Summer. Spring is usually very windy and cold, and the summer is always foggy. Fall is the on season. That's when we have two trucks, normally its just one.
4. What are some improvements you think could be made on the existing signage. Alot of it has to do with placement of the signs. Like i said earlier, alot of poeple don't see the signs because they're in the parking lot, Plus they are only at streets where there are cross walks. (half) so if you pick the wrong street you're out of luck. I think if the signs were placed at the end of each stair well they would be harder to miss.
5. Do you think including a longer list of dangers would help, such as longshore-currents, or wave warnings? Yes. alot of poeple don't realize that the longshore-current at Ocean Beach accually swithes directions depending on which way the tide is going because of the bay. So at one part of the day the current is going one direction, but as soon as the tide changes so does the currents direction. Its pulls fast, so you can end up miles down the beach and not even realize.
6. Any other advice for me? What I realized about the sinage is that the important one's are made of wood, which breaks down in about 2-4 years. If they were made from vynal and aluminum they would definatly last longer. You should go to Halfmoon bay jetty and check out their sign. Its got a really good diagram of a riptide.
1. Do you feel the the existing signs at ocean Beach are up to date? They are alright. Alot of victems say that they never saw any signs, and the ones that did say they didn't realize how dangerous the ocean really was.
2. Why aren't there any lifeguard towers? Ocean beach is not a swimming beach. It is too dangerous, plus there are only 8 lifeguards working full time for 10 months out of the year. In the off season there are only 2. Instead of using towers we have two trucks that patrol the beach and look for people who have visibly passed there limit.
3. When are the on and off seasons?
Spring and Summer. Spring is usually very windy and cold, and the summer is always foggy. Fall is the on season. That's when we have two trucks, normally its just one.
4. What are some improvements you think could be made on the existing signage. Alot of it has to do with placement of the signs. Like i said earlier, alot of poeple don't see the signs because they're in the parking lot, Plus they are only at streets where there are cross walks. (half) so if you pick the wrong street you're out of luck. I think if the signs were placed at the end of each stair well they would be harder to miss.
5. Do you think including a longer list of dangers would help, such as longshore-currents, or wave warnings? Yes. alot of poeple don't realize that the longshore-current at Ocean Beach accually swithes directions depending on which way the tide is going because of the bay. So at one part of the day the current is going one direction, but as soon as the tide changes so does the currents direction. Its pulls fast, so you can end up miles down the beach and not even realize.
6. Any other advice for me? What I realized about the sinage is that the important one's are made of wood, which breaks down in about 2-4 years. If they were made from vynal and aluminum they would definatly last longer. You should go to Halfmoon bay jetty and check out their sign. Its got a really good diagram of a riptide.
1976, was sure a good year for ocean safety literature. I stumbled across this book in my bathroom and thought it was going to be a joke. After reading some of the information, I realized the best parts are the illustrations. They are very entertaining. I was hoping to find some good 'undertow' Info. So undertow is caused by breaking waves. Since the waves energy is moving towards to beach in a circular motion, after the wave breaks, the water doesn't just stop spinning. The waves energy keeps moving in it's circulars course, pulling water along with it. As the wave crashes down its motion continues spiraling and eventually begins pulling down and out towards the ocean. undertow is less dangerous than Riptides because it involves less moving water.Riptides and undertows are related. Breaking waves approaching the beach carry water toward the beach. The water can't just pile up there: it has to escape back out to sea somehow. If there's a place along the beach where the waves aren't as strong, the piled-up water near the shore escapes through that weak spot, flowing back out to sea. This is a rip tide. If there is no spot with weaker surf, the piled-up water flows down and under the waves and back out to sea, forming an undertow.
I've never experienced an undertow which was strong enough to actually suck someone under water: most deaths attributed to "undertow" happen when people playing in the area where the waves run up onto the beach get their feet knocked out from under them when the water flows back down to the sea. They get dragged a short distance into the breakers, and aren't strong enough or knowledgeable enough to get back to shore. (http://www.mit.edu/)
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