• Complete a risk assessment for each monitoring location covering height, water, and access hazards
• Wear a personal flotation device when working near reservoir edges and spillway channels
• Treat valve towers and outlet chambers as confined spaces with full permit procedures
• Install lightning protection on telemetry cabinets and weather stations in exposed locations
• Route cables securely across dam crests and slopes with protection from weather and traffic
• Use solar power systems where mains electricity is not available at remote dam sites
• Test every sensor and communication link end-to-end before accepting the installation
• Brief the team on the specific access hazards at each monitoring point on the dam
• Carry communication equipment that works in the remote dam location at all times
• Record all instrument locations, calibration data, and commissioning results accurately

• DON'T access dam structures or spillways without a personal flotation device near water
• DON'T enter valve towers without confined space procedures and atmospheric monitoring
• DON'T install telemetry cabinets in lightning-prone locations without surge protection
• DON'T route cables where they will be damaged by maintenance vehicles or weather erosion
• DON'T work alone at remote dam sites without a lone working check-in procedure
• DON'T commission monitoring systems without testing every sensor and data path
• DON'T install instruments inaccurately — the data informs life-safety dam decisions
• DON'T leave open cable trenches on the dam crest where they weaken the structure
• DON'T access steep embankment slopes without assessing ground stability and using ropes
• DON'T skip the risk assessment because you have visited the dam location previously

See also: Dam and Reservoir Safety Awareness | Lone Working in Remote Locations