Chapter 1: Planning

Assess Potential Field Hazards

Hazard assessment for field activities may be triggered by various entities, such as animal protocol review, as part of the research/lab safety program at your campus, or through department procedures. The field hazard assessment tool below provides an overview of resources and hazard mitigation steps for common USU field activities.

All fieldwork warrants a pre-trip discussion regarding foreseen hazards, appropriate precautions, communication options, and emergency procedures. Additional actions are listed below.

Destination

Is your trip conducted on non-University owned property?

You must complete a travel authorization according to USU Policy 515: Travel

Will you be traveling internationally?

Be familiar with USU Policy 536: International Travel, and follow all required steps 

Does your “Trip Brief”, the CDC, or State Department recommend vaccinations or prophylaxis for your destination?

Schedule a medical visit at least 6-8 weeks prior to your trip; Occupational Health, Travel Clinic or Student Health Clinics available, depending on your campus

Will you be visiting sites with hazardous terrain, climate, wildlife, zoonotic risks, poor sanitation, other environmental hazards, or remote sites with limited services?

• Complete a Field Safety Plan
• Investigate and understand risks and hazards, perform a risk assessment and ensure you are prepared to face hazards

Does your worksite lack reliable phone service?

Establish a communications plan that includes:

• Primary and Alternate communications methods and times
• Emergency communications contingency

Will you be visiting private property or entering private homes?

• Obtain permission
• Avoid working alone when possible
• Ensure proper approvals/protocols are in place and followed
• Carry USU identification
• Dress comfortably but professionally
• Carry a reliable means of communication and follow communications plan from Field Safety Plan 

Will you be visiting controlled sites such as construction sites or mines?

• Request PPE and site access requirements in advance
• Carry USU identification
• Avoid working alone when possible
• Check-in with site manager/superintendent to understand what hazards may be present

Will you be driving to/at your destination?

Review USU policies 514 and 515 and follow all requirements in order to drive for USU business

• Consider off-road/4x4 training if applicable[MB1] : see USU Policy 539: Off-Highway Vehicles

Will anyone be chartering boats, planes, or using other non-commercial means of transport?

Consult with Risk Management regarding appropriate insurance and precautions

Participation

Are you responsible for students registered in a field course?

• Review Chapter 3: Best Practices for Trip Leaders and Appendix Campus Resources
• Consider establishing a “Student Behavior Agreement” or reviewing a “Code of Conduct”
• Set the tone for a safe trip by discussing expectations and rules before trip
• Carry a participant roster with emergency contact and medical information at all times

Will participants be camping or sleeping in shared tents, dorms, housing, etc.?

• Review Chapter 3: Best Practices for Trip Leaders and Appendix Campus Resources
• Consider establishing a “Student Behavior Agreement” or reviewing a “Code of Conduct”
• Set the tone for a safe trip by discussing expectations and rules before trip
• Carry a participant roster with emergency contact and medical information at all times

Will volunteers be helping on your project? 

Register volunteers formally; consult with Risk Management

Will family members, partners, or other companions be travelling with participants?

Review USU Policy 515 for family/companion travel

Field Activities - Specifics to integrate into your Field Safety Plan

Working outdoors with temperatures over 80° F or in intense sunlight?

• Carry sufficient water(1L/hour), take breaks in shade
• Carry shades or tarps if natural shade is unavailable
• Maintain means of communication, awareness of worksite location, and ability to obtain EMS

Working in dry vegetation/areas with high fire danger?

• Complete fire extinguisher training
• Carry a fire extinguisher, shovel, and bucket of sand in your vehicle
• Consult with Campus Fire Marshal, Fire Prevention Office, or appropriate land management agency office

Working in cold/wet conditions?

• Provide all participants a recommended gear list including waterproof clothing, boots; layers for insulation, extra dry socks, tarp, etc.
• Carry extra blankets or sleeping bag in your vehicle for emergencies

Does work involve:

• Excavating soil more than 4 feet deep?
• Working at heights over 6 feet?
• Entering caves, vaults, mines, or other potential confined spaces?
• Handling or transporting hazardous material or samples?
• Use of powered tools or equipment?
• Working in loud environments?
• Using OHVs/ATVs?[MB1]
• Using snowmobiles?
• Clinical work or handling of biological specimens?
• Handling/trapping wildlife?
• Working with electricity?

• Contact EH&S or appropriate hazard assessment, training, and PPE selection
• Including training requirements and precautions in your Field Safety Plan or refer to specific procedures, job hazard analyses (JHA), etc.
• If medical clearance or vaccinations are required, schedule your appointment with Occupational Health at least 6-8 weeks prior to travel (e.g. for use of respirators, working in loud environments, handling bats or other hazardous wildlife). 

Will anyone be operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones)?

All UAS flights require prior approval and post-flight reporting.

Will anyone be boating (motorboats, kayaks, canoes, or other watercraft)?

• Properly fit PFDs must be worn at all times
• Complete a float plan for every trip

Written Field Safety Plan

For field work in remote locations – or hazardous work off campus – develop a field safety plan with site information and emergency procedures. Taking the time to compile a thorough safety plan and discuss it with your team will prepare you to more effectively manage risks that arise in the field. It serves as a hazard assessment tool and can include Go/No Go criteria, refer to other protocols or training and be used to brief your field team or course participants on trip logistics and precautions. Developing and using a field safety plan is appropriate for the following activities:

• Conducting field research or teaching field courses off campus
• Work performed at field stations, nature reserves, or controlled sites. Established site procedures may be available but should be supplemented with a safety plan for hazards specific to your research or tasks.

Field Safety Plan templates can be found in Appendix C: Example Trip Planning Forms

• Register your trip with a Travel (TA)
• Training on how to submit a TA request
• Travel Authorization Request
• Upon completion of the trip, a Travel Reimbursement must be submitted.
• Travel Reimbursement Request
• Travel Authorizations should be completed at least two weeks prior to the trip.

Identify appropriate equipment, gear, and first aid supplies

Fieldwork often requires travel and work at sites that lack basic services such as plumbed water, reliable communications, or prompt emergency medical services. It’s important during planning to budget and plan for appropriate safety measures.

First Aid Kits

According to USU Policy 5...this handbook lays out the requirements for first aid kits according to what outdoor activity you are participating in. There are two types of first aid kits, Class A and Class B. Class A first aid kits are able to treat with many common workplace injuries whereas Class B kits are more substantial and are able to treat injuries in more complex or high-risk environments.

If conducting research somewhere where first responders are readily available (within 30 minutes) a Class A first aid kit will suffice. These kits are able to allow for first aid to be rendered, but do not contain more aggressive bleeding control measures or more sustained wound management items.

When conducting research with more than 30 minutes away from first responders, and will be gone or away from first aid restocking supplies for more than 3 days, a Class B first aid kit will be required. These kitsare larger and contain more equipment for longer trips in case of emergency. 

When conducting field research and using powered equipment capable of causing great bodily harm such as chainsaws, ATV’s, etc. a Class B first aid kit will be requiredwith the supplementation of trauma supplies like a tourniquet and hemostatic dressing (some Class B kits already contain these items).It is recommended to have a large Class B first aid kit containing basic first aid supplies staged in a vehicle or at camp and then have each individual working with machinery or taking part in high risk activities have a personal micro trauma kit.

Any excursion into the field should include carrying some basic first aid supplies. There is no perfect first aid kit, but considerations include:

• First aid kits don’t save lives, people do. Get trained and know how to use everything in your first aid kit
• Commercial first aid kits are good starting points. The NOLS Store, North American Rescue, and other vendors such as REI and Adventure Medical Kits have options designed for outdoor excursions for various group sizes
  • Pre-packaged kits may not contain all of the supplies you might need in your kit. Considerevaluating your hazardsandbuying and stocking more trauma supplies (tourniquets, chest seals/petroleum gauze, etc.) in order to treat severe life-threatening traumatic injuries.
• Customize your kit for your destinationand group size
• Pack extra gloves
• Re-pack your first aid kit for each trip; replenish used or expired items
• Check for expiration dates on medications and sterile items; replace items that may have been torn open or damaged. Many vendors sell refill kits
• Leave an empty plastic bag in your kit for garbage. Be strict with all users of the kit to use the trash bag

Please see Appendix E for a complete list of contents for Class A and Class B first aid kits.

Important safety equipment to bring in the field

Consider transportation options and precautions

Modes of travel as well as vehicles or equipment used at your field site should be included in your field safety plan, along with any prerequisite trainingor required work practicesfor their field experience. Help prepare your participants to have a safe experience:

Schedule an orientation “pre-trip” meeting before heading out in the field

Communications

As per USU Policy 5?? Field Research Safety Policy 2.1.4 and 2.1.5

2.1.4 Communications Plan all field safety plans must include a communications plan that establishes; the means of communication, the frequency of communication as determined by the guidelines set forth in the USU Field Safety Handbook, a primary and secondary point of contact and a contingency plan when communication does not happen as outlined

Point of Contact Requirements:

• A primary and secondary point of contact must be designated at the employees’ day-to-day place of work (e.g. USU Main Campus, Ag Research Station, Home (i.e. major professor, wife, roommate, etc.)etc.). When an individual or entity is designated as a primary or secondary point of contact, one or the other must be available during the entire duration of the trip by whatever means is defined in the Communications Plan
• A primary and secondary point of contact must be designated at the field site. When an individual or entity is designated as a primary or secondary point of contact, one or the other must be available during the entire duration of the trip by whatever means is defined in the Communications Plan.