Field Safety Handbook

This handbook provides guidelines and resources to lead safe, successful field courses and research trips. The content focuses on risk management issues that are relevant for Utah State University – based field courses and research, international trips, research expeditions, and other outdoor excursions. Field sites may include field stations, natural reserves, public lands or parks, wilderness areas, coastline or waterways, or more controlled sites such as construction areas, excavations, or mines. The Field Safety Handbook was developed to serve as a reference document and teaching tool. The manual is organized into key sections on planning, training, incident response, best practices for trip leaders, and appendices on common field hazards and local campus resources. 

Faculty, staff, and students, including student employees and volunteers, are accountable for health and safety rules and following safe work practices, including:

  • Obtaining appropriate training for designated activities,
  • Using personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety equipment as required and directed,
  • Reporting unsafe conditions, malfunctioning equipment, and other safety concerns,
  • Reporting all injuries and incidents, and
  • Understanding what to do in the event of an emergency

Utah State University statement of risk is published in the University Catalog.

Assumption of Risk

All classes, programs, and extracurricular activities within the University involve some risk, and certain ones involve travel. The University provides opportunities to participate in these programs on a voluntary basis. Therefore, students should not participate in them if they do not care to assume the risks. Students can ask the respective program leaders/sponsors about the possible risks a program may generate, and if students are not willing to assume the risks, they should not select that program. By voluntarily participating in classes, programs, and extracurricular activities, a student does so at his or her own risk. General information about University Risk Management policies, insurance coverage, vehicle use policies, and risk management forms.

Codes of Conduct

This manual is intended for use in conjunction with official USU class or research activities. Participants are reminded that these activities are part of the university, and this the USU Code of Conduct applies.

Parts of this handbook are taken from the University of California Field Operations Safety Manual:

Copyright © 2019 The Regents of the University of California. Except as otherwise noted, this document is subject to a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-NC 4.0). More information about this license is found at: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode. Attribution should be given to “University of California Office of the President – Environment, Health & Safety.” Other than for attribution purposes, use of the University of California’s name is prohibited pursuant to Section 92000 of California’s Education Code

Communicable Disease Protocols

USU is committed to the safety of all students, faculty, and staff. Please follow all University, State, and Local guidances in order to remain safe and minimize the possibility of contracting or spreading communicable diseases while conducting researching/working. For more information, please visit the following links regarding disease safety in Utah: