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Field Safety
Field activities provide unique and invaluable learning opportunities for researchers, students, and the broader campus community to connect theory and practice, especially when hands-on field activities can be integral to research outcomes. Field activities come in a variety of forms, including field research, field studies, fieldwork, and field trips for academic courses, all of which deeply enrich the Cal Poly Humboldt experience.
These field activity opportunities come with increased safety responsibilities, as there are many risks that can arise in the field that are not present on campus. The increased potential for injury, illness, and accidents means those planning and organizing field activities to better understand the risks of their activity to ensure the safest, most successful experience for all involved. SPF and the Campus Risk team are here to support you through this process, including the reminder that every individual involved in field activities is responsible for safety, not just one “safety” person. The more preparation and planning that goes into a trip in advance, the more likely it will be for everyone to have a successful, enjoyable field experience. Staying safe in field activities locations means being well prepared, well trained, and following all the relevant safety protocols. The safety of yourself and your team should be of highest priority during any field activities.
The resources below have been developed to help minimize the risks and exposures associated with field activities, including suggestions, examples, and templates, but are not an all-inclusive list. Researchers and trip planners are encouraged to reach out to risk-management@humboldt.edu for support in preparing for a safe and successful field experience.
“Mental preparedness, good planning, and implementing risk mitigation measures to prevent incidents from happening is a much better strategy than having to deal with the consequences of an accident. It also leads to a more fun and enjoyable fieldwork experience with increased likelihood of achieving your fieldwork goals.” - INTERACT Fieldwork Planning Handbook
A Field Safety Plan serves as a tool to document the hazard assessment, communication plan, emergency procedures, and training for staff, researchers, or students planning to engage in field activities. This plan is intended to identify hazards, as well as precautions and actions taken to address and mitigate those hazards. It also acts as a reference document for the team and campus support in case of an emergency.
Start developing a safety plan early in the field activity planning process to allow time to gather information, identify safety controls needed, and complete necessary training. In the beginning planning stages of your field activities, start with the Pre-Trip Site Evaluation and Risk Assessment elements of the Field Safety Plan. This will inform many of the safety considerations you must take into account and ensure we are adequately balancing effective field activity results with necessary safety and compliance requirements.
The campus EH&S and Risk team is available for consultation throughout the development of this plan. The EH&S and Risk team can also assist in conducting a risk assessment of potential hazards, identification of necessary safety equipment, and training. Please reach out to risk-management@humboldt.edu early on in your planning process for support.
In preparation for field activities, trip leads should hold a pre-trip group meeting with all individuals to review the field safety plan and verify individuals have completed their safety training. A pre-trip meeting is also a good time to discuss travel logistics, packing lists (including first aid kits), and personal safety and security concerns. Note that personal safety risks should be considered and discussed in advance as part of the field safety plan drafting process. Such risks can include things like alcohol and drug use, leaving the group, situational awareness, sexual harassment, or local crime/security concerns. Review expectations and set the tone for a safe, successful trip. Field activities performed solo should be reviewed to mitigate the risks and safety concerns associated with performing these activities alone.
- Cal Poly Humboldt’s Campus Environmental Health & Safety Programs provides an in-depth collection of safety elements which may impact your fieldwork or field trip experience.
- University of California’s Field Operations Safety Manual is an excellent resource for planning successful field courses and research trips. The manual covers everything from planning and training to incident response and team leadership. There is also an appendix of Common Field Hazards, which provides guidance on common hazards that may come up during field activities and how to plan for, prevent, or navigate should such you encounter the hazard.
- Cal Poly SLO’s Field Trips and Activities page, as well as their Risk Assessment page offer clear definitions, core concepts for safety and risk mitigation, and a helpful FAQ via a CSU lens.
- UC Berkeley’s Field Research guidance page, with links to many useful resources. The Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Side Research page’s Additional Resources & Trainings are of particular interest and relevance.
Additional Related Topics
If your fieldwork includes any international travel (including Mexico and Canada), additional information, guidance, and requirements related to international travel should be reviewed as part of the fieldwork planning process. This includes information on Export Control and the Foreign Travel Insurance Program (FTIP), both of which may apply to your field activities.
If your fieldwork or program will include minors who are not matriculated Cal Poly Humboldt students, please review the Youth Protection Program requirements and register your program if applicable. If you are unsure whether or not your program/event needs to be registered, please reach out to risk-management@humboldt.edu for guidance.
Your fieldwork or program may have insurance or permitting requirements to safely and legally perform activities at your desired location. Please review the Insurance & Liability and Field Research Access Permits pages to determine if this will apply. If you are unsure, please reach out to risk-management@humboldt.edu for guidance.
Field Safety FAQs
Field research, field studies, fieldwork, or field trips are off-campus activities conducted outside a laboratory, library, or office setting in urban or nature environments.
Field activities may include but is not limited to the following activities:
- Day trips or extended stays
- Domestic or international trips
- Field trips for academic courses
- Student organization activities including off-campus events or competitions (Activities such as off-campus gatherings at private residences or off-campus parties are not included; a rock-climbing trip to the Trinities or kayaking the Humboldt Bay may be included.)
Work at other universities and laboratories (excluding field stations), conference travel, library/archives work, or office work are not considered fieldwork. A helpful local example is the Telonicher Marine Lab. Working in the lab as a work station would not be considered a field activity. However, if you walk from the lab to Trinidad State Beach to work with the tide pools, the beach work would be considered field activities. If you are unsure if a potential activity away from campus constitutes field activities, reach out to risk-management@humboldt.edu for guidance!
Developing and using a field safety plan is part of the Cal/OSHA requirement for an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP) when conducting activities in the field (see above). For work performed at field stations or nature reserves, established site procedures may be available, but should be supplemented with a field safety plan for potential risks specific to the research or tasks.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires plans for safe & inclusive off-campus and off-site research, effective January 30, 2023. In addition to setting you up for a safe and successful field activity, completing a Field Safety Plan often satisfies this requirement.
[This template - coming soon] is available as an example plan that addresses the core components to include in a field safety plan. Other examples are available that may be more applicable to your particular field activities. Whatever format is used, the plan should include a pre-trip risk assessment and plans to mitigate such risks.
The Risk Management and EH&S team is available to consult, review plans, offer suggestions, and or/or identify specific training needed. Please contact us at risk-management@humboldt.edu for support.
Yes. The creation of the plan or parts of the plan may be delegated to members of the group or research team. A team lead will be identified who may often be someone different than the person drafting the field safety plan. However, the faculty or supervisor is responsible for the plan’s review, approval, and implementation.
The PI, supervisor, or faculty advisor must sign-off on the plan. Review the Field Safety Plan with all trip participants. Carry a copy while conducting field activities (a paper copy may be appropriate if emergency internet and/or battery power may be unreliable).
Each of the emergency contacts should have a copy and be familiar with the plan. This includes someone at campus who is not on the trip (this could be the PI/supervisor, and/or other Department representative) who can assist in the case of an emergency.
The field safety plan should be updated whenever substantive changes to materials processes, procedures, equipment, or conditions change that represent a new safety and/or health hazard. The plan should also be updated when locations or participants change.
The field safety plan should include and evaluate the risks and hazards for each type of site/environment. Site descriptions, local contacts, access information and evacuation plans should be location specific.