Fieldwork safety guidelines

Each student must behave responsibly during field work in order to reduce the risk of accidents.
Each individual is responsible for their own safety.

A written risk assessment for dissertations (Form FS1) must be completed and approved before any fieldwork is undertaken.
Report any disability or inability before starting a course and report any injury or illness to the member of staff in charge. Stay with the main party.
If you are taking any medication, please ensure that you take it with you on the field trip.
Observe all instructions from the field course leader. Anyone acting contrary to safety requirements may be dismissed from the course.
Special instructions may be given for particular environments.

CLOTHING, PROTECTION, EQUIPMENT AND INSURANCE

Wear and carry clothing and footwear as appropriate to the fieldwork situation.
Waterproof outer garments, eg anorak, overtrousers, warm pullover or fleece/jacket and stout boots are basic essentials.
A woollen hat is desirable as considerable heat loss occurs via the head.
Wellington boots are only suitable for shallow wading.
Walking boots should have mountaineering soles.
Sports shoes and jeans are unsuitable.
Thigh waders can be used for fluvial work.
Chest waders in particular require care if they take in water.
In hot climates wear a protective hat.

Safety helmets must be worn, by law, when visiting quarries, mines, building sites, cliffs and screes wherever there is a risk of falling objects.
Safety goggles should be worn when hammering.

Never hit one geological hammer with another as they may splinter.
Always carry a whistle, map, compass, watch, torch, first aid, mobile phone, emergency supplies (eg water, chocolate, glucose), survival bag (eg large polythene bag) or commercially available survival bag.
In hot weather use an appropriate factored sun lotion, and carry adequate drink and salt tablets.

Individual personal insurance should be considered for accident or illness, especially when abroad.
Ensure there is adequate equipment insurance.

Do not climb cliffs, rock faces or crags unless this has been approved as an essential part of the work.
Avoid the edges of cliffs and quarries and other steep or sheer faces.
Ensure that rocks above are safe before venturing below.
Quarries with rock faces loosened by explosives are especially dangerous.
Never work:
under an overhang
in deep cuttings
in trenches - unless adequate shoring is in place
in deep pits
Avoid loosening rocks on steep slopes.
Never roll rocks down slopes or over cliffs for amusement.
Do not run down steep slopes.
Take great care when walking or climbing over slippery rocks below high water mark on rocky shores.
Do not work directly above another person.
Beware of landslides.
Beware of adders in heathland.
In hot climates take care to avoid prolonged direct sunshine, thorny vegetation and poisonous plants and animals.
Be aware of indigenous plants and animals.
PERSONAL SAFETY MUST TAKE PRIORITY, but as fieldwork equipment is often expensive attempt to ensure its survival where it is safe to do so.

Do not enter old mineworks or cave systems unless it has been approved as an essential part of the work. Only do so by arrangement with the group leader with proper lighting and headgear. NEVER GO ALONE.
When entering old mineworks ensure that someone on the surface knows your location and expected time of return. It is important to report to the group leader after returning to the surface.
Comply with safety rules, blast warning procedures and any instructions given by officials.
Avoid touching any machinery or equipment in quarries, mines, building sites or fields.
Never pick up any unexploded explosives, wires or detonators from rock piles. If found, inform the group leader immediately.
Keep a sharp lookout for moving vehicles.
Beware of sludge lagoons.
Avoid mires and bright green patches of moss.
If in a mire and starting to sink, lie on your back, shout for help, and if no help comes attempt to back stroke across the surface. You may sink irretrievably if you flounder about.

Work out a plan in advance for situations which could be encountered eg illness, accident, bad weather.
Check weather forecasts and keep a constant look out for changes.
Attend to anyone injured and withdraw remaining members of the group to a safe location.
Send for help – two people where possible – and give information of exact location of party and nature of injuries.
Take steps to warn others of hazard.
Limit any discussion to a factual report.
When working in a group do not stray off or return without informing the group or field course leader.

Always inform someone of your departure, route, activity and return time (friend, parent, post office, police, youth hostel, park warden etc).
Always inform the same person(s) of your return.
It is essential that the person(s) you have informed of your whereabouts and likely return time knows exactly what procedure to follow in the event of your non-return.
The emergency signals are:
Six signals within one minute (whistle blast, torch flashes, shouts, waves of cloth); One minute pause; Repeat six signals
Reply is: Three signals; One minute pause
Use a mobile telephone (check the battery is fully charged before setting out) when and where available, remembering to give mobile telephone number to enable return contact. Make sure the mobile is switched on. Don’t rely on it as it may be in an area without signal.

Be polite when interviewing the public.
Do not damage property.
Leave gates as found.
Do not trample crops.
Do not worry livestock.
Do not collect specimens from nature reserves without a permit, and only elsewhere for serious scientific study.
Do not leave litter.
Respect wildlife.

Working alone is undesirable but independent fieldwork may be required for project or dissertation work. ALWAYS WORK WITH SOMEONE wherever possible eg take a brother, sister, friend when working on a field project. This also applies to urban interviews and questionnaires as well as to moorland and other "natural" sites. In foreign environments, ensure a basic competence in the relevant language for emergency use. In household interviews DO NOT enter the premises – interview only in the doorway.
Always obtain permission before entering private land/property.
Ensure that you have adequate survival gear and supplies to spend a night in the open in case you have an accident. If this occurs, lay out your position with a brightly coloured object.
Discuss your project and any risk with your supervisor/project organiser. No project that has an undue safety risk will be sanctioned.