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Steps for Field Safety Preparation
Steps for Field Safety Preparation
Register your trip
Automatically registered for trips booked in Connexxus
For trips over 100 miles from UCSC, manually register your trip with UC Away.
Receive Travel Insurance information after registration and on the Travel Guide page.
Create and share your Field Safety Plan
Use the template below or create your own Plan including the following required sections:
Research location and description
Participants and contact information
Emergency services at research site
Site travel and access
First aid considerations
Travel preparations
Identify hazards using the Psychosocial and Physical Hazard Assessment tools
Co-create and/or share with all field participants BEFORE activities begin
Complete Training
Required training can include: Heat Illness Prevention, Wildfire Smoke protections and First Aid
Visit the Training page for all courses available via the Field Safety Program
Visit the UC Field Safety Leadership Training library for recorded workshops on a variety of topics
Carry a First Aid kit
Customize the kit for your location and tasks. If you need supplies, order them from the First Aid Kit Supplies page.
Replenish expired materials, carry extra disposable gloves and know how to use each item in the kit before you leave
Consider and discuss security risks and personal safety
Discuss plans, safety concerns & precautions in advance of travel with your supervisor or advisor
Create a check-in plan to discuss emerging concerns during travel and make informed decisions together
Consult with reliable local contacts, check State Department warnings, and review a “security brief” for your destination, available by registering your trip with UC Away or logging into the Crisis24 Horizon Portal directly
UCSC Field Research Safety Policy
UCSC Field Research Safety Policy
UC Santa Cruz has a field safety policy, Field Research Safety. The policy instructs researchers to conduct the following risk management steps:
Risk Assessment
Planning
Communication
Participation
This page provides tools to help researchers address the aims of the policy.
Field Safety Plan Template
Field Safety Plan Template
The Field Safety Plan Template is a fillable and modifiable document designed to help research groups generate a practical Field Safety Plan. A Field Safety Plan covers critical details that all participants should be familiar with before conducting field work.
To use the Field Safety Plan template:
Open the Field Safety Plan Template in Google Drive. You will only have "Viewing" access.
Under "File", click on "Make Copy". This will save it to your Google Drive.
You can then input the appropriate information and save it to your Drive. You can share it with all field participants using Google Docs or by emailing them a copy.
You can send your Field Safety Plans to fieldsafety@ucsc.edu
NSF Safe and Harassment-free Fieldwork Plans
NSF Safe and Harassment-free Fieldwork Plans
UCSC is committed to fostering safe, healthy, and inclusive work environments. Policies and expectations for conduct that promote safe and harassment-free environments apply to all staff, faculty and students whether working on-campus, in remote off-campus field settings, or engaging in other off-campus scholarly activities.
Per the National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter II.E.9, for NSF proposals that conduct research off-campus or off site submitted on or after January 30, 2023, UC Santa Cruz is required to certify that we have a plan in place for each proposal that addresses:
(1) Abuse of any person, including but not limited to harassment, stalking, bullying or hazing of any kind, whether the behavior is carried out verbally, physically, electronically, or in written form; and
(2) Conduct that is unwelcome, offensive, indecent, obscene, or disorderly
UC Santa Cruz meets NSF requirements via the policies and procedures outlined in the Safe and Harassment-free (SAHF) Fieldwork Plan. These University Policies are supplemented by the project specific information on the second page of the SAHF Fieldwork Plan, which is to be completed by the Principal Investigator.
Building on the NSF’s SAHF Fieldwork Plan, the UCSC Field Safety Program has integrated elements into the Field Safety Plan Template that guide Responsible Persons and Principal Investigators to formulate prevention and reporting strategies for harassment and discrimination that meet the NSF requirement.
Resources for Field Safety Preparation
Resources for Field Safety Preparation
UC Field Research Safety Center of Excellence is a UC-wide endeavor to support field researchers in safety planning. The COE sponsors the annual UC Field Safety Leadership Series as well as other training and career development opportunities for field researchers.
The UC Field Operations Safety Manual serves as a reference document and teaching tool to promote safe, successful field courses and research trips. It includes guidance on planning, training, incident response, risk assessment, effective communication, campus resources, and common field hazards.
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