Risk Assessment for Fieldwork Abroad
A written assessment must be completed for all departmental fieldwork trips abroad. What is
important in conducting a risk assessment for a trip is that the hazards and risks are assessed and
that measures are taken to eliminate of reduce risks to acceptable levels. Plans should also be in
place should emergencies arise. It is important the risk assessment process is transparent to all
participants in the trip. Risk assessment is an ongoing process and does not end with the initial
assessment. Risks should be monitored through the period of a trip and reviewed between
recurring trips.
The following assessment template should be completed along with the 'travel log' form when
registering the trip for insurance purposes. A copy of this risk assessment should be sent to the
Departmental Safety Advisor for comment and provisional approval. Travel abroad to higher risk
areas also requires the approval by the Head of Department.
The headings provided in the template below are provided for guidance, although their relevance
may vary from activity to activity.
Proposed Destination:
Date of trip:
Trip Itinerary:
Include dates
Responsible person in
charge of trip:
Contact details whilst
away:
Other participating
members of staff I
students?:
Undergraduate
Students
Yes
Postgraduate
Students
Yes
No
(list names in Appendix 2)
Purpose of trip:
Justification for trip
going ahead to a
country presenting a
higher than normal
level of risk (e.g. countries
or parts of countries on 'FCO'
'don't go list'):
1.
No
Staff
Yes
No
Risk Assessment
The nature and complexity of the risk assessment will vary with the type of activity and therefore should be commensurate with the actual risk that the identified
hazards pose in the particular circumstances.
Hazards
Comment I Detail
Measures to prevent or minimize risk
Identify & describe the nature of all significant
hazards associated with the fieldwork & how harm
could occur I harmful effect of the hazard identified
Identify the key control measures, proportionate to level of risk
(i.e. likelihood + seriousness of harm occurring), needed to
reduce risks to a low & acceptable level.
Note: Modify list of measures to reflect specific requirements
•
Health:
Travellers must take
preventative measures
according to the hazards that
have been identified. Consider
quality of food and drink in
country of destination and
medical facilities I arrangements
•
•
•
•
•
Transport:
Off road driving,
hazardous terrain,
Remote country I
marsh I desert
Excessive hours/
load instability
Driving
•
•
•
Legal:
Law enforcement practice, local
legislation, by-laws, procedures
& standards. Alcohol restriction.
Punitive drugs laws
Crime I Security:
•
•
•
Street crime
Theft of money and travel documents
-
•
•
•
•
Raise participants awareness of generic personal safety
issues when traveling abroad
Request that participants inform trip organizer about any
special health needs whilst on the trip
Identify emergency health arrangements for the local
area
Carry first aid kit
Ensure all necessary vaccinations I medications have
been received I available
Individuals should refrain from driving immediately
following any long haul flight.
Ensure that the driving license is valid and insurance is
arranged. The driver will need to become familiar with
local driving regulations.
Verify that the driver is actually licensed to drive a vehicle
in the country to be visited
Make all participants aware of relevant laws that are
associated with country of destination
Raise participants awareness of need to carry relevant
documentation e.g. passport ID with them at all times?
Advise participants to take normal, sensible precautions
to avoid mugging, bag snatching and pick-pocketing
Passport and money (divided into more than one stash)
will be kept separately in inside pockets.
Valuables (including passport and spare money) will be
kept safe
Avoid any high crime areas
Residual Risk
Level
(See Appendix 1_)
s
L
RR
Hazards
Comment I Detail
Measures to prevent or minimize risk
Identify & describe the nature of all significant
hazards associated with the fieldwork & how harm
could occur I harmful effect of the hazard identified
Identify the key control measures, proportionate to level of risk
(i.e. likelihood + seriousness of harm occurring), needed to
reduce risks to a low & acceptable level.
Note: Modify list of measures to reflect specific requirements

Political instability I
terrorism:

Residual Risk
Level
(See Appendix 1_)
s
L
RR
Raise participants awareness of possible risk and
common sense measures to avoid flashpoints
FCO / UMAL and WHO web sites will be monitored to
determine the nature of any safety alerts relating to the area
F
C
O
Geographic Locations /
Climate:
I
e.g. extreme weather, exposure
to heat & sun / mountains, cliffs,
caves, mines and quarries,
forests / woods, freshwater, sea
& seahorse, marshes and
quicksands
Hazards associated with
the fieldwork activity:
e.g. equipment, lone working,
hazardous substances,
dangerous animals, diseases,
roadside work, work at height,
manual handling
Accommodation:
Consider personal safety: injury,
loss. In some countries, it may be
preferable to stay in 4/5 star hotels
than in guesthouses, hostels or
camping sites. The safety of the
accommodation must be
considered before departure.
1.
U
M
A
L
a
n
d
W
H
O
W
e
b
s
i
t
e
s
w
i
l
l
b
e
m
o
n
Other hazards /
Considerations:

Need to contact relative or friend or participant
in case of emergency



Ensure that trip organizer has a record of all participants in
trip
Ensure emergency contact details are collected from all
participants
Put in place system of notification that all participants
have arrived back from trip safely
Emergency Arrangements / Contingency Plans:
Describe how 24 hour emergency provision will be provided locally and what action would be taken in the event of an
emergency situation e.g. political unrest requiring evacuation from country.
The following action is given as a guide only:

Obtain the contact details for Emergency Medical Assistance and the University Policy Number before embarking on
any trip. These details are included on the University Travel certificate.

Obtain the contact details of the British High Commission or the Commonwealth Office in the country being visited.

Any incident should be reported to the Head of Department as soon as possible.
Supervised student fieldwork:
Describe arrangements (‘safe system of work’) for supervision of students during fieldwork activities:
Unsupervised fieldwork:

Describe arrangements for maintaining contact between worker(s) and academic supervisor

Describe other arrangements that will be adapted to safeguard fieldworkers (consider what means of communication
will be used and who will be made aware of fieldwork itinerary in case of emergency)
Describe the First Aid Arrangements (first aid guidance):
Training / Instruction / Information:
All individuals involved in fieldwork trips must receive appropriate instruction / information on significant hazards and
appropriate precautions necessary to reduce risk to a low and acceptable level. Appendix 2 should be used to record that
appropriate information and instruction has been provided to all fieldworkers.
Group / Course Leader’s Declaration:

I will provide full safety instruction and information (including written safety protocols where required) for those
involved in the fieldwork activity (see Appendix 2 for record)

I will provide appropriate supervision to enable work to be conducted within acceptable safety standards.
Name
Signature
Date
Assessment Review
Review and update the assessment when either significant change to the work activity occurs, or when there is evidence that
a review is necessary e.g. following an incident or accident.
1.
Appendix 1: Guide to Risk Level Rating
Field
Rating
Score
Description
High (H)
3
Hazard capable of resulting in death, severe injury or illness, or major loss to
equipment or buildings.
Moderate (M)
2
Hazard capable of resulting in injury or illness requiring absenc work, or
equipment damage.
Low (L)
1
Hazard capable of resulting in minor injury requiring first aid, or
inconsequential loss.
High (H)
3
Likely to occur imminently-hazard exists permanently
Moderate (M)
2
Likely to occur in time-hazards exists intermittently and there is a low
expectation of occurrence
Low (L)
1
May occur in time-hazards exists infrequently and there is a low expectation of
occurrence
None (N)
0
Hazard removed completely or effect of possible hazard made impossible by
design (applies only to residual risk).
High (H)
6,9
Priority risk. Must be reduced to a level that is acceptable through practical
and effective control measures.
Moderate (M)
3,4
Lesser priority risk. Should be assessed to see if further control measures
can be applied to reduce to low risk.
Low (L)
0,1,2
No further action is required.
Severity
of Harm
Likelihood
Final Risk
Rating
Appendix 2: Fieldwork Training Record
Sign off sheet for all participants (include emergency contact information?)
All those people taking part in the field work must sign below to indicate that they:

Have read the risk assessment and relevant sections of the departmental code of fieldwork practice

Have been given adequate safety information & instruction relevant to their fieldwork

Have been provided with written safety instructions/documentation where relevant

Agree to abide by any restrictions identified

Will report any concerns they have to the safety provision, training to the Group Leader or derectly to the
Departmental Safety Advisor
Name
Signature
Date