BALL STATE UNIVERSITY GUIDANCE: FIELD WORK SAFETY
1.0 Introduction
Field Work is an important part of teaching and research at Ball State University (BSU) and
employee and student safety is of the utmost importance during such activities. As research or
educational pursuits often take students and staff off the main campus, this discussion is
designed to address health and safety issues that may arise in the field. Other university
policies and requirements for off-campus activities pertaining to liability and health
insurance are beyond the scope of this discussion.
The variety of research and education-oriented field work performed, the differing
geographic and geologic hazards and climates to which persons may be exposed, the flora
and fauna encountered, and myriad other potential hazards with travel and field work would
render a comprehensive safety plan—hoping to encompass all possible risks—both too
cumbersome and, most likely, ineffective. Accordingly, the BSU field work safety program
involves completion of a site-specific Field Work Safety Plan (Attachment A or B),
preparation of a specific Site Health and Safety Plan, or by following departmental guidance
and procedures that accomplish the same purpose in the identification, evaluation, and
control of any risks that may be encountered by staff during the field activities – including
travel to and from the field site. A Site Health and Safety Plan is a site-specific plan
developed for those facilities or locations that are regularly visited, or for permanent offcampus sites or bases where field activities or research are routinely performed. Such Plans
should include all of the considerations and components of a Field Work Safety Plan, but will
normally incorporate permanent features relative to the specific site – e.g., fire extinguisher
locations and training, medical assistance locations and procedures, watercraft safety, etc.
2.0 Scope
The Field Safety Plan guidance provided herein applies to all BSU employees, students, and
volunteers performing research or work at all BSU campuses, properties, or in the field. All
fieldwork has the potential to present physical and/or environmental hazards. As medical
attention is often not readily available to participants, special attention should be paid to
hazard assessment and mitigation of those hazards whenever possible.
This guidance is not intended to apply to minor and short-term excursions on or near campus
where a responsible faculty or staff member is present, communication is readily available, and
the persons participating, and outside assistance, can be quickly reached in the event of an
emergency. Field stations or research sites that are visited often, or for extended timeframes,
may have their own Site Health and Safety Plan. For commonly visited locations with routine
activities, this Field Work Safety Plan can often be completed only once and maintained with
updated rosters of the attending faculty, staff, and students, their contact information, and any
particular medical or other concerns with the participants.
1
3.0 Responsibilities
3.1
Departments
The individual academic departments are responsible for supporting and ensuring compliance
with the BSU Field Safety Plan program – be that through the use of this guidance, a Site Health
and Safety Plan for particular locations or settings, or other guidance or programs developed by
the Department itself to identify and evaluate the risks of any field activities--and provide the
means to address or control those physical, chemical, or biological risks.
3.2
Faculty, Principal Investigators, and Supervisors
Departmental faculty, instructors, Principal Investigators, and supervisors, or their designees,
who are engaged in field work activities are responsible for implementation of this BSU Field
Safety Plan guidance, or similar guidance developed by their particular department for the field
activities they will be undertaking. Each researcher, instructor, or team leader must have access
to the completed site-specific Field Safety Plan, Site Health and Safety Plan, or the responsible
department’s health and safety procedures, in paper or electronic format, and be familiar with
its content and requirements. The Department, through its faculty, PIs, and supervisors, or
their designees, are responsible for the following:










Hazard assessment of the field research, physical, or educational activities;
Assuring all safety requirements have been addressed prior to field research;
Identification of field research team members, including the Field Research Team Leader
and their emergency contact information;
Accounting for the presence and well-being of each team member before travelling to or
from the site, particularly when more than one vehicle is being used, and regularly
during the course of the field work;
Establishment of emergency procedures and necessary equipment;
Assuring a copy of the safety plan is left on campus as well as being available on-site;
Verifying that a means of communication, including during travel to and from the field
site, is available in case a member of the excursion must be contacted in the event of
an emergency;
Reviewing the referenced Field Safety Programs or Manuals, and departmental
requirements, to ensure that all risks are identified and addressed for the specific
activities and environments involved;
Review of the safety plan with research or academic team members prior to field
research beginning; and,
Providing project-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) and special training
when field specific activities create potential hazards. The EHS Office is available for
consultation in these areas.
2
3.3
Field Team Leader
Each research or academic team should appoint a Field Team Leader. The Field Team Leader is
responsible for knowing the potential hazards associated with the field research or educational
activities and for preparing and reviewing the completed Ball State University Field Safety Plan
(Appendix A or B), a Site Health and Safety Plan, or the departmental guidance documents or
procedures, along with all team members, prior to mobilization to the site of the subject field
work.
3.4
Field Team Members
Participants in the research or education-oriented field work or project are responsible for
their own compliance with this written program and the safety plan or guide produced for the
particular endeavors involved. They should participate in, and contribute to, preparation of
the Field Safety Plan, Site Health and Safety Plan, or departmental procedures to the extent
possible--as well as being aware of their contents—all prior to mobilization to the site of the
field work.
4 .0
General Field Safety Guidelines
The most important phases of fieldwork take place before the participants leave—planning,
and preparation. Completion of the following items prior to departure will help ensure that you
will be in contact/be contacted by someone in the event of emergency, and that hazards have
been evaluated and steps have been taken to mitigate those hazards:

Completion of the BSU Field Safety Plan– using either the form in Appendix A or
Appendix B, a Site Health and Safety Plan, or by following the particular department’s
written guidance and procedures (a completed copy of this plan must stay on campus
with your departmental office at all times through the duration of fieldwork);

The use of motor vehicles represents the greatest potential hazard by field laboratory
participants. Since field travel often involves frequent stops along busy roads, special care should
be taken to alert staff and students to traffic hazards when leaving or boarding vehicles, or when
walking near roadways. In general, trips should be planned to minimize personnel exposure to
traffic. The team should also make sure that working highway safety equipment is available in
the transport vehicles – lights, flares, highway hazard markers, etc., in case of a roadway
emergency. Poor weather conditions for travel should be anticipated during planning.

Project-specific hazard assessment for hazardous plants, animals, insects, terrain and
weather (see hazard assessment portions of the referenced Field Safety Programs or
Manuals from other universities). Particular preparations, precautions, training, and
equipment are required for a number of endeavors – caving, boating, hiking, animal
contact, etc. Your department, or the department sponsoring the field trip, will likely
have particular precautions or equipment necessary for participation.
3

In the event that you will work with animals, wild or domestic, consult the Institutional
Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

A “Buddy System” should be used for every field laboratory, such that each individual has a
partner who knows his or her whereabouts at all times.

It is important that researchers, instructors, and students bear in mind that field work is
meant to be an educational experience–not an endurance test! Any participants uncertain
about the types of hazards that may exist should consult the team leader, faculty member,
or researcher. Also, any participant who feels that a particular activity exceeds his/her
physical capabilities (or level of training, or available equipment) should alert the team
leader IMMEDIATELY.

Participants should report any special medical problems they may have, or medication they
need, to trip leaders prior to participating in field research or educational experiences.

Preferably, and depending on the circumstances and availability of emergency assistance,
at least one person on the Field Team should be certified in First Aid and CPR. A basic firstaid kit must accompany the participants.

Special transportation and shipping requirements apply to the transport of certain
chemical, biological or radioactive samples or products. Similarly, provisions should
be available to respond to any release of, or exposure to such materials. Contact the
BSU Environmental Health and Safety Office with any questions.
As stated previously, it is only following the identification of potential hazards, assessment of the
associated risks, and the selection and provision of the necessary precautions, equipment, training, and
other hazard controls that a particular field trip should be undertaken. It is through the use of the sitespecific BSU Field Safety Plan prepared using the form in either Appendix A or B, a Site Health and Safety
Plan, or similar departmental guidance and procedures, that these actions are to be accomplished,
documented, and available for use in the field.
4
Appendix A
BSU Field Safety Plan Template (Version 1)
5
FIELD SAFETY PLAN (Template)
This template may be used by the Faculty Member, Instructor, Principal Investigator (PI), or Project
Manager, to assist with the development of a Field Safety Plan. The completed Safety Plan should be
shared with all the members of the field research team and a copy left with the Department. Multiple
trips to the same location can be covered by a single Safety Plan. The Safety Plan should be revised
whenever a significant change to the location or scope of fieldwork occurs.
Section I.
Faculty Member, Principal
Investigator/Project Manager:
Department:
Phone:
Email:
Project Duration:
Location of Field Research (Attach map and transportation safety precautions – road hazards, vehicles,
etc.)
Country:
Geographical Site:
State or County:
Nearest City:
Nearest Hospital or
Emergency Health
Facility:
Phone Number:
Attach map with driving directions from field site to nearest hospital or health care facility
BSU Dept. Contact Person:
Phone:
Local (Field) Contact Person:
Phone:
Field Work Personnel (Attach separate sheet of paper if necessary)
Name
Category (check all that apply)
Affiliation
(i.e. BSU, Other)
Team
Leader
Team
Member
Other
(specify)
Trained
First Aider
6
First Aid Trained Person:
Phone:
CPR Trained Person:
Phone:
Section II.
Field Research Study/Project: Describe scope of field work or activity. (Attach separate sheet of paper if
necessary)
Hazards Inherent to the Project (Check all that Apply)
Environment
Work Tasks
High Altitude
Work in Confined Space (natural or man-made)
Extreme Temperature
Trenching/Excavating
Excessive/Extreme Exposure to sun, wind,
blowing sand, etc.
Work Over/Under Water
Diving
Accessibility
Work at Night/Poor Lighting
Noise Generated > 85 dBA
Dusts/Other Particulate Hazards
Potential for Oxygen Deficiency or Other
Atmospheric Hazard (i.e. gas, vapor)
Remote Location
Hazardous Waste Generation
Long Distance to Medical Services
Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Difficult Communications with the outside world
Handling Hazardous Materials
Terrain
Storage of Hazardous Materials on site
Rough/Unusual Terrain
Lack of Potable Water
Flash Flood Potential
Lack of Sanitary Facilities
Falling Objects (avalanches, rock falls, etc.)
Flying Debris or Impact
7
Work along roadway shoulders (Attach traffic control
Electrical Hazard
plan and permit, if required)
Fire Hazards (welding, cutting)
Heights (trees, cliffs, etc)
Diving
Disaster Area
Climbing/Strenuous Hiking Required
Violence (political, military, etc)
Flora/Fauna
Equipment Used in Field Area
Wild Animal Hazards
Snowmobile/ATV
Venomous/Poisonous Animals:
Boat/Canoe/Kayak
Insects as Known Disease Carriers
Forklift
Trapping/Handling Animals:
Materials Brought to Field Area
Toxic/Poisonous Plants:
Chemicals
Other:
Biological
Radiological
Other:
No Known Hazards
Section III.
Safety Plan: Describe the risks, and associated safety provisions or procedures for the hazard(s) identified in the field research
activities as noted above. (Attach separate sheet of paper if necessary)
Personal Protective Equipment or Clothing Required: All field activities require basic protection
including appropriate field clothing, hand protection, safety shoes/boots, and eye protection. Any additional
PPE requirements based on the hazards identified as part of minimizing risk of exposure, injury or illness.
(Check all that Apply)
Face Shields/Safety Glasses
Respirator
Hearing Protection
Type:
Hard Hat/Bump Cap
Cartridge/Filter Type:
Rain Gear
Portable Eye Wash
Fall Protection
Extraction Equipment
(Confined Space)
Flashlights
8
Gloves
Emergency Shower
Other:
Travel Immunizations: List any required immunizations/prophylaxis required for this field study
Preparedness (Check all that Apply)
Medications (Taken on a Regular Basis)
Allergy Treatments (as needed)
Adequate Food and Water Supplies
Water Purification Tablets or Filter Devices
Other:
Safety Training Required
First Aid/CPR
Biosafety
Emergency Action and Preparedness
Radiation Safety
Project Specific Hazard Communication
Laser Safety
OSHA Carcinogens
Respiratory Protections
Compressed Gasses and Cryogenic Liquids
Forklift/Other Heavy Equipment
HotWorks
Confined Space Entrant/Attendant/Supervisor
Dangerous Good/Hazardous Materials Shipping
Heat Illness Prevention
Certified SCUBA Diver
Other:
Section IV.
Emergency Plan/Procedure: Describe emergency response procedures in an event of an injury, exposure,
accident, or other emergency situation. Include emergency communication, evacuation plans, etc. (Attach
separate sheet of paper if necessary)
9
By signing below, I certify that I have read the Field Research Safety Plan and agree that I and all listed
participants will abide by the Safety Plan and adhere to all SDSU policies and procedures as well as any local
policies, procedures or guidelines.
Signature:
Date:
Participants:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Participants
A number of References from other Universities are available for the
preparation of this field safety plan – here are several:
Northern University of Arizona Field Safety Plan:
http://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Administrative/Research/Compliance/_Forms/Field-Safety-Manual.pdf
University of California, Berkeley, Safety Guidelines for Field Researchers:
http://ehs.berkeley.edu/images/ehs/pubs/fieldresearchsfty.pdf
Arizona State University, Safety Guidelines for Field Researchers
http://www.asu.edu/ehs/documents/field_researchers_manual.pdf
Cornell University, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Field Safety Guidelines
http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/pdf/FieldSafetyGuide.pdf
10
Appendix B
BSU Field Safety Plan Template (Version 2)
11
Ball State University
Field Safety Plan
This form may be used by the Principal Investigator (PI), lead instructor, clinical coordinator, or Field
Team Leader to develop a Safety Plan. The completed Safety Plan must be shared with all the
members of the fieldwork team and kept on file on campus. Multiple trips to the same location can
be covered by a single Safety Plan. The Safety Plan must be revised whenever a significant change to
the location or scope of fieldwork occurs, and updated as necessary with participant information.
Principal Investigator/Lead Instructor/Clinical Coordinator Contact Information:
Name:
Department:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Dates of Travel: (List multiple dates if more than one trip is planned.)
Travel Precautions (if vehicular, list safety equipment – emergency lights/flares, traffic cones,
power inverter, jumper cables, etc. – discuss weather and terrain)
Security/Physical Safety (Please list any security or safety concerns and precautions needed.
Location of Fieldwork:
Country:
Geographical Site:
Nearest City:
(Name, distance from site)
Nearest Hospital:
(Name, distance from site, phone
number-provide map)
Type of fieldwork: (Please include a brief description of the type of work to be performed.)
University Contact:
Name and Phone Number:
Local (Field) Contact
Name and Phone Number:
Communication Plan: (Describe planned communication, including frequency of contact with
university and local contacts.)
12
Emergency Procedures: Please include detailed plans for field location, including evacuation
plans and emergency communication. (Emergency contact information must be included for
each participant in the participant list of the following page.)
First Aid Training: (Please list any team members who are trained in first aid, CPR, and the
type of training received.)
Physical Demands: (Please list any physical demands required for this field research; e.g.,
diving, climbing, high altitude.)
Risk Assessment: Please list identified risks associated with the activity or the physical
environment (e.g., extreme heat or cold, wild animals, endemic diseases, travel risks, caving,
open water, rough terrain, firearms, explosives, violence). List appropriate measures to be
taken to reduce the risks. Add additional rows or include a separate sheet if necessary.
Identified Risks
Risk Controls
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Travel Immunizations: (Please list required immunizations/prophylaxis.) Contact the BSU
Health Center (765-285-8431) for assistance.
Chemical Inventory: (Please list any hazardous chemicals that will be transported for use in
the field and precautions for their handling – storage, labeling, SDSs, PPE, etc.)
Biologicals: (Please list any biological materials that will be transported for use in the field and
precautions for their handling – storage, labeling, PPE, etc.)
Equipment Inventory: (Please identify any research or study equipment, or PPE) that will be
provided for use in the field and the training or necessary instructions for their use
13
Field Team Membership: (Please list the names, BSU ID numbers, and emergency contact
information for all members of the field team, and identify the Field Team Leader.)
Participant name
BSU ID#
Emergency Contact Name
Emergency Contact
Phone number
Team Leader:
Team Members:
Team Members:
Training Certification:
By signing below the Principal Investigator, Lead Instructor, Clinical Coordinator, or Field Team Leader
verifies that he or she has shared the contents of this safety plan with all team members and that they
are familiar with the risks, prevention measures, and emergency plans. Further, that a copy remains
with the Department administrator throughout the period of the authorized field activities.
Signature
Printed Name
Date
A number of References from other Universities are available for the preparation of this
field safety plan – here are several:
Northern University of Arizona Field Safety Plan:
http://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Administrative/Research/Compliance/_Forms/Field-Safety-Manual.pdf
University of California, Berkeley, Safety Guidelines for Field Researchers:
http://ehs.berkeley.edu/images/ehs/pubs/fieldresearchsfty.pdf
Arizona State University, Safety Guidelines for Field Researchers
http://www.asu.edu/ehs/documents/field_researchers_manual.pdf
Cornell University, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Field Safety Guidelines
http://oeh.cals.cornell.edu/pdf/FieldSafetyGuide.pdf
14