3 Conduct of fieldwork

3.1 Field Trips on Foot

Itineraries must be planned carefully and adequate time allowed to accomplish objectives. Leaders must exercise considerable vigilance, particularly if the terrain is hostile or participants inexperienced.

Great care must be taken when crossing dangerous terrain (eg snow slopes, glaciers, rivers, estuaries, mud flats, slippery intertidal rocks). A watch for stragglers should be kept and an experienced walker should be at the rear. Loads must be tailored to physical ability and walking pace matched to the capabilities of the slowest walkers; regular breaks should be taken.

Walkers in remote areas should be alert to possible sudden weather changes and must be adequately equipped. If skis, snowshoes, ice axes, crampons, climbing gear or other aids are necessary, participants must be adequately trained in their use.

People walking roads at night should wear light or reflective clothing and front and rear lights should be carried.

3.2 Transport (Land, Water and Air)

Vehicles, boats and aircraft play an essential part in many field trips, particularly in remote areas. Risk assessments should take into account the suitability of the chosen method of transport, prevention of driver/operator fatigue and provision of adequate rest periods. Transport must be maintained in a safe state, in compliance with national regulations, by competent persons. Adequate backup transport should be available and sufficient spare parts carried to meet foreseeable emergencies.

Use of University transport must follow the relevant code reference the policy document, Minibus Passenger Transport Vehicles.

Drivers or pilots must possess appropriate licences and must be in a fit state to drive or fly, in conformity with national regulations.

Transport must not be used in a reckless, careless or dangerous manner. Local traffic regulations must be observed and seat restraints used if available. Loads must not be excessive, dangerously distributed or improperly secured. On water, navigational rules and conventions must be observed and an adequate lookout maintained.

Animals used for transport must be cared for humanely and be handled and/or ridden by people with adequate expertise.

3.3 Equipment

Equipment must be selected carefully to ensure that it is suitable for the intended use and conditions. Where appropriate, the relevant British, European or International Standards should be complied with. In the case of hired equipment, it will be necessary to seek confirmation of compliance with such standards and to ensure that it has been properly maintained.

Equipment must be checked and tested before use and at appropriate predetermined intervals during use. If necessary, eg for diving or climbing gear, schemes of examination must be drawn up and inspections made by competent persons. Damaged equipment must be suitably repaired or taken out of service. Items essential for survival should be duplicated where practicable and duplicate items transported separately.

The legal requirements for use of portable electrical equipment must be followed, reference Portable Appliance Testing.

Reduced voltage (eg 110 volts) should be used out of doors with earth leakage/residual current protection where practicable. Waterproof / sparkproof equipment must be used as appropriate and damage to cables and insulation must be avoided.

Firearms (and other items requiring firearms licences, eg some types of flare) must be used only by competent, suitably licensed persons and stored safely and securely.

3.4 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Adequate and suitable PPE must be used by all participants as indicated by the risk assessment. It should be checked regularly, maintained in good condition and worn correctly as required by the manufacturer’s instructions and/or training instruction given to the user.

Equipment must comply with UK / European / International Standards, whichever are appropriate and should be used wherever specified by the relevant risk assessment. PPE should be marked with the CE mark under the requirements of the Health & Safety (Personal Protective Equipment) Regulations (2002). It is important that the risk assessment identifies the correct type of PPE to be used e.g. correct glove for chemical used, type of hearing protection etc.

Types of PPE to be considered are as follows:

Safety helmets (hard hats)	Risk of falling objects
Eye/face protection - face visors, safety spectacles	Use of tools, chemicals e.g. geology hammers, acid etchants
Hearing protection - ear plugs, ear defenders	Noisy mobil equipment, chainsaws, drills, etc.
Respiratory protection	Exposure to dusts, toxic vapours, smoke
High visibility jackets	Remote areas, road traffic, mobile equipment
Life jackets	Sailing, boating, canoes, any water based activities
Gloves	Chemical protection, cut protection, heat protection
Foot protection	Risk to feet e.g. impact (toe caps), water/chemicals (wellington boot)
Sun screen	Risk of sunburn, exposure to UV radiation

3.5 Protective Clothing

Personal clothing needs to be chosen according to the needs of the risk assessment. Consideration needs to be given to the amount of clothing to allow for emergencies (wet conditions) but also allowing for transport limitations e.g. backpack capacity.

Specialist clothing may be needed for certain environments, examples are as follows:

Weatherproof clothing	Cold/wet conditions
Footwear	Walking boots
Wet suits	Sailing/boating/canoeing
Gloves	Wet/cold protection
Thermal clothing	Cold conditions
Head protection	Sun hats

This type of clothing will not be controlled by regulatory standards but will need to be chosen with regard to ‘fit for purpose’, reference to the risk assessment will be required to achieve the best choice.

3.6 Dangerous Substances

Suitable and sufficient assessments of risks and adequate arrangements for their control must be made for dangerous substances (eg explosives, chemicals, biological hazards, radioactive sources) used on field trips. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations apply and a COSHH risk assessment must be carried out prior to the work being carried out. If overseas a knowledge of local legislation is essential e.g. OSHA in the USA (Occupational Safety & Health Act 1970).

Risk from potentially dangerous substances which might be encountered as a result of the work undertaken or sites visited must also be assessed and controlled (eg a trip to sample river sediments for heavy metals might also entail exposure to potentially harmful micro-organisms like Leptospirosis – Weil’s Disease).

Dangerous substances must be used only by competent persons and handled, so far as is reasonably practicable, with the same degree of care as in the laboratory. Risk assessments must be carried out and effective systems of control adopted. Where practicable, hazards should be eliminated or reduced by substituting less harmful substances.

Dangerous substances must be disposed of safely and in accordance with local environmental legislation.

Visit the University’s CoSHH pages for the CoSHH assessment form and Guidance notes.

3.7 Excavations and Boreholes

Excavations must be carefully planned and made by competent persons. They must be protected against collapse and inspected regularly. Risk assessments must take account of the dangers from toxic or flammable gases and the dangers of oxygen depletion. Care must also be taken to avoid hazards from underground services and spoil tips. Sites must be adequately cordoned off and appropriate warning signs displayed. Visitors must be supplied with adequate safety information and protective clothing.

3.8 Manual Handling

Loads carried must be matched to physical ability. Where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid operations with a risk of injury, a risk assessment must be made and safe working procedures instituted in accordance with University Guidance on Manual Handling operations. The University’s Manual Handling Operations assessment form and Guidance Notes may be found here as well.

3.9 Mechanical Handling

Operators of cranes and hoists must be trained in correct lifting and slinging techniques. Lifting equipment must be suitable for the task and inspected as necessary by competent persons. Safe working loads must not be exceeded. Advice leaflets are available from the HSE for lifting.

3.10 Making Observations

Before starting, the surroundings should be examined carefully and any hazards noted. Examples are:

extremes of climate/weather
heights
unstable rock, soil, ice or snow formations
mine shafts, potholes, crevasses, confined spaces
dangerous buildings
marshes or quicksand
intertidal rocks
forest or brush fire hazards
overhead power lines
tides, rough seas, swift currents, high winds
traffic (roads, quarries)
mines or unexploded bombs
venomous, frisky or aggressive animals
infectious hazards (see section on health).

The possible effect of reasonably foreseeable climatic conditions must be considered and up to date weather forecasts obtained where practicable; local knowledge can be very useful here.

Arrangements should be made to protect against adverse weather, to guard against slipping or falling and to allow swift evacuation in emergencies. A safe system of work (including emergency action) must be devised and communicated to all participants. They should be warned not to become so engrossed in their tasks that they fail to notice changing conditions, such as weather or tide.

It may be necessary to consider precautions such as:

appropriate protective clothing (see above)
provision of shade or shelter
provision of maps, compasses, tide tables, first aid and medical equipment
fixed safety lines, nets, safety harnesses
readily available rescue and emergency equipment
posting of lookouts
safety boats
adequate supervision, "buddy" systems
establishment of a radio or other communication system.
control of sources of ignition
permit to work systems (eg in confined spaces)
gas detection equipment
erection of barriers and warning signs

3.11 Security - The Human Hazard

Theft, vandalism and violent crime can be a problem in both remote and urban areas. Hazards to workers (particularly people working alone and those judged to be particularly vulnerable) should be considered carefully and appropriate precautions taken. Local crime rates, social and political factors should be considered and police or social workers consulted if necessary.

Preventative measures might include the following:

pre-visit appointments and checks
making visits in pairs or with a companion in earshot
security locks on vehicles, buildings, stores
anti-theft devices and alarms
personal alarms
radios or mobile phones
monitoring and reporting systems
regular, planned reporting back

3.12 Catering

Although it may be difficult to maintain adequate food hygiene in the field, every effort should be made to do so as intestinal upsets can have a devastating effect on a field trip. Most of the following comments apply to the catering arrangements for expeditions, but the general principles apply to all field trips.

Organisers should aim to provide a wholesome, balanced and varied diet, taking into account special dietary needs. Local foods should be selected carefully and high risk foods should be avoided. Foods should be stored so as to minimise risk of spoilage or contamination and prepared in as hygienic a manner as possible; preparation areas must be kept as clean as practicable. (Ideally, expedition cooks should have a food hygiene qualification). People with skin, nose, throat or bowel infections should not prepare food. Prepared food should be kept clean and covered; it should be kept cool (below 5oC) or piping hot (above 70oC).

An adequate supply of potable water must be obtained. If necessary, water should be purified by boiling, ultra-filtration or the use of sterilising tablets.

3.13 Leisure time

There is considerable potential for accidents to occur during leisure time, for a variety of reasons. Workers may get lost or engage in hazardous activities such as swimming alone or climbing cliffs. The abuse of alcohol during leisure time can be a problem leading to dangerous pranks, becoming unfit to drive, carry out their fieldwork tasks, or else, may provoke the aggressive attention of local inhabitants. The University’s ‘duty of care’ for its staff and students does not extend to their leisure time (although they will be covered by insurance during this time). It is recommended that the nominated supervisors take a firm but fair view of student leisure time and lay down specific ground rules regarding what is acceptable behaviour and what is not (see 3.14 below). Students over 18 are not held in ‘loco parentis’ by their supervisors. They must understand that they are expected to behave responsibly and sanctions will be imposed against them if they behave irresponsibly (such as termination of their fieldwork).

3.14 Code of Behaviour

Members of fieldwork groups should be made aware that they will be regarded as representatives of the University by locals and other people encountered, and any unsociable or offensive behaviour will be interpreted accordingly.

It is strongly recommended that the College Dean issues a written ‘Code of Conduct’ before a fieldtrip begins, reminding participants of their responsibilities to the University, staff and fellow students. This code should point out that fieldwork is an essential part of an academic course and that unacceptable behaviour may mean offenders being excluded from trips which could have a bearing on their final qualification.