4 Health matters and emergency action

4.1 Health Matters

Organisers of fieldwork trips must give careful consideration to the maintenance of the health of participants and, where necessary, the advice of the University Occupational Health Services (OHS) should be sought.

For trips of an extended time period and particularly for overseas trips, information on any issues that could compromise participants health should be gathered and assessed e.g. diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, vertigo etc using the health questionnaire. This task should be carried out with the assistance of OHS. After Permission has to be given in writing by the prospective fieldworker for this information to be accessed by team leaders/risk assessors and OHS. OHS should be asked to give an informed opinion as to whether they consider that the participant is sufficiently healthy to undertake the fieldwork activity.

Activities may be much more strenuous than the normal work of the participants and organisers should ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that fitness levels are appropriate for the tasks. Assessment by Occupational Health Services may also be necessary for work in more extreme environments and where high levels of fitness may be required. Some specialist activities e.g. sub-aqua, will require specific health checks that must be part of the risk assessment.

It is possible that fitness / health problems could exclude some potential participants in fieldwork activities.

4.2 Disabled Persons

Every effort will be made to ensure that disabled persons have access to fieldwork activities and are able to participate as fully as possible in them. This may include the need for special safety arrangements and specialised equipment. Advice can be obtained from the Disability Resource Centre and other agencies listed in the Useful contacts page.

4.3 Health Education

Participants should receive adequate instruction on the likely health hazards associated with the work, particular attention should be given to:

physical hazards of the environment (hypothermia, frostbite, snow blindness, dehydration, altitude sickness, sunburn, nitrogen narcosis)
chemical hazards (reagents used, hazardous wastes)
infection by pathogens (including leptospirosis ie Weil’s disease)
dangerous animals and plants
avoidance of gastro-intestinal disorders and food poisoning
basic personal hygiene and care of the feet
safe use of insect repellents

4.4 Immunisation

Medical advice on the immunisation requirements for foreign travel should be sought from the University Occupational Health Services. Information is also available from the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (see the Useful contacts page). Immunisation should also be given if the fieldwork could result in exposure to certain pathogenic organisms. Note that immunisation against tetanus is recommended for all fieldworkers, but is particularly important for those performing manual tasks in contact with soil or animals in the field. A record of vaccinations given to each participant needs to be held as part of the planning information.

4.5 Dental Health

Members of expeditions are strongly advised to have a dental check up before undertaking extended fieldwork visits. For visits to extreme climates, or to areas with a high incidence of HIV, Colleges may wish to make such a check up obligatory.

4.6 Injury and Illness in the Field

Prompt medical attention must be sought in the event of an illness. As part of the planning process emergency health care sources should be identified. Under field conditions, relatively trivial injuries may become serious if not treated quickly and trip leaders should be alert for signs of illness, injury or fatigue in the party.

Adequate health insurance should be in place for the fieldtrip. Within the European Economic Area a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be obtained. This is available through the Department of Health, for contact information see the Useful contacts page.

It is recommended that sterile surgical packs (needles, sutures etc.) should be carried for visits abroad to countries where there may be doubts about the standard of health care available. Professional medical advice should be obtained in these circumstances.

Any hospitalisation in the field should be reported in writing and copies sent to the Occupational Health Services and the Health and Safety Office.

4.7 First Aid Coverage

It is strongly recommended that, in each group attending a field trip, at least one staff member should hold an HSE Approved First Aider Certificate. Ideally a second First Aider should be in the group to give secondary cover. It may be also appropriate, for a specialist qualification (eg Mountain First Aid Certificate) to be obtained.
A fully stocked first aid kit must be taken on every field trip and a separate field first aid kit should be available to all groups working away from the field base.

4.8 Accident and Emergency Procedures

For each group, the fieldwork leader is responsible for organising emergency procedures and ensuring that all members of the group are aware of the arrangements.

Fieldwork will often take place in remote areas and some of these areas may have been used by the Armed Services for training. Under these circumstances, fieldworkers should be instructed not to touch suspect objects. These should be left in place, the site marked and the emergency services alerted. Similarly, scrap and material that has been dumped should be treated with caution. Fieldworkers handling such scrap should receive medical attention if cut or scratched.

Those fieldworkers working in fresh water should be aware of the risk of contracting leptospirosis (Weil’s disease). Information is available from Occupational Health Services and the HSE website (see the Useful contacts page).

If an accident does occur then there should be a clear plan of action to deal with the situation, which should include the following points:

attend to the injured person immediately, keeping only the minimum number of persons to assist as necessary.
ensure that one accident does not produce more - withdraw the remainder of the team to a safe place as conditions may be dangerous or may deteriorate.
send for help, if the injuries are serious. Ensure that the emergency services are given the exact location (eg by OS map reference, GPS latitude and longitude co-ordinates).
warn others of continuing dangers, if these exist .
inform the College as soon as practicable, They will notify the University Health & Safety Office via the standard (Green) Accident Form.
do not discuss the situation with anyone other than the emergency services and University officials.

4.9 Accident Reporting

It is important that all accidents, illnesses or dangerous occurrences are reported, by the quickest practicable means (this usually means by telephone, alternatively, email). A factual report, including any statements taken, should be forwarded to the College who will forward it to the University Health & Safety Office using the standard (Green) Accident / Incident form. A supply of Accident / Incident forms should be taken in the event of an accident.

Colleges must be aware of the University's duty (for incidents in the UK) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR, 1985) to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) immediately in the case of a death, a specified major injury or a specified dangerous occurrence at work; or within seven days in the case of any injury resulting in an incapacity to work for more than three complete days. The Health & Safety Office will informally report accidents / incidents occurring outside the UK (which would be RIDDOR reportable if the occurred in the UK) to the HSE. The HSE then may wish to ensure that the pre-planning and risk assessment of the field work was adequate and did not contribute to the accident / injury.