Safety and Loss Prevention
Common Field Hazards
Fact Sheets & Resources
The appendix of this manual will expand with additional technical topics as they are compiled and developed. To request or suggest content, please email sarasouza@berkeley.edu.
Common Field Hazards
Environmental Hazards
Heat Illness: Online Heat Illness Prevention training is now available for outdoor work through the UC Learning Center (search using the keyword “heat”, course length is 15-20 minutes); or contact your campus EH&S department for local training options and plans.
- Wildland Fire (NEW)
- Poisonous Plants (NIOSH)
- Guide to Drinking Water Treatment in the Backcountry (CDC)
- Hygiene in the Field (UCSC)
Wildlife
- Common snakes
- Common spiders of California (Essig Museum, UC Berkeley)
- Pests that injure
- Poisonous plants
- Bear safety
- Mountain Lions in California (CDFW)
- Rattlesnakes in California (CDFW)
Infectious organisms/diseases
- Valley fever
- Lyme disease
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (California Department of Public Health)
- Giardiasis (California Department of Public Health)
- Tick Removal Video (NY Department of Health)
- Zika Virus Updates (California Department of Public Health)
- West Nile Virus Fact Sheet (California Department of Public Health)
- Hantavirus (Centers for Disease Control)
- Other Vector-borne Diseases (California Department Public Health)
- Safety Guidelines for Field Researchers (UC Berkeley EH&S Publication – not updated recently – but this document has served as a model for many university field safety programs)
International Planning Resources
- Infectious Diseases and Travelers’ Health - Search by Destination (Centers for Disease Control)
- Travel Advisories by Location (US Department of State)
- Worldcue Trip Planner (requires UC login)
Extreme Conditions & Weather
- Weather Forecasts (NOAA)
- Cold Stress – Preventing Hypothermia and Frostbite (NIOSH)
- Extreme Cold Weather Clothing (US Antarctic Program)
- Backcountry Avalanche Safety (National Ski Patrol)
- Lightning Safety (eLCOSH)
- Winter Storm and Other Emergency Preparedness (American Red Cross)
- Acute High Altitude Illnesses (New England Journal of Medicine, 2013)
Wildlife Biology
- Guidelines for use of wild animals in research and teaching (American Society of Mammologists)
- Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research (Ornithological Council)
- Science Guidelines (American Fisheries Society)
- Resources, Collection & Curation Practices (American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists)
- Precautions for Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Veterinary Personnel (National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians)
- Fish & wildlife training modules (Canadian Council on Animal Care)
- Health Risks for Marine Mammal Works (UC Davis Vet Medicine, 2008)
- Disease Precautions for Hunters (AVMA)
Specialized Work (in development)
- Scientific Diving & Boating
- Driving safety: UCSC primer on vans, off road driving, trailers; Caltrans Road Conditions
- Off Road/4WD Driving
- ATVs: Example program from UC Ag & Natural Resources
- Tree Climbing
- Tower Climbing
- Working around excavations
- Operating powered equipment:
Example JHA template (UCSB)
Berkeley JSA library for Field and Grounds Equipment & Tools - Field Station JSA library in progress
- Drones (UC Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety)
Common Field Situations
- Avoiding getting lost (or staying found) (UCSC)
- Swimming safety (UCSC)
- Personal hygiene and water sanitation (NEW, in development)
Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics
Community Studies, Human Subjects Research
- Working Alone Off-Site (CCOHS Fact Sheet):
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/workingalone_offsite.html - Guidelines for Social Worker Safety:
Guidelines for Social Worker Safety (NASW) - Safety of Journalists:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/freedom-of-expression/safety-of-journalists/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/en/collections/safety