Fieldwork Safety

Fieldwork Safety Overview

Fieldwork is fundamental to the University’s mission. By its very nature, fieldwork has the potential to expose employees to hazards that are uncommon to their day-to-day lives. Fieldwork is not exclusive to any particular discipline and may be viewed as commonplace in agriculture, engineering, fisheries and wildlife, forestry, and geology, among others. And while extremely remote sites, such as Antarctica, certainly command an elevated level of respect and attention to detail, it is “routine” fieldwork that most often leads to injury, illness, or other unintended consequences.

OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires that employees are provided “a place of employment … free from recognized hazards … likely to cause death or serious physical harm … about which the employer knew or should have known”.

It is only with proper preparation that fieldwork risks can be recognized, evaluated, and effectively managed. These resources, provided primarily to support operational units engaged in remote fieldwork activities, can be applied to all levels of fieldwork or work-related travel as part of a unit’s overall approach to incorporating best practices into operational planning and safety.

OSU’s Adventure Leadership Institute and Dixon Recreation provide Wilderness First Aid/First Responder and First Aid training, respectively. Hands-on first aid training is appropriate for researchers or trip leaders that work in remote areas, at least 30 minutes from emergency medical services or with limited communications.