When designing and thinking about your fieldwork, some considerations are setting-specific. Below are suggestions and tips for common fieldwork settings and activities. This is not comprehensive, but can be a good place to start.
People
Threats to safety should be taken seriously. Be aware of unusual behavior. Call off work if feeling unsafe.
Consider self-defense and de-escalation training. Workplace violence training and resources may be helpful to this end (Workplace Violence Prevention - Davis Campus | Human Resources (ucdavis.edu))
Traffic / roads / cars
Need to think about accident and car trouble protocols. Best to use fleet or lab vehicles to make car trouble coverage easier to get.
In very dense areas, traffic may impede the ability to get rapid medical care if needed. You should take Wilderness First Aid to be prepared for 30+ minute waits for care.
Expectation of safety
Unique to urban settings, the familiar environment may make one underestimate the risks and be underprepared. Check your expectations, consider how data collection and/or representing the university will introduce challenges you may not usually have in urban environments.
Over-reliance on cell-phones can be harmful in urban settings. You may lose your phone, break your phone, lose service, or lose battery life in urban settings with no back-ups.
Police and/or landowners
Not everyone on your team may be comfortable around police and/or landowners for your work. Consider alternate safety measures if you find yourself in a sticky situation. Communicate openly with your team if you expect to have to interact with landowners and/or police officers.
If you can, contact any landowners and local police (or sheriff) to let them know about the work you will be doing ahead of time. That way if the cops get called on you, they should already know to dismiss the call and not bother you.
Agriculture
Valley fever is a deadly illness that stems from breathing in contaminated soils. EHS Field Safety can offer guidance on minimizing this risk.
Boating Project Safety Plans are required by UC Davis for Scientific Boating Operations.
Office of Boating Safety Website: https://marinescience.ucdavis.edu/bml/boating-safety-program
If you are planning to operate a motorized boat, you are required to take the Scientific Motorboat Operator training led by UC Boating and Diving Safety:
https://marinescience.ucdavis.edu/bml/boating-safety-program/courses
MOTC Course Price: $1,100
If you are planning to operate a paddle craft (i.e. canoe, kayak, etc.), paddle craft training is required:
Boating Safety Office Contact:
James J. Fitzgerald
Boating Safety Officer
(707) 875-1933 (Office)
✨ Helpful hints ✨
Tides: Keep a close eye on the tides. Low tides can strand a boat, while high tides can swamp beaches or launches. Always check tide charts beforehand and bring a printed copy with you.
Winds: High winds are unsafe for paddlecraft like canoes and kayaks because there is a risk of tipping, and risky on motorboats due to choppy waters. Develop a go/no-go cutoff depending on wind conditions and your vessel size. Stick to that cutoff!
Weather: Storms can come in quickly, and water attracts lightning. Have a plan for what to do if caught in a thunderstorm.
Water conditions: Heavy sea states, cold water conditions, and large bodies of water are all extremely hazardous. Training and preparation are essential for safety and survival, as well as having pre-identified thresholds for NO-go conditions.
Rivers and other swiftwater environments: Many dangers are associated with swiftwater work. Consider taking a swiftwater rescue course like this one.
PPE: A PFD (life jacket) is essential for boat work. Don’t get on the water without it!
Vessel checks: Make sure everything is functioning properly on your vessel before you ever leave the boat yard. Speak to Boating and Diving Safety to receive a check or compile a checklist relevant to your vessel.
Sunrise & Sunset: Timing of the trip is very important and there are added challenges, risks, and legal requirements for boating during dark hours and periods of low visibility.
Communications Equipment: Having redundant and reliable means of communications such as a VHF Radio and emergency locator beacons are essential tools for survival and rescue on the water.
You are required to take the AAUS Scientific Diving Training if you will be diving for your research. This course focuses on diving safety and planning, including developing SCUBA skills, diving related physics, physiology, dive planning, search and recovery, accident management and diver rescue.
Course Price: $1,000
Contact the diving safety officer for more information:
UCD Diving Safety Officer (DSO):
Jason Herum
(707) 875-2032
jsherum@ucdavis.edu
diving@ucdavis.edu
Diving Hazards to consider:
Wildlife (e.g. bites or harassment from marine mammals, stings from jellies, scrapes from corals or barnacles)
Equipment failure
Running out of air
Losing buddy
Getting lost
Boats and other watercraft
Environmental:
Overhead environments (e.g. ice cover, caves, or wrecks; additional training is required!)
Tides, surge, wave conditions
Tangling (e.g. in kelp forests)
Diving-specific medical risks:
Decompression sickness
Barotrauma
Nitrogen narcosis
Oxygen toxicity
Arterial gas embolism
Related medical risks:
Sunburn
Hypothermia
Seasickness
Dehydration
Drowning
What constitutes remote work? Access to cell service, distance to an emergency room, and time to evacuate are all considerations.
Trainings
If you are conducting fieldwork in a remote setting, you should take WFA/WFR training to prepare for medical emergencies in the field.
If needing to cross streams, rivers take Swiftwater Rescue Training to learn how to do so safely.
Bathroom situation
Health concerns arise if team members don’t go for long periods of time.You can pack fiber-rich foods, laxatives and ensure hydration to help alleviate back-ups.
Some people will avoid drinking water so they don’t have to pee in the field. Send your team resources for how to get more comfortable with the practice, explore tools and tricks for helping people overcome this fear and avoid dehydration.
Make sure to have set a respectful and safe environment amongst team members for going to the bathroom in open outdoor environments and/or in rustic environments. Finding privacy in some open environments (such as grasslands or the ocean) may not be possible at short distances, and so creating habits that protect others' safety and privacy (such as walking a short distance away and everyone turning away) can not only ensure the group can stay together, but it can also reduce the risk of discrimination and/or sexual harassment.
Prepare for extended trips and hazards
Extra food, water in case you get stuck.
Prepare for wildfire - packing N95 respirators can help reduce the effects of poor air quality. Consider whether you have individuals on your team (e.g., those with asthma) that may be more sensitive than others to wildfire smoke. Pay close attention to weather that constitutes extreme fire weather conditions, such as high winds and low relative humidity (very dry air), and set a threshold for when these conditions are unsafe for work. Always make sure you have an escape route in case of sudden wildfire.
Know where you are going
California weather can be unpredictable and varies a lot by region. Coastal weather is very different from valley weather, is very different from Sierra weather…Make sure you prepare for weather conditions, do not just rely on weather forecasts. Prepare for all possible conditions as rare weather events become more frequent in the world.
Try to visit the area you are doing work before your first day of data collection so you can get a feel for the area.
How will you get help if needed?
BRING A BUDDY. Solo fieldwork is never a good idea, but especially in remote areas where you may not be able to call for help.
Satellite phones or similar devices are necessary (and should be on you at all times).
Keep track of phone service so you know where you lose it and can gain it back if needed.
Know your context! Study up on your field sites and the broader region you are working in. Define the wildlife and plants that may be encountered and the potential dangers they may pose.
Handling Wildlife
Remember that captive animal usage in experiments requires additional considerations and training. Please consult the UC Davis Office of Research resources on Animals for more information. Capture and handling of wildlife for research comes with permitting requirements that vary depending on country, land use, and species. More information on this can be found through the UC Davis Office of Research resources on Animals. Further discussion on permitting is outside the scope of this website.
When it comes to safety one must consider safety of personnel as well as safety of the animal being captured
Researchers should have comprehensive and detailed plans thought out for various medical emergencies the animal can suffer during the process of a capture
This plan needs to include protocols for preventing injury and danger to personnel conducting captures and these should be species and context-specific
Zoonotic disease prevention must be considered a high priority in capture work. Researchers should inform themselves on the diseases that can be transmitted both between animals and people as well as only from people to animals and study up on preventative measures. More information on zoonotic diseases can be found here.
Terrestrial Wildlife and Domestic Animals
Allergies, including skin rashes and respiratory symptoms
Keep in mind that allergies may be unknown to you/your crew. Epi-pen training and kits should be considered to prevent anaphylactic shock.
Zoonotic disease transmission (bites, stings)
Do not minimize the risks domestic animals can pose
In rural settings, and especially in countries that depend heavily on agriculture and animal husbandry, domestic animals often roam freely
Large livestock, like horses and cows, can present charging risks if you are walking or working near them
Dogs can pose a particular danger, not just of bites and attack, but also of disease transmission primarily of rabies. In many countries dogs roam free, and these may or may not be strays or actively owned by people. In addition, some livestock owners use free-ranging dogs - particularly at night - to protect their home and animals.
Aquatic Wildlife
Zoonotic disease transmission from bites or stings
Many juvenile mammals are known to be playful with SCUBA divers and snorkelers. Remember that an animal “playing” with you can still be very dangerous, especially if they are hundreds of pounds!
This also applies to boats. Whales can lift/flip boats - be sure to steer clear no matter how drawn you are to them!
Sessile animals, like corals, barnacles, etc. can cause scrapes and burns. Wear gloves and always cover your skin with a wetsuit or rash guard.
Some marine mammals are known to drown divers (orcas)
Be aware of animals blocking your access to air
Plants
Know what poisonous plants are in your area (e.g. poison oak)
Be prepared for environmental allergies (e.g. hay fever)
International field research comes with unique challenges and considerations, and these can also vary widely between countries as well as the degree to which you are performing fieldwork independently or as part of a local team. Here we will go over some general places to start as well as resources to help you plan your project. You should consult Global Affairs and in the UC Field Operations Safety Manual for more comprehensive planning advice, and in addition, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has compiled this summary and checklist of important considerations.
Thoroughly consider your context! Beyond understanding the environmental and climatic context of your fieldwork, you must also consider the different political and legal environment, infrastructure, language needs and the cultural context.
Enroll in the U.S. State Department Smart Traveller Enrollment Program (STEP) to register your trip with your local embassy or consulate. This enables the embassy to evacuate you in the case of an emergency as well as keep you up to date on safety conditions in-country.
Consult with local collaborators! If you do not have local collaborators consider seeking out advice from local scientists and/or naturalists and other researchers and universities.
Ensure you have a valid passport that will not expire within 6 months of entering the destination country. Many countries will not permit travelers to enter if their passport will expire within 6 months of their arrival date, regardless of the planned departure date. Plan ahead - processing your passport takes time,
Money! : The way you can use and access your money will change in different countries. In some countries, especially the more remote you get, you can only use cash to pay for things. In other cases, taxes on the use of foreign credit cards can make withdrawing cash a better option. You must also keep in mind how you would access money for field expenses in the event that you lose cards or have money and/or cards stolen.
Staying connected - Internet access in some countries can be limited and/or censored, even in major cities. Think ahead and plan how this will affect your communication. Many people get a local SIM card to ensure they maintain communication with local collaborators and/or services as well.
Additional medical considerations: access to your regular prescriptions and care can change in settings outside of the U.S., particularly in more remote areas. You must plan to take out prescription supplies in advance or to transfer and access these medications overseas prior to your departure. If you need to access mental health resources, it may be useful to consult with UC SHIP and/or student health or your medical provider about care options while you are outside of the U.S. Coverage of this care changes not only outside of the U.S., but also outside of California.
Vaccines: consult the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)'s Traveler's Health webpage to find site-specific vaccine requirements and recommendations. You should also consult with the UC Davis Travel Medicine Program. Through UC SHIP and UC Travel Insurance many vaccines are covered and available, so plan ahead!
Field Site Access and Visas: carefully review visa requirements well in advance of your departure dates, and ensure your fieldwork fits comfortably within these parameters. Carefully review local permitting requirements and respect these. Be mindful of countries where zones may be off-limits to foreigners, or where political instability may make field sites dangerous or unpredictable to access and ensure your fieldwork plans are responsive to real-time conditions on the ground.
Register your travel: You have continued medical coverage overseas through UC SHIP and access to emergency rescue insurance as well as coverage for other incidentals (lost equipment, theft, evacuation, etc) through UC Travel Insurance. However you need to register your trip in UC Away for this to ensure this is active. It is a good idea to print a couple of copies of your insurance policy information to access easily in emergencies and/or in case you do not have internet connectivity.
If you book your travel directly using AggieTravel/Connexxus, your trip is automatically registered and a separate registration is not required. Travel booked outside of AggieTravel/Connexxus must be registered.
Have a plan! If something happens, just as in the U.S., you’ll need to plan a call chain and contact process that will include your PI and your emergency contacts. In addition, you should know how to contact your local embassy in case of natural disasters or security concerns that may necessitate your departure - or just in case you lose your passport. In addition, if you are outside of the U.S. and working with or hiring local technicians and/or volunteers you will need to understand how to handle communication and what emergency protocols you will take if they suffer an accident. As UC staff and students we have access to rescue and other emergency medical services through UC SHIP and UC Travel Insurance, but local people do not. Knowing what you will do if something happens either to you or to a local technician/volunteer is an important part of being a responsible team leader in a foreign country. It is a good idea to consult Heather Spaulding at UC Davis Field Safety Services or A.J. Leeds at Global Affairs, as well as walk through your logistical and financial infrastructure with your PI to create this part of your plan.