Fieldwork risk assessment

When filling this form, list all the hazards you may encounter when in the field, and the action/s you are going to take to mitigate the risk. When quantifying your risk and the mitigation, please use the grid below.

How does the grid work? The level of risk can be calculated by multiplying the probability that an accident may occur (certain, likely, possible, etc) by the severity of the accident (negligible, marginal, etc).

Definitions:

Catastrophic = multiple deaths

Critical = one death or multiple severe injuries

Marginal = one severe injury or multiple minor injuries

Negligible = one minor injury

Negligible / Marginal / Critical / Catastrophic
Certain / High / High / Extreme / Extreme
Likely / Moderate / High / High / Extreme
Possible / Low / Moderate / High / Extreme
Unlikely / Low / Low / Moderate / Extreme
Rare / Low / Low / Moderate / High

Examples

  1. While in the field collecting rock samples, the probability of harming your eyes with splinters of rocks during hammering is likely, but the severity of the accident is marginal, therefore the risk is high. By using goggles you reduce (=mitigate) the risk to unlikely (or rare) and therefore your risk becomes low.
  2. While in the field interviewing people, you may have to spend time in an area where the risk of being robbed is likely, and the severity of the accident can be critical (you may be stabbed to death). By having your valuables not under everybody’s eyes (you leave your rolex at home; your camera hidden in your bag), always being with someone else, etc you may be able to reduce the risk to unlikely and therefore your risk becomes moderate.

Risk assessment

  1. Date & times of the fieldtrip:
  1. Location of the fieldtrip:

Note: If your fieldtrip involves multiple days of travel and changes to accommodation, please produce an itinerary to be used alongside this document.

  1. Field-trip leaders:

Name: / Mobile no.:
e-mail: / Valid 1st aid qualification? Yes / No
Name: / Mobile no.:
e-mail: / Valid 1st aid qualification? Yes / No

Other:

  1. Drivers

Name: / I have attended a UofG fleet induction: Yes / No
Name: / I have attended a UofG fleet induction: Yes / No

Other:

Will vehicle(s) be taken abroad?Yes / No

Will vehicle(s) be taken off-road? Yes / No(off-road includes mud track, beach, tidal crossings etc.)

N.B. Either of the above activities requires expanded insurance cover, contact transport services.

Vehicle details (if hired in the UK)

Vehicle Type / Registration / Provider

Note: Staff using personal vehicles must possess business vehicle insurance for University use

  1. Outline of fieldwork or off-campus visit (a short synopsis to assist the assessor):
  1. Who is attending?

Is this a class activity? Yes / NoWhat is the class name or code?:

List named attendees not mentioned elsewhere:

NNote: It is accepted that not all class members will attend fieldwork or off-campus activities. Please take a register prior to leaving the campus and copy to administration staff.

Hazard associated with / Details of hazards / Risk / Mitigation / Mitigated risk
e.g. Extreme of weather (hypothermia, sun strokes) / Exposed to cold, wet weather conditions. Hypothermia. / Med / All students and staff are well equipped with appropriate outdoor clothing. In extreme weather conditions field work will be terminated. / Low

Isyour field area a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or equivalent if you are going abroad? Yes / No

If you have answered Y to this question, please provide details of your operations and approving body.

Contingency plan

Please provide the following information:

If your accommodation plans are disrupted, what contingency do you have planned?

If your travel has been disrupted, what contingency do you have planned?

If an attendee falls ill or is injured, what contingency do you have planned?

If disruption to your fieldwork has financial implications, what contingency do you have planned?

Please provide the phone numbers of hotel/s where you are staying, use an itinerary document if you have several changes.

Hotel/lodge name:

Address:

Contact details:

Medical emergencies and repatriation (consider the remoteness of the area, fitness of participants, health problems participants may have, access to hospital facilities, and health care quality in the host country). Please make sure you are aware of any medical conditions that the students have disclosed in their form. Forms are provided in restricted access folders located here:

S:\Medical Forms

Contact for any medical form issues or guidance on H&S issues arising from information within medical forms.

What is the nearest Accident & Emergency hospital to your working area?

What is the nearest local healthcare centre to your accommodation?

Remember to take a yellow emergency contact card with you, it provides 24hr contact details should you require assistance in an emergency & will alert the UofG crisis team if required.

Some countries and activities are excluded from University travel insurance. There are restrictions personal and university belongings. To check cover for fieldwork or other off-campus activity, see the Universities insurance, risk and travel section:

Applicant / Approver
Name: / Name:
Date / Date:

Send this completed form to , attach any supporting documents.

Print out a copy of this document for reference during your fieldtrip.

1