The Field Safety Subcommittee and the LTER Network Office have collected this curated list of field safety resources, focusing on risks that arise in the various settings of the LTER Network. These may include remote, rural, urban, and ocean-going locations and risks may include weather, terrain, equipment, and other humans.  The LTER Network Office includes a Resource of the Month in every newsletter and we welcome contributed resources.

Wilderness First Aid Training and Courses

icon of workshop participants
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Designed for scouts and scout leaders, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who works or spends time in remote environments, this course teaches advanced skills to be used in emergencies when help from professional first responders may be far away. Based on the Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines, this course aligns with OSHA’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Elements of a Field Safety Plan

wrench and screwdriver icon
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

UC Santa Barbara lists key elements of a field safety plan with links to other resources, including a field safety plan template.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

INTERACT Fieldwork Planning Handbook

book, magnifying glass, and puzzle piece
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

The INTERACT Fieldwork Planning Handbook covers all aspects of fieldwork, from the initial idea, to the actual fieldwork, through to getting safely back home with samples and data to wrap up the project. A particular focus is put on all aspects of planning until you venture into the field and safety aspects when working at INTERACT stations or in the field.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Field Safety Manual

wrench and screwdriver icon
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

An example of a fieldwork safety manual from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University Pittsburg

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Field Code of Conduct

book, magnifying glass, and puzzle piece
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) has developed a sample code of conduct and bill of rights that can be modified for your field site.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Safe fieldwork strategies for at-risk individuals, their supervisors and institutions

book, magnifying glass, and puzzle piece
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Certain individuals are at higher risk for conflict and violence when they are in the field due to prejudice against their race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, and/or religion. This paper provides strategies for acknowledging and reducing the risk of conflict.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

The Fieldwork Initiative

connected bubbles with avatars
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

The Fieldwork Initiative is a grassroots network of over 3,500 students and researchers facing trauma, unsafe conditions, or sexual harassment and assault during research fieldwork. The Fieldwork Initiative seeks to maintain a network for victims who have struggled with gendered violence while conducting research and to proliferate pre-fieldwork training seminars that break open the blackbox of data collection.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Field Team Leadership: Strategies for Successful Field Work

graphic of a checklist
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

A list of what I do as a field team leader to achieve a happy, comfortable, and safe field team, and some tips on how to contribute to a happy, productive and safe field team as a field team participant.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace: Resources for Targets and their Allies from Early Career Ecologists

graphic of article
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

The purpose of this post is to increase awareness of the prevalence of bullying and harassment in the workplace, and to provide compiled resources on this topic.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

A set of principles and practical suggestions for equitable fieldwork in biology

book, magnifying glass, and puzzle piece
%%tb-image-alt-text%%

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

After reflecting on their own research programs, the article’s authors propose four general principles to guide equitable, inclusive, ethical, and safe practices in field biology: be collaborative, be respectful, be legal, and be safe. This article provides suggestions for action-oriented approaches to make field biology more equitable, with particular attention to how those with greater privilege can contribute.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.