1. Prepare a site-specific
   Fieldwork Safety Plan
   The following information should be included:
• Itinerary
• Emergency contact phone numbers
• Activities description
• The name and address with a map to the nearest hospital
• A map of the area where research is being conducted
• Potential hazards/Possible Risks (includes all that apply)
• Potential for encounters with wildlife such as venomous snakes, bears, bees and other stinging insects etc.
• Potential encounter with zoonotic diseases (i.e. hantavirus when working with or around wild rodents, Lyme disease from tick bites, mosquitoes, etc)
• Water/boating hazards
• Potential for encounters with hazardous plants (poison ivy, poison oak)
• Hazardous Terrain
• Weather Conditions
• Other environmental hazards such as the potential for wildfires, flooding, etc (time of year)
• Handling equipment 
• Use of chemicals/biological hazards
• Extreme Heat/Cold conditions
• Areas where hunting occurs
2. Make sure you pack the appropriate safety gear (not all will necessarily apply):
• Plenty of Water/water filtration devices/purification tablets
• Sunscreen/Hat
• Insect spray
• Food
• First Aid Kit
• Hand Sanitizers
• Vehicle emergency kit 
• Rain Gear
• Extra layers of clothing if going to cold weather environments
• GPS or Compass 
• Allergy treatment 
• Medications you regularly take
• Flashlight
• Two-way radios if needed
• Bright safety vests if in areas where hunting is common
• PPE for fieldwork activities (Safety glasses/goggles, gloves, hard hat, sturdy work boots, snake hooks/tongues etc).  EHS-SRM can make recommendations.
• If camping overnight
• Proper camping gear: tent, a sleeping bag rated for the appropriate weather conditions
3. Let the field research manager/PI know if you have severe allergies to poison ivy, bee stings, etc.
4. Wear appropriate field clothing.  The following clothing is recommended on all field activities:
• Long field pants 
• Long sleeve shirts
• Waterproof boots
• Socks
• Waders if you will be in the water
5. In order to reduce the risk of ticks and other biting insects from biting it is recommended that all pant legs be tucked underneath socks or in water-resistant boots. All shirts should be tucked into pants. Wearing light-colored clothing will help in identifying ticks and other insects. Treat clothing at least 24 hours prior to wearing it with permethrin spray.

Work in a group or in pairs whenever possible, stay with the group and do not stray too far.  A good rule of thumb is to be within a straight eyesight line at all times from someone in the group.

Check with any field group leaders regularly and inform points of contact of any changes in schedule or itinerary.

Field workers should also inform a local point of contact regarding their work locale (local search and rescue, police, sheriff, etc.) each day about the daily fieldwork location and the approximate time of return if in the field alone.

A local point of contact should also be provided with the telephone numbers of people to call (university, emergency contacts, etc.) if the workers do not return or report within a predetermined interval of the scheduled return time.

In case of an emergency contact the field research manager immediately.

• If in cell phone range, call emergency contacts immediately.
• Call 911.
• If out of cell phone range, two people from the group can go get help, while the rest stay to help the person in need.

Familiarize yourself with any trails and directions.  Bring maps with you and study them carefully.  Once off the trail, it is easy to lose your sense of direction.

Injuries

• Apply first aid as needed.  Make sure the first aid kit is packed on every trip.  
• Depending on the injury severity, make sure you keep the individual comfortable and contact help immediately.
• If out of cell phone range, two people from the group can go get help, while the rest stay to help the person in need.

Make sure to drink at least 2 quarts of water a day, more if conducting strenuous activities or if in warm temperatures.

• Make sure you either carry your own water, use a filter or treat water before drinking it.
• Prepare for trips that require multiple days in the field.

Hot Weather

• Acclimate to heat gradually
• Drink plenty of water
• Take frequent rest breaks

Cold Weather

• Dress in layers.
• Cover your extremities with warm clothing (eg hats, facemask, gloves, socks).
• Avoid getting damp from perspiration.

High Altitude

• Ascend slowly and allow the body to acclimatize.
• Depending on altitude, oxygen may need to be provided.

Poisonous plants

• Familiarize yourself with any poisonous plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.
• Avoid all poisonous plants whenever possible.
• Use pre-exposure lotions if available.
• Wash clothes and skin with soap and water after exposure.

 Animal Safety Guidelines

Insects and pests

• Wear insect repellent or use netting. 
• Treat clothes with permethrin 24 hours prior to wearing. 
• Keep garbage in rodent proof containers and stored it away from campsites. 
• Thoroughly shake all clothing and bedding before use.
• Do not camp near obvious animal nests or burrows.
• Avoid contact with sick or dead animals.
• Be careful where you place your hands and feet (wood piles, crevices, over logs)
• Make sure the first aid kit contains treatment for bee stings and insect bites. 
• In order to reduce the risk of ticks and other biting insects from biting it is recommended that all pant legs be tucked underneath socks or in water-resistant boots. All shirts should be tucked into pants. Wearing light-colored clothing will help in identifying ticks and other insects. 
  

Proper Rodent Handling

• Keep the camping area clean of trash and store food carefully to prevent attracting rodents.
• If working in a cabin or bunkhouse in the field:
• If rodent feces or dead rodents are discovered:
1. Do not stir up dust. Wear an N-95 respirator and gloves (must be approved by the IBC and IACUC) and ventilate the area by opening the doors and windows for at least 30 minutes to diffuse potentially infectious aerosolized material.  Use cross-ventilation and leave the area during the airing out period.
2. Rodent feces: Wear an N-95 respirator and gloves.  Don’t sweep or vacuum rodent droppings.  Spray the droppings with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, let soak for at least 5 minutes then wipe up the droppings. If possible, wet mop the area with the bleach solution.
3. Dead Rodents: Using gloves, soak the rodent, droppings and nest with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, let soak for at least 5 minutes before picking it up with a plastic bag.  Place the bag in a second plastic bag.
• All handling of rodents known to transmit viruses that cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) should be done in the open air with the rodent (or trap containing the rodent) held away from the face and positioned such that direct wind (and wind vortices) do not blow aerosolized particles from the rodent toward the investigator.
• Live traps containing rodents known to transmit viruses that cause HPS should not be transported within a vehicle unless they are securely isolated in intact plastic bags (e.g., large garden bags) or otherwise placed in an area in which air circulation is separate from that of the driver and any passengers.
• Mammalogists should avoid direct contact with urine, feces, saliva, blood, and internal organs of rodent species associated with HPS. Always wear eye protection and rubber, latex, vinyl, or nitrile gloves when handling or doing invasive procedures with rodents that potentially transmit Hantavirus.
• Appropriate training should prioritize safe and secure handling of small mammals to avoid being bitten or scratched. Rodents can be anesthetized or euthanized by placing the trap containing the rodent inside a disposable plastic bag containing the anesthetic agent. For mark-and-release studies, smaller rodents (< 100 g) can be removed from traps using disposable plastic or washable cloth bags and handled safely and securely by grasping them firmly at the nape of the neck.
• In the unlikely event that a field researcher is bitten, scratched, or comes into direct contact with the fluids of rodents that potentially transmit Hantavirus, the affected area should be washed thoroughly with soap and water, then disinfected with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or similar disinfectant, such as Lysol or Clorox (Clorox, Oakland, California) hand wipes.
• All field biologists should be fully aware of the symptoms of HPS, which include severe muscle aches, fever, and headaches. If these flu-like symptoms appear within 6 weeks after fieldwork, the person should see a physician immediately and report that he or she may have been exposed to Hantavirus.

Venomous Snakes

Do not handle any venomous snakes unless properly trained.  Experienced personnel are the only ones who may safely handle venomous snakes using the proper tools.  Free handling of any venomous snake is strictly prohibited. 

• See the venomous snake safe handling guidelines sheet
• If you see a venomous snake, stand at a safe distance. 
• Always look on the ground and over fallen objects (such as tree trunks) to make sure you are not placing your hands or feet near or on a venomous snake.  
• In case of a venomous snake bite follow the following guidelines:
• Keep the person calm and get medical help immediately.
• Mark the place of the bite, and write the time of the bite on the person with a sharpie.
• Restrict movement; create a loose splint to help restrict movement area.
• Keep the affected area above the heart level. 
• Remove any rings or constricting items because the affected area may swell.
• Monitor the person’s vital signs – temperature, pulse, rate of breathing and for signs of shock (such as paleness), lay the person flat, raise the feet about a foot, and cover the person if possible.

DO NOT

• Do not allow the person to become overexerted.  If necessary, carry the person to safety.

• Do not apply a tourniquet.

• Do not apply cold compresses to a snakebite.

• Do not cut into the snake bite with a knife or razor

• Do not try to suction the venom by mouth

• Do not give the person stimulants or pain medication unless instructed to do so by a doctor.

• Do not give the person anything by mouth, except water.

Fieldwork is full of unseen hazards and normally is done off trail. Always be wary of your surroundings and be careful of slips, trips and falls. If an area looks dangerous to traverse, it probably is. Use common sense when walking in the woods.

If traversing any body of water through canoe, raft or boat, make sure the following are available:

• Personal Floatation Device: one for each person in the canoe, raft or boat
• Oars
• Whistle or some kind of noise-making device
• Flares or flare gun

After each day’s work, the fieldworkers should notify any local points of contact upon return from the field.

Do a quick tick check.  It helps if you have someone with you to look at your back. 

• Remember to look in the seams of your clothes, as ticks like to hide there.
• If you have a change of clothes, change.  Remember to place your clothes in a garbage bag and tie it well.
• When you go home, immediately put your clothes in a dryer first (5 minutes on low heat) and then wash your clothes.  This will help in killing any remaining ticks on your clothes.
  

Cater to any bites, scratches, stings or other minor injuries and seek medical help if necessary.

If traveling abroad

Make sure you get all necessary vaccinations prior to travel.

Be familiar with the hazards associated with the country and area where field research will be conducted and plan accordingly. 

• Diseases
• Animals
• Plants
• Terrain/Environment

Is there any conflict/war/turmoil in the area?  If so, what precautions are being taken for safety?