GUIDELINES FOR UNDERGRADUATE FIELD EXCURSIONS
Geotourism is committed to the implementation of safe working practices in the field for staff and students. Furthermore, we recognize our obligations to take all reasonable precautions to protect the safety of its staff and students while they are conducting work.
In line with this policy, Geotourism insists that all authorised persons undertaking field work operate within the various requirements and that they adopt the following Fieldwork Safety Guidelines. Therefore the safety procedures listed below apply to all undergraduate students attending field excursions. In brief, the legislation requires that participants ensure that they are not exposed to any risks to their health arising from the conduct of their business. Therefore, the Geotourism is committed to providing a safe working environment, that is without unreasonable risks to health, at all times, even if this environment is not specifically on Geotourism property.
Fieldworks Safety Guidelines 2. The conduct of every person is expected to be such that it does not contribute to the occurrence of accidents or to the creation of hazards that may endanger that individual or any other person. All persons undertaking a field excursion have a responsibility to work safely in the field, taking reasonable care to protect their own health and safety as well as that of their fellow workers and students.
3. Geotourism and the Examiner in the unit and/or his/her nominee(s) will be responsible for making all decisions in the field. This leader may delegate responsibility for a number of relevant decisions to other members of staff. All instructions given by the Examiner or their nominee are to be followed exactly.
4. All students are to be accompanied by a member of staff while conducting field work unless there are explicit instructions to the contrary from the relevant member of staff. All field work is to be undertaken in groups of not less than two (2) students, and students are to remain in these groups at all times when in the field.
5.All participants on the field excursion are to wear appropriate protective clothing at all times when conducting field work. This clothing should include suitable wet-weather gear, suitable cold-weather gear, a wide-brim hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and suitably strong and comfortable footwear. A day-pack should also be used to carry this equipment, along with a water supply and lunch (if required).
6.During the field work, students should not damage the environment negligently. The flora and fauna should be left alone as much as possible, natural items replaced if they have been moved, the area tidied, and everything carried in to any field study site should be carried out.
7. Persons who participate in field work should be adequately fit, and should have no existing medical condition that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a life-threatening situation. Any person with a medical condition of any sort that may in any way affect their performance on the field excursion should list these conditions on the Field Excursion Information Form. Any person who will be taking medication of any sort during the field excursion should also list this medication on the Field Excursion Information Form. All such information will be treated in the strictest confidence. Persons participating in field work should carry adequate supplies of any personal medication at all times during the excursion, and should ensure that the accompanying staff member knows the location of the medication.
8. The next of kin (or other person to whom notification should be given in the case of accidents) of all excursion participants should be recorded, and should be immediately available to the excursion leader during the excursion. This information is to be recorded on the Field Excursion Information Form. All such information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
FIELD EXCURSION INFORMATION FORM This form is to be completed by all students undertaking field work prior to commencement of a field excursion.
Name (Block capitals, first name and family name):
Student Number:
Medical conditions known to me that may in any way affect my performance on the field excursion include: Medication that I will be required to take during the field excursion includes (indicate medication and dosage):
Next of kin (or other person to whom notification should be given in the case of accidents):
Name:
Phone Number for immediate contact: ( )
I hereby certify that I have read and understood the Safety Guidelines for students participating in field excursions, and I undertake to comply with them. I also certify that I have filled in this form to the best of my current knowledge. Should any of this information change prior to the excursion, I will inform the excursion leader immediately upon commencement of the field excursion.
Signature:
Date:
