FIELDWORK RISK ASSESSMENT FORM FORM TO BE FILLED IN BY FIELDTRIP LEADER PRIOR TO ANY FIELDWORK AND MUST BE SIGNED OFF BY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT Contents Page: Description and Methodology of Fieldwork Risk Assessment... 2 Checklists: Fieldwork organisation...4 Hazard identification...6 Training and Communications...8 Reduction/Control of Risk...9 Fieldwork Risk Assessment Forms....11 Emergency Details for Fieldwork 13 1
DESCRIPTION AND METHODOLOGY OF FIELDWORK RISK ASSESSMENT Fieldwork should never involve a significant risk to your safety or the safety of others. You should always seek to identify any hazards associated with planned fieldwork and assess the risk associated with those hazards. You should then put control measures in place in order to reduce risk to an acceptable level. Assessments of risk should be suitable and sufficient rather than elaborate and minutely detailed. When identifying and evaluating risks and appropriate precautions you should base your assessment on what a well-informed person would consider reasonable. IDENTIFYING HAZARD AND RISK: Almost all activities involve some degree of risk. For fieldwork you should pay particular attention to the following: Hazards that are specific to the planned activity e.g. are associated with working in and around rivers Hazards that can be reasonably foreseen Hazards and associated risk that are likely to have serious consequences e.g. result in injury Hazards and associated risk that May be accentuated by any disabilities, illnesses etc. that you might have at the time of fieldwork. Hazards associated with the location of fieldwork. Hazards associated with the timing of fieldwork e.g. working at night, working according to tide times. You should also give some thought to the possible ethical implications of your fieldwork. Sometimes research can have serious consequences for the groups or individuals being studied. DEFINITIONS: A Hazard is something that has potential to cause injury or damage A Risk is the likelihood of someone being injured by a hazard and the severity of the injury. It is impossible to address risks that are unforeseeable but all other risks that we would reasonable be expected to know should be addressed. When identifying and evaluating risks and appropriate control measures you should base your assessment on what a well-informed person would consider reasonable. CONTROL MEASURES: The following hierarchy of controls is used when deciding on how to reduce risk: 1. Elimination 2. Substitution 3. Engineering solution (e.g. equipment provision) 4. Administrative solutions (e.g. training) 5. Personal Protective Equipment (e.g. protective clothing) 2
Likelihood Department of Geography, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin 2 RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY MATRIX The following matrix is used in the Department of Geography to assess risk. High Medium Low M H H* L M H L L M Low Medium High Likelihood to be graded as: Low: Rare may only occur in exceptional circumstances Medium: Possible might possible occur at some time High probable expected to occur in most circumstances Severity/Consequences Severity/Consequences to be graded as: Low: No injury or minor injury requiring first aid/doctors visit and small potential cost to employer Medium: Reversible or severe injury requiring hospitalisation and potential cost to the employer High: irreversible or serious injury requiring long term hospitalisation and substantial potential cost to the employer Yielding the Risk to be graded as: L - Low M - Medium H - High H* - Very High 3
Please use the following checklists to assist you in the organisation of your fieldwork and in evaluating the potential hazards and risks associated with planned fieldwork. CHECKLIST 1 : ORGANISATION OF FIELDWORK ACCESS Travel Arrangements: Ensure everyone knows travel details and have booked well in advance Permission to work on site: Ensure prior permission for access to private property has been obtained Provision for the disabled: provide requirements where necessary Availability of assistance: get emergency phone numbers for locality in advance of any fieldwork Accomodation: Ensure all accommodation is booked and is satisfactory and safe Insurance: Organise travel insurance where needed PRE- PLANNING Before embarking on fieldwork ensure you have the following: Travel Document Note of emergency contact details for each participant Note of particular medical problems/allergies Contact details of medical centre, hospital, police station FITNESS Pre-expedition fitness training should be undertaken where necessary TRAINING Ensure some or all participants are adequately trained in particular ares such as: Navigation First aid Languages Interpersonal skills Hygiene/health education Specific skills e.g. diving, caving 4
HEALTH Health questionnaire filled by students prior to fieldtrip Medical/ Dental checkup undertaken where necessary Vaccinations organised where applicable First aid kits organised to be taken on all field work (available from Departmental Safety Officer) CATERING Ensure the following have been organised Provision of food Portable and potable water supply Hygenic food preparation and storage Fuel for cooking STAFFING Leader: A leader should be appointed for each fieldtrip Competance of leaders: Leaders should be trained in fieldtrip safety Chain of Command: Suitable and competant people appointed as deputy leaders Staff/student ratio should does not exceed ratio of 1:10 Responsibilities: Assign specific responsibilities to staf/participants EQUIPMENT Leaders should ensure that equipment is: Fit for purpose Used properly Well maintained Repairable on site 5
CHECKLIST 2 : HAZARD IDENTIFICATION Leaders should make participants aware of the following possible hazards: PHYSICAL HAZARDS Extreme weather (check weather forecasts) Mountains and Cliffs Caves, Mines and Quarries Beaches and seashore (check tide times) Sea, lakes and rivers Forests Roadside Urban Areas BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS Animals Plants Pathogenic micro-organisms CHEMICAL HAZARDS Agrochemicals and pesticides Dusts Chemicals on site MAN MADE HAZARDS Machinery and vehicles Power line and pipes Electrical equipment Insecure buildings Slurry and silage pits Attack on the person or property 6
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS Pollution Disturbance of Eco-system Waste production HEALTH HAZARDS Dehydration Insect bites (e.g. mosquitos, ticks - Lymes disease) Animal Bites Sunburn Allergies to local factors Food poisoning Excess alcohol Misuse of drugs (including illegal drugs) Impue water e.g. Weils disease ACCOMMODATION Stairs Balconies Misuse of Lifts Swimming pools SOCIAL/RECREATIONAL HAZARDS Swimming Alcohol excess Misuse of drugs (including illegal drugs) 7
CHECKLIST 3: TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION TRAINING If necessary, ensure some or all participants are trained in particular areas inlcuding: Navigation, Map reading, compass work Survival/rescue First aid Conduct on Boats Advanced Driving Diving Caving Rock Climbing Ladders and Scaffolding PERSONAL The following should be brought to the attention of participants Risk of attack Communication as routine Communication in an emergency General Road Safety 8
CHECKLIST 4: REDUCTION/CONTROL OF RISK To minimise risk associated with fieldwork take note of the following control measures CONDITIONS Weather forecast Local knowledge or area Farming practices Itinerary and return times Adequate and suitable clothing TRANSPORT Appropriately licensed drivers/vehicles Correctly maintained vehicles Vehicles correctly loaded Appropriate spare equipment Seat belts present and functioning Adequate fuel THE GROUP Roll Call Correctly equipped Adequate first aid kit Survival aids Group size and supervision 9
WORKING PRACTICES Avoid lone worker situations Communication system "Buddy" system implemented Safe working systems implemented Permit to work organised Participants trained and fit Working times organised EMERGENCIES All participants should be made aware of emergency procedures including the following: Communications Protection of remaining group Chain of command Trained personnel Evacuation measures Recovery of casualties 10
FIELDWORK RISK ASSESSMENT FORM These forms must be handed to the head of Department and signed before fieldwork commences: FIELDTRIP LEADERS FIELDWORK LOCATION(S) FIELDWORK DATES FROM: TO: 11
FIELDWORK RISK ASSESSMENT FORM FIELDWORK ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT ENCOUNTERED POTENTIAL HAZARDS ENCOUNTERED AND ASSOCIATED RISKS CONTROL MEASURES IMPLEMENTED PERSONS AFFECTED The above field trip has been authorised in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Department Fieldwork Safety Manual Head of Department: Date: 12
EMERGENCY DETAILS FOR FIELDWORK To be kept by Fieldtrip Leader Nearest Hospital Nearest Doctor Nearest Police Station Accommodation Name Phone Number Name of contact Checklist Emergency contact details Health and safety Forms Risk Assessment Fieldwork Safety Manual Read All equipment checked First Aid Kit Health Information Student/Staff name Allergies Other Health Information Dietary requirements 13