FIELD WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY Staff and students who proceed on field trips and carry out

work in specified locations must be aware that they themselves are in a situation where they are exposed to higher than normal levels of risk. This guideline establishes workplace health and safety for the safe conduct of field work locally, and in locations classified as remote. This is based upon current practices observed within the university as well as those commonly used in other institutions. 1. FIELD WORK ACTIVITIES AT THE SITE a. Safe work practices will be established and effectively communicated to the students for whatever field activities that have to be undertaken at a field site b. Training and competency assessment will be provided for each of the planned activities c. Selection, maintenance, and use of the equipment should comply the maximum standard 2. ETIQUETTE REQUIREMENTS a. University personnel undertaking approved field work will ensure that the necessary permits and licenses for the work were obtained 3. FAUNA & FLORA a. Field parties will consider potential hazards to students from flora or fauna likely to be encountered at the field. The students will be adequately briefed on these likely hazards, and appropriate protective clothing, work practices, and First Aid supplies will always be available 4. Health a. Staff and students who participate in remote field work should be reasonably fit and have no existing uncontrolled medical conditions b. Medication: If a student is taking regular medication, the staff will ensure that adequate supplies are carried on trips eg. spare insulin or puffer c. Manual Handling: Accidents arising from poor manual handling techniques, especially loading and unloading vehicles are common in all working on field trips. Personnel will ensure that they, and any persons they supervise, adopt correct manual handling techniques or the tasks to be performed in the field. 5. CAMP SITE AND CAMP REQUISITES a. A campsite will be selected so as to be free from hazards such as falling branches, flash flooding, vehicular traffic, dangerous wildlife, and stock. The girls will have their own tent as well as the men. Particular attention will be paid to hygiene, especially when a site is use as a base camp for an extended period. 6. TRANSPORT a. An appropriate type of vehicle, properly maintained and suitably equipped is to be supplied for field work. 7. CLIMATE, WEATHER, NAVIGATION, TIDES a. Field personnel will obtain current weather forecast while on field b. Appropriate navigation aids will be provided for field parties. These may include appropriate large scaled maps and charts, aerial photographs, an accurate compass, and GPS (global positioning system) indicator