Field Safety Annual Report for 2020

UC Davis field researchers adapted to a pandemic, catastrophic western wildfires and travel restrictions throughout 2020.

With in-person training and meetings on hold for most of 2020, the Field Research Safety Program shifted to virtual training and consultation, and continued supporting faculty, staff, and students, with feedback on Field Safety Plans and access to safety equipment.

2020 also prompted deep conversations about barriers to access for researchers from marginalized communities. We're training trip leaders to promote a safer and more inclusive environment by considering identity-based risks and mitigation strategies. 

Top 2020 Accomplishments

Covid-19 Checklist

COVID-19 Field Worksite Planning Checklist 

We formed a Field Research Safety Committee in 2020, composed of faculty and staff from multiple disciplines to improve safety culture across campus. The committee contributed to a COVID-19 worksite planning checklist for the field that guided researchers in adapting their protocols for this new hazard.
Heather Spaulding

 

Preventing Sexual Harassment and Assault in the Field Sciences

Fieldwork is an important and often necessary component of many scientific disciplines, yet research suggests that it presents a high-risk setting for incidents of sexual harassment and assault.

Top Recommendations:

  • Develop a field safety plan before a trip, in order to document your emergency and communication plans, hazard assessment, and required training and equipment. Involve all trip participants in the safety planning process.
  • Carry a satellite communicator or other device in areas with unreliable cell phone service, and review your check-in protocols.
  • Include identity-based risks in your Field Safety Plan, and discuss prevention and response strategies with your colleagues. Consider scheduling a Building a Better Fieldwork Future workshop for your group.

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