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Field Research Safety

The dynamic nature of field work at MIT requires our field researchers to appropriately plan for potential environment, health, and safety hazards and emergencies.

Responsibilities

Safe and successful fieldwork is the responsibility of everyone involved, from trip planner to participant, each utilizing learnt knowledge from previous experiences as well as additional MIT provided resources. Below are some key members of the MIT community that share this responsibility to ensure that all field research is done as safely as possible with minimal adverse social and environmental impacts.

Planning and Preparation

Fieldwork is an essential component of several academic programs at the Institute.

These activities may be for just a day or for an extended length of time and may take you to local, international, urban or rural environment. Undergoing careful planning and preparation for such dynamic work can help you when you encounter potential hazards and emergencies and can aid in reducing risks.

Planning a successful field research trip will take time, effort, organizing, and review. EHS has created the Planning a Field Research Trip Flow Chart (Figure 1) and three Field Research Safety Planning Documents which should be used to help you develop and organize a safe trip.

Figure 1: Planning a Field Research Trip Flow Chart

Planning a Field Research Trip Flow Chart - Review the Planning Document for details on planning a research trip

Form A – Field Research Safety Plan – Consider sharing this form with EHS Field Safety for review. They may pose questions for your consideration and provide additional advice.

This form should be completed well in advance of your fields research trip. It will help you plan for the safest possible outcome, while considering unusual and infrequent events.

This form only needs to be filled out once even if numerous field excursions will take place over consecutive semesters or years. You need only review and add amendments if modest changes are anticipated.

Form B – Field Research Coordination Plan – This form will be shared with your on-campus partners to ensure that communication is maintained in the event of an emergency. EHS does not need to review this form.

This form should be completed for each field research trip as it provides information about the trip participants, their level of training and language fluency.

Form C – Travel Resources & Logistics – This form can be printed out and provided to each trip participant as it will have important information that will need to be accessed even in remote locations or areas with limited online capabilities. EHS does not need to review this form.

Once all logistics have been finalized, this form should be completed and distributed prior to each field research trip. It provides information on travel and accommodation plans, as well as, providing emergency contacts.

In addition to Form A above, for any activity occurring in potentially hazardous environmental conditions or where potentially hazardous materials and/or equipment will be used, please contact EHS or call us at 617-452-3477 to review requirements for:

  • MIT EHS trainings
  • Local permits and research registration, which must be obtained by the PI
  • Personal protective equipment which may require extra planning for purchase
  • Policies and procedures related to emergency preparedness
  •  Safe storage, use, and disposal of hazardous materials, e.g. biological material, chemicals, radiological material

An awareness level web course has been developed for shipping of hazardous materials from MIT to anywhere, domestic or international, including chemicalsbiological material, and radiological material. It is encouraged that anyone in your DLCIs who may ship hazardous materials or may assist with providing information about shipping to the MIT community, complete this course: EHS00792w – Hazardous Materials Shipping Awareness Training (certificate login required).

Injury/Illness Reporting Requirements

The requirements for reporting work-related injuries while participating in field research are the same for employees working remotely or on campus. Any injuries related to work must be reported to your supervisor immediately after you receive any necessary medical attention. Your supervisor will need to submit an injury report (certificate login required) within 24 hours. Remember, regardless of the need for medical treatment, all injuries should be reported immediately.

For unpaid students who sustain an injury while participating in field work please complete the Non-Employee Incident Report as soon as possible. For injuries that occur in international locations, International SOS (ISOS) should be contacted to coordinate medical care and payment. Failure to engage ISOS could result in uncovered medical costs.

Additional Resources

Responsibilities

Safe and successful fieldwork is the responsibility of everyone involved, from trip planner to participant, each utilizing learnt knowledge from previous experiences as well as additional MIT provided resources. Below are some key members of the MIT community that share this responsibility to ensure that all field research is done as safely as possible with minimal adverse social and environmental impacts.

Planning and Preparation

Fieldwork is an essential component of several academic programs at the Institute.

These activities may be for just a day or for an extended length of time and may take you to local, international, urban or rural environment. Undergoing careful planning and preparation for such dynamic work can help you when you encounter potential hazards and emergencies and can aid in reducing risks.

Planning a successful field research trip will take time, effort, organizing, and review. EHS has created the Planning a Field Research Trip Flow Chart (Figure 1) and three Field Research Safety Planning Documents which should be used to help you develop and organize a safe trip.

Figure 1: Planning a Field Research Trip Flow Chart

Planning a Field Research Trip Flow Chart - Review the Planning Document for details on planning a research trip

Form A – Field Research Safety Plan – Consider sharing this form with EHS Field Safety for review. They may pose questions for your consideration and provide additional advice.

This form should be completed well in advance of your fields research trip. It will help you plan for the safest possible outcome, while considering unusual and infrequent events.

This form only needs to be filled out once even if numerous field excursions will take place over consecutive semesters or years. You need only review and add amendments if modest changes are anticipated.

Form B – Field Research Coordination Plan – This form will be shared with your on-campus partners to ensure that communication is maintained in the event of an emergency. EHS does not need to review this form.

This form should be completed for each field research trip as it provides information about the trip participants, their level of training and language fluency.

Form C – Travel Resources & Logistics – This form can be printed out and provided to each trip participant as it will have important information that will need to be accessed even in remote locations or areas with limited online capabilities. EHS does not need to review this form.

Once all logistics have been finalized, this form should be completed and distributed prior to each field research trip. It provides information on travel and accommodation plans, as well as, providing emergency contacts.

In addition to Form A above, for any activity occurring in potentially hazardous environmental conditions or where potentially hazardous materials and/or equipment will be used, please contact EHS or call us at 617-452-3477 to review requirements for:

  • MIT EHS trainings
  • Local permits and research registration, which must be obtained by the PI
  • Personal protective equipment which may require extra planning for purchase
  • Policies and procedures related to emergency preparedness
  •  Safe storage, use, and disposal of hazardous materials, e.g. biological material, chemicals, radiological material

An awareness level web course has been developed for shipping of hazardous materials from MIT to anywhere, domestic or international, including chemicalsbiological material, and radiological material. It is encouraged that anyone in your DLCIs who may ship hazardous materials or may assist with providing information about shipping to the MIT community, complete this course: EHS00792w – Hazardous Materials Shipping Awareness Training (certificate login required).

Injury/Illness Reporting Requirements

The requirements for reporting work-related injuries while participating in field research are the same for employees working remotely or on campus. Any injuries related to work must be reported to your supervisor immediately after you receive any necessary medical attention. Your supervisor will need to submit an injury report (certificate login required) within 24 hours. Remember, regardless of the need for medical treatment, all injuries should be reported immediately.

For unpaid students who sustain an injury while participating in field work please complete the Non-Employee Incident Report as soon as possible. For injuries that occur in international locations, International SOS (ISOS) should be contacted to coordinate medical care and payment. Failure to engage ISOS could result in uncovered medical costs.

Additional Resources