| |
|
|
FIELDWORK
Our extensive involvement in fieldwork presents the most serious risks to staff and students of BEES. Consequently all participants must be familiar with and abide by the UNSW Fieldwork Guidelines. It is imperative that supervisors have records of risk assessments, safe working procedures and training. In particular:
- Review risk assessments to ensure they are adequate, that all relevant hazards have been considered and the proposed controls will eliminate or minimise risk
- Provide safe working procedures for all activities carried out in your lab and/or in the field
- Ensure that all necessary training is done. This includes having records of certificates, competency statements etc.
DOCUMENTATION
- Before it begins, all fieldwork must be assessed for risk. Such risks may include tick bite and mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River and Barmah Forest. The Risk Assessment Form shall be filled out and a copy sent to the School Safety Officer at least 10 days prior to undertaking any fieldwork, if this has not been done previously.
- Where fieldwork is conducted outside the Sydney metropolitan area, an appropriate Authority to Travel must be completed for each participant and submitted to the School Administrative Officer at least 10 days prior to travel.
- Where possible the Fieldwork and Notification Form is to be handed into the supervisor, and a copy to the Safety Officer, at least 10 days prior to undertaking any fieldwork. See the following Fieldwork Notification Notes on how to fill out this form.
- When fieldwork is done on a repetitive basis within the Sydney metropolitan area, it is not necessary to submit a written Fieldwork Plan and Notification Form to your supervisor on each occasion. See Repetitive Field Trips within Metropolitan Area for correct procedures.
- Prior to a field trip, the staff member in charge must submit a list of the next of kin for all participants to the School Office if this has not been done previously.
- When volunteers will be participating in fieldwork, a Volunteer Approval Request must be submitted to the Head of School at least 10 days before the intended field trip. Volunteers, as with all other participants, need to receive a safety induction.
- A Fieldwork Medical Questionnaire may be filled out (optional) by anyone attending field trips to inform supervisors of any medical conditions that may affect their ability to participate safely.
VEHICLES
- All drivers of vehicles must have a current licence that covers the vehicle type being used for the field operation, such as 4-wheel drive, bus etc. When necessary, RTA logbooks are to be used and mandatory driving hours restrictions adhered to.
- It is the responsibility of the field trip leader to ensure vehicles are properly cleaned and refuelled on return.
- Smoking, the consumption of alcohol and the use of non-prescription drugs are not allowed in university vehicles.
See UNSW Fieldwork Guidelines - Section 4 >>
FIRST AID
BOATING
- All drivers of water vehicles in NSW, that are mechanically propelled and are capable of 10 (ten) knots or more, must have a current boating licence issued by the Waterways Authority of NSW. Drivers of vessels in other states must abide by local qualifications.
DIVING
- Diving is under the control of the UNSW Diving Officer.
- All diving must conform to the UNSW Scuba Diving Operations Manual.
- Divers are classified according to levels of training and experience. Section 2.6 of the UNSW Scuba Diving Operations Manual gives details of the minimum certification and experience required for each category within the classification.
- Before a dive, the action plan (Section 3.2) must always be followed. In particular, the following forms must be filled out, and the Dive Approval Protocol followed:
- After their safety induction, all divers must acknowledge their understanding of their safety obligations by signing the BEES Dive Safety Acknowledgement Form.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
- All portable electrical equipment to be used in the field should have been inspected and tagged in the last three months in accordance with AS 3760. All field equipment must incorporate a portable residual circuit device (RCD) .
COMMUNICATIONS
|
|
