Register to attend the 2022 Field Research Info Sessions
Join us for the Field Research Information Sessions (online), happening Feb 2 to 15, 2022.
Who should attend?
This event is intended for University of Alberta academics, staff, and students who supervise or participate in research projects off-campus or in the "field".
How do I sign up?
Review the session summaries in detail on this page and select those you'd like to attend when you fill out the Registration Form to register.
February 2: Planning your 2022 Field Project
February 3: Travelling Internationally for Research or Academic Reasons
February 8: Driver Authorization and Training | Field Incident Reporting
February 10: Bear Encounter Workshop (Scenario-based)
February 15: Psychological Health and Safety in the Field (Scenario-based)
You will receive calendar invitations based on the sessions you select. Registration will remain open until the day before each session or until each session is full.
2021 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
Winner
First Place winner: Christopher Schulze, Graduate Student (ALES, RenR)
Photo Credit: Lauren Thompson, also shown, Erik Umbach
Research project: Drilling into the past - Establishing a biogeochemical site development description by permafrost peat coring, CAWS research group
Second Place
Second Place Winner: Tharindu Kalukapuge, PhD candidate (SCI, BioSci)
Photo Credit: Tharindu and Isabelle Lebeuf
Research project: How boreal songbirds respond to energy sector linear disturbances, Bayne Lab, Boreal Ecosystem Recovery Assessment (BERA)
Third Place
Third Place Winner: Jéssica Chaves Cardoso, PhD candidate (ALES, RenR)
Photo Credit: Justin Tyler Gage
Research project: Ensuring the resilience of managed forests landscapes in the face of climate change, Nock Lab
FRO Question of the Month
When is it too cold to work outside?
Workers must look at two factors to get to the answer - the air temperature and the wind.
If the air temperature is -32 to -34 °C or colder and there is a wind speed of 32 km/h or more, then all non-essential work should cease. This Assessing Cold Stress document sets out these thresholds in detail specifically indicating when you start taking warm-up breaks and how often.
Health, Safety and Environment developed the Cold Stress Program and this sets out specific hazards and mitigation strategies and can be referred to in the hazard assessment portion of your FAP (Section 3). This Cold Stress Program is part of the overarching Thermal Stress Program.
What steps should you take if you believe you have sustained frostnip or frostbite?
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has excellent resources for Working in Cold Environments.
Researchers working in remote or isolated areas should have Wilderness First Aid.
As excerpted from the CCOHS Health Effects and First Aid in Cold Environments. first-aid for frostbite, as well as immersion or trenchfoot, includes:
- Check for signs of hypothermia and seek immediate medical attention. If necessary quickly transport the victim to an emergency care facility.
- Never ignore numbness. If you feel numb or tingly, take steps to warm the area immediately. (e.g., put your hands under your armpits, or pull your arms into the inside of your jacket for more direct contact with the body)
- If possible, move the victim to a warm area.
- Remove wet clothing, and gently loosen or remove constricting clothing or jewellery that may restrict circulation.
- Warm the person by wrapping them in blankets or by them putting on dry clothing. Cover the head and neck. Warm the person slowly. Avoid direct heat which can burn the skin.
- Loosely cover the affected area with a sterile dressing. Place some gauze between fingers and toes to absorb moisture and prevent them from sticking together.
- If the person is alert, give them liquids to drink.
- Treat the person gently and monitor breathing
- DO NOT attempt to rewarm the affected frostbite area on site (but do try to stop the area from becoming any colder) - without the proper medical care, tissue that has been warmed may refreeze and cause more damage.
- DO NOT thaw the area if it may freeze again.
- DO NOT rub the area or apply snow.
- DO NOT allow the victim to drink alcohol or smoke.
- Get them to medical care as soon as possible
TRAINING
Looking to get your Standard First Aid or Wilderness First Aid certification?
Watch future newsletters for courses that will be organized in April and May. Standard First Aid is a prerequisite for Wilderness First Aid.
Here's the link to the Alberta Government's approved list of First Aid providers.
In the meantime, check out the HSE eLearning "field research" related courses such as Bear Awareness and Safety and Cougar Awareness and Safety.
If you have new hires and they require Driver Authorization, reach out to Kenji Kinoshita, Fleet Safety Advisor to get your paperwork in and book their driver's evaluation in advance of the Spring rush.
Wildfire Season in Alberta begins March 1
Do you have research operations within 1 km of public land in Alberta from March 1 to November 30th? If you do, the Industrial Wildfire Control Plan (IWCP) is a mandatory requirement under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act.
This provides information to Agriculture and Forestry as to where your employees are working full time to increase employee safety in the event of an wildfire emergency.
The Alberta Government requires companies that operate manned facilities on public land to create, or, update and activate, Industrial Wildfire Control Plans prior to February 28.
Please note the requirement to have a user id to file the IWCP. With the current staffing pressures related to Covid it may take longer than the 7-10 days suggested on the site to receive a user id.
Please see this link for more information.
WHAT'S NEW IN HSE
The Chemical Round-Up is underway January to March 2022 -- this is an institutionally-funded program to rid your laboratory of high-hazard chemicals. Print this poster for your lab
DOCUMENTS/RESOURCES
Flammable compressed gases (requirements & best practices for safe use)
Toxic compressed gases (requirements and best practices for safe use)
COURSES
2022 Winter Term Coming to Campus e-learning (different versions for faculty/staff and students; reflects updates in restrictions, etc.; voluntary)
Still Noteworthy
Browse past newsletters here
Check out the Field Research Office web pages within HSEIf you have any questions or require our advice on FAP preparations, risk assessments, training, etc., please email fieldoff@ualberta.ca
The South Campus Storage Lot (southwest of the Saville Centre) has storage containers and cages for combustibles.
The access code on the entrance lock has changed and those who have registered for access have received email notification of the new code.
Equipment Rentals
We rent satellite phones, inReach devices, first aid kits, and AEDs at cost recovery prices. There will be a very small increase in the rental fees to build a contingency fund for the purchase of new equipment or supplies.
As of April 1, 2022, rental fees for satellite phones will be $31.00/week + usage fees, InReach devices will be $21.00/week and first aid kits will be $6.00/week, AEDs will remain free of charge.
