To conduct fieldwork, the Academic Supervisor or Team Leader must assess any risks that may be encountered in the proposed research and ensure that any necessary volunteer forms, AORs or waivers are filled out by Team Members.
Field Safety Guidelines and any accompanying paperwork are not required for conference travel, work at other institutions and co-operative education-type work term placements.
To learn more about responsibilities of Academic Supervisors or Team Leaders and the steps to conduct fieldwork safely, please read the SFU Field Activity Safety Guidelines.
For Fieldwork Safety Training, please click here.
Important things to know prior to conducting fieldwork:
Use the 51社区黑料Field Safety Planning Process Flow Diagram to help organize the documentation needed for your field-based activities.
To determine the risk level of your field activity, use the risk matrix. Refer also to the Field Hazard and Risk Control document for risks you may encounter.
For course activities that involve walking or hiking on campus, please fill in the low to medium risk form and provide students with a Notice of Risk (example provided here, edit as necessary).
High/extreme risk activities must use the full Field Activity Plan.
Any Field Activity Plans within Canada that are deemed high/extreme risk must be submitted to the Field Activity Advisory Committee (FSAC) for review and approval. Budget this extra time into your planning. Submit your plan online here (halfway down the page).
Field participants are not required to inform the Academic Supervisor of their immunizations - they must simply acknowledge the immunizations that are recommended by signing the Field Activity Plan.
While FSAC does not oversee or advise on international projects, depending on risks, international projects are also required to fill in a Field Activity Plan and to follow the guidelines in Risk and Emergency Planning Travel Safety.
Additional documents and forms:
Volunteer Waiver for other students, family or friends, that come along to help or visitors such as visiting scholars who stay on site for a couple days or comes along on a fieldtrip (for international projects please visit the 51社区黑料Travel Safety pages).
AOR - Assumption of Risk form, for students working on the project who will use part of the research for their degrees, like part of a 51社区黑料course requirement (for international projects please visit the 51社区黑料Travel Safety pages).
Minor Consent Form - for any student under the age of 19 working on the project who will use part of the research for their degrees, like part of a 51社区黑料course requirement (for international projects please visit the 51社区黑料Travel Safety pages).
Note: Faculty, RA's, TA's, and staff involved in field projects do not need to sign waivers or assumption of risk forms if the work they will be doing for the project falls under their regular 51社区黑料duties.
51社区黑料Vehicles and Vessels Guidelines - information on use of vehicles and vessels in the field
51社区黑料Diving Safety - information on 51社区黑料diving protocols