The first-ever Field Skills Day event went ahead despite a bit of rain and wind gusts on May 8, 2025. Useful skills were learned by field researchers such as changing a tire, strapping down ATVs, identifying small scary things (ticks, wasps, toxic plants), deploying bear spray, transporting dangerous goods, filling a jerry can, communicating with satellite devices, navigating with a compass, tying knots, setting up a tent, to name a few. One added impromptu skill was demonstrated: learning how to stop traffic to let goslings cross Saskatchewan Drive. Students from other Edmonton educational institutions participated, making this a collaborative event. We want to thank the instructors and volunteers who gave their time to make the event happen. The participants took away resource sheets developed by instructors for the skills they learned during the event: 

Vehicle Skills
ATV/Trailer Skills 
Bear Spray Skills
Small Scary Stuff Skills
Human Conflict Skills
Communication Skills
Camping Skills
Navigation Skills
TDG and Enviro Spills Skills

During field research, one may encounter bees, wasps, hornets, plants, and other plant-related or other animal-related allergens (dander, hair) that could result in a severe allergic reaction. There could also be a food-related allergy triggering the need for epinephrine.  The reaction can result in anaphylaxis, also called allergic or anaphylactic shock, and is a sudden, severe, and life-threatening allergic reaction that involves the whole body. The reaction is marked by constriction of the airways, leading to difficulty breathing. Swelling of the throat may block the airway in severe cases.

Please refer to the HSE Use of Epinephrine Guidelines when researchers are working remotely and emergency medical response services are far away or when your hazard assessment necessitates. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have noted the presence of avian influenza in domestic birds across Canada  Groups should understand the risks associated with zoonotic pathogens and implement control measures regardless of whether or not there is an active outbreak of the disease in the population. Please see this link for more information and resources for the hazard assessment. Also, here's the link to the CFIA page about the outbreak and a link to the map depicting where the disease has been identified across Canada.

Since January of 2025, ten in-person sessions have been held, training over 180 field researchers. Since the field safety program began, over 1400 have received the training. If you are planning on working in the near future and haven't taken the Field Research Safety Training, please visit this page for more details.   Training certificates are valid for three years. 

Training certificates are valid for three years. If you have activities that are assessed at a risk level 2 (medium) to level 5 (Extreme), you are required to take both the eLearning and the in-person training sessions. Please register using the Google form.  Certificates will not be issued if participants fail to attend. If you plan on working in the field shortly and haven't taken the Field Research Safety Training, please visit this page for more details.

Due to the increase of field activities at this time of year, we are offering additional in-person sessions. The following sessions will be held in 2-25 (Tamarack Room), Materials Management Building: 

May:      Thursday, May 22, 9 am - 12 pm
               Thursday, May 27, 9 am - 12 pm
June:     Tuesday, June 10, 9 am - 12 pm 
               Tuesday, June 24,  9 am - 12 pm                               

*There will be fewer sessions offered in July and August as field researchers have departed to the field. If you can't attend in person (i.e., you are not in Edmonton or the surrounding area), do not register for the above sessions. Instead, please email fieldoff@ualberta.ca to make alternative arrangements for online delivery.  

As of the release of this newsletter, there are 12 active wildfires in Alberta. A reminder that groups should consult the Wildfire Map for the area they will be working/traveling through. The Alberta Wildfire map is adding features on a regular basis. The map now includes mutual aid wildfires, and includes grass fires around rural towns and hamlets, which have required evacuation alerts. Due to the lack of precipitation this spring, the province has numerous fire bans. Researchers must check if there is a ban in the area of their research and abide by all restrictions. 

Due to the lack of precipitation this spring, there are numerous Fire Bans within the province. Researchers should determine if there is a ban in the area of their research and abide by all restrictions. On May 3 a fire started in the Redwater Recreation Area after an ATV caught on fire. While there are no Ministerial Orders banning ATV use in Alberta at the time of writing, users of ATVs must take steps to keep  ATVs/OHVs clear of debris or materials that could result in fires. 

Make sure to check out these online resources for knowledge of the current state of affairs and for developing Emergency Response Plans:

 Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard  One can subscribe through the Wildfire App to instantaneously get alerts of the changing status of the wildfires in the area of your research.  

Alberta Emergency Alerts - Download the app and sign up for the alerts on your phone. Researchers may be prevented by the government from going into an area where an evacuation order is in place. There could be roadblocks set up preventing you from traveling through. 

Ministerial Orders -   Monitor these orders before going out to the field in case your area is affected.

Fire Danger Map for the province - The map shows areas from very low risk to very high throughout the province. 

Alberta Fire Bans - Researchers should be checking this site regularly but they can also find out contact numbers of wildfire management offices in their area for further information.

Environment Canada Public Weather Alerts This includes Air Quality warnings. These should be monitored as part of your control for weather hazards.

Environment and Natural Resources Canada Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health

511 Road Reports -  Check the maps before heading out, looking for road closures and at the webcams for visibility issues. Putting a planned route of travel to and from your site into your FAP is recommended. 

FireSmoke.ca - High resolution, interactive forecasts of hourly, daily average and daily maximum concentrations of PM2.5 smoke particles at ground level from wildfires. assist with your hazard assessment and control. 

When we have extreme wildfire activities, we have diminished air quality. Ensure that you identify this as a hazard in your Field Activity Plan and assign appropriate controls. Remember, there may be both heat and air quality advisories.  Ensure controls are in place for both events. In addition to heat advisories, health advisories related to air quality have been issued in many jurisdictions.

Please see this HSE Outdoor Air Quality page to learn more about controlling the hazard. For keeping an eye on the air quality, both Firesmoke.ca  and AirVisual app are useful.

Photo Credit:  Dr. Anne McIntosh, Program Lead and Instructor, Augustana Costa Rican Field School 2025,  Students up early to do some bird watching on the canopy tower at the Osa Conservation Campus, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

A few Field School Program Leads have piloted the HSE Field Schools and Field Trips Requirements and used the international field schools (iFSSP) template with good results. We encourage the use of these documents going forward.  If you have any questions, please email fieldoff@ualberta.ca or speak to your faculty safety representative.  

Wilderness First Aid

We held two Wilderness First Aid courses this year, one in February and one in May. We must have 12 registrants to run the course and unless we get that many requests, we will not run another until the fall. There are third parties who provide a similar course. Here are a few suggestions: 

Haskin Canoe 
Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine
Yamnuska 

HSE Fleet Safety Advisor, Jeff Brady (825-963-0613). provides driver training/evaluations and trailer training.  Call or email Jeff to set up this training and become a U of A authorized driver. 

All participants who use an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) for University business must be trained and competent. Jeff Brady, our Fleet Safety Advisor is also U of A's ATV instructor.  The following days have been booked for the spring:
Thursday,  May 22 (Full)
Thursday, June 19

When:   8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where:  UAlberta South Campus (west of Saville Centre, Livestock Pavillion) - Google Map Location
Cost:     Free to University of Alberta Staff and Students
Pre-class requirement: All participants must take the  ATV Training online

Register by clicking the link below and select a date that works for you.