Field Activities Plan Central Registry
|
|
|
The above photo was the 2nd Place Winner of 2023 Field Research Photo Contest and was submitted by Marina Banuet Martinez, PhD candidate in the Climate Change and Global Health Research Group supervised by Dr. Sherilee Harper. FiNHCC (Fisher's Nutrition Health and Climate Change) project aims to understand how the impacts of climate change on the ocean can affect the nutrition, health, and well-being of small-scale fishing communities.
|
As part of the changes to the Field Research Safety Program, researchers are now required to submit their Field Activities Plan (FAP) for approval in the Central Registry. Since April, the registry has received approximately 220 FAPs. When the FAP is received, it is automatically routed to the appropriate Faculty or HSE Safety Representative(s). If the FAP is assessed at levels 4 or 5, it must undergo a peer review as well as two additional reviews by HSE advisors.
Please submit your FAP early (it can be in draft format as the safety representatives may have some recommended changes prior to obtaining final signatures) and allow 10 days for levels 2-3 and 20 days for levels 4-5 for approval.
A huge thank you to all field researchers who have stepped up to do the peer reviews!
|
|
|
Training sessions continue
|
|
|
If you haven't taken the mandatory Field Research Safety Training yet, please visit this page for more details.
If you have activities that are assessed at a risk level 2 (medium) to level 5 (Extreme), you are required to take both parts of the training, the eLearning and the in-Person training sessions. Due to the number of individuals who are located out of Edmonton and unable to attend in person, we have scheduled some virtual sessions, please see below:
July 9, 2024 (1 pm to 4 pm) - ECHA - Room 2-131
July 15, 2024 (1 pm to 4 pm ) - Virtual
July 31, 2024 ( 9 am - 12 pm) - ECHA - Room 1-490
August 6, 2024 ( 9 am - 12 pm) ECHA - Room 1-490
August 27, 2024 ( 9 am - 12 pm) - Virtual
September 3, 2024 ( 9 am - 12 pm) - Virtual
We will not be organizing any other sessions during this time frame so if you need the training, please register for one of the sessions above using the online form.
|
|
|
At the time of this newsletter (June 27) the Alberta Wildfire Map shows 12 active wildfires (ones that aren't carried over from last year) and 4 mutual aid fires with no out-of-control fires.
What to do in the event of an evacuation
If you are in or near an area where an evacuation notice has been issued, you are to leave your field location and take the route to an evacuation/reception centre as advised through the Alberta Emergency Alert System. Once you are in a secure evacuation/reception center notify your supervisor. Check 511 Alberta for road closures and evacuation routes. There is extreme wildfire activity in the northeastern part of BC. In this case, have the BC Wildfire Map handy and go to the EmergencyInfoBC for evacuation orders and other notices of emergencies. For those undertaking research in other jurisdictions, ensure you have access to wildfire information and evacuation protocols for that jurisdiction.
For those researchers who have not left for the field but are planning to conduct research in an area where wildfires are active
Review your Field Activity Plan and the locations you plan to travel through, stay, or do field work and decide before you go whether it is viable and whether you should be going or postponing your fieldwork.
Last week, due to the evacuation of Fort Good Hope in the North West Territories, a group of researchers were required to postpone their research. North West Territories wildfire map shows nine out-of-control wildfires and there are no open campfires allowed in five of the Territorial Parks.
In our April newsletter, we listed the controls for the hazards of wildfires, so please review those and incorporate them into your FAP if you haven't already done so.
|
|
|
Wild Animals and Zoonotic Pathogens
|
|
|
University of Alberta researchers who will be handling wild animals, or materials derived from the animals, must complete a hazard assessment to identify, assess and control zoonotic pathogens (disease-causing microbes that can pass from animal to human) that may be associated with the population they are studying.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
A fall Wilderness First Aid course will be organized. Stay tuned.
Over the last few months, various hazard specific training courses have gone ahead. Chainsaw certification, firearms, hands-on boat operating, hands-on bear spray training, traileriand ng courses are some examples of courses that have been organized.
Please contact fieldoff@ualberta.ca who can provide advice on appropriate training.
|
|
|
|
|
FRO Equipment Rental Program
|
The Field Research Office rents satellite phones, inReach devices, first aid kits, and AEDs at cost recovery prices. We do have a limited amount of phones activated so please give us at least 48 hours notice.
Sat Phones: $35/ week plus usage fees
InReach Devices: $25/week (15K plan) or $30/week (Unlimited data plan)
First Aid Kits: $6/week.
AEDs: free
|
|
|
|
|
ACCESS TO SOUTH CAMPUS STORAGE LOT
|
The South Campus Storage Lot (southwest of the Saville Centre) has storage containers and cages for storing combustibles and most field equipment is stored there.
All users of the lot must request access online.
|
|
|
|
|
Field Research Office
Website
2-10 Materials Management Building
Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2R3
HRHSE
Email: fieldoff@ualberta.ca
W 780-492-8981
|
|
|
|
