Dr. Erin Bayne, professor within Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, has accepted the Field Research Office Director role for another three-year term starting July 1, 2025. His role includes chairing the Field Research Activities Committee. 

Message from Dr. Bayne:

"As I begin my second term as Director of the Field Research Office, I’m proud of the meaningful strides we’ve made together in transforming our field safety culture. In just a few short years, we’ve shifted how safety is understood and practiced across disciplines—and that momentum is something we must continue to build on. Looking ahead, one of my key goals is to streamline the administrative side of fieldwork—making paperwork and procedural requirements more efficient and less time-consuming, without compromising on quality or compliance. I’m also committed to expanding our skills training offerings, ensuring they are more tailored to the diverse and global nature of field research happening today. Finally, I want to support those who may not fit the traditional image of fieldwork, by helping them—and others—better understand the value, process, and importance of safe, well-planned research in all its forms."

On July 8, field researchers were working between Grande Cache and Hinton in a remote location.   

The InReach was clipped to the chest of a researcher while in the helicopter, and the SOS may have been accidentally triggered by the tension of the seatbelt. Due to the noise of the helicopter, they could not hear the low audible signal coming from the inReach. 

When they flew back into cell phone service, one of the team members received a text stating that the SOS feature on the Garmin inReach GPS device had been triggered and the emergency response plan was enacted.

When they stopped for refueling, the researcher called Garmin Response Centre stating the SOS was accidentally triggered. 

Here's what happened after the SOS was triggered:

Emails were sent to both HSE/FRO and the emergency contacts stating that an SOS had been triggered. Both an emergency contact and an HSE colleague initiated the escalation protocol within the Field Activity Safety Plan. 

Garmin called the emergency contacts after the SOS was signalled. Upon not reaching emergency contacts right away, Garmin called the nearest RCMP and advised them of the SOS, the location of the device and the inReach email address.

The RCMP tried contacting the inReach device by email. Having no response, the RCMP started driving to the location but was called off by Garmin Response Centre.   

Everything worked as planned with this false alarm and more important had there been a real emergency, EMS was on its way. 

What to do to prevent accidentally triggering an SOS?

Keep the inReach on your person in a place where it cannot be accidentally pressed. Keep the screen locked (you can adjust this in the settings so that the device goes into a locked screen every 30 seconds).  On the original inReach SE (Delorme model), it is easier to accidentally trigger an SOS. 

On newer models (e.g. InReach Explorer+), the SOS feature has a more robust procedure for triggering an SOS: 

To trigger an SOS on an inReach Explorer+ from the device's screen, navigate to the SOS screen and initiate the countdown. First, unlock the SOS slider (if locked) by sliding it to the left, then to the right, until you hear a click. Then, navigate to the SOS screen. Once on the SOS screen, you'll need to initiate the countdown by pressing the appropriate button or slider, often involving a press and hold for a few seconds. This will start a countdown timer, usually around 10 or 20 seconds, during which you can cancel the SOS if it was triggered accidentally. After the countdown completes, the SOS will be sent to the Garmin Response Center.  The Garmin Response Center will receive your location and device information, and you'll be able to communicate with them during the emergency. In the first 10 minutes of the rescue, your location will be updated every minute. After that, location updates are sent every 10 minutes when moving and every 30 minutes when stationary.

As with any piece of equipment, refer to the manufacturer’s specifications or user manual (Explorer+). For InReach SE (Delorme model) - see this User manual.

On July 1st, Transportation Services advised that U of A fleet vehicles can no longer be rented for periods less than seven days. Short-term vehicle rentals can be accessed via Enterprise/National Car Rentals at a discounted rate for university business purposes. 

The Field Research Office has received reports from some researchers that this will negatively impact their ability to travel to their sites. We are collecting feedback from the Field Research Community and relaying to Transportation Services. Please click on the link below to provide your feedback.

As many of HSE/FRO's satellite communicators (inReach) have reached the end of their lifespan (although they are operational and right now are being supported by Roadpost/Garmin), HSE/FRO is looking to purchase replacement equipment.   

HSE/FRO wants to hear back from field researchers on what their choice is to replace the units, noting that the technology continues to improve and innovate. 

Please let us know what you think by completing the survey.

If you are unsure whether you are required to take the training or complete the Field Activity Plan, please visit this page.

If you plan on working in the field shortly and haven't taken the Field Research Safety Training, please visit this page.

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. You are required to take the training every 3 years.

The following sessions will be held in 2-25 (Tamarack Room), Materials Management Building as below: 

Sept: Thursday, September 11,  9 am - 12 pm
Oct:  Tuesday, October 2, 1 - 4 pm
Nov:  Tuesday, November 4, 9 am - 12 pm
Dec:  Tuesday, December 4, 9 am - 12 pm

Please note: Field School registrants are required to complete the online eLearning training but not the in-person sessions as the Field School Lead(s) will provide detailed orientation that includes a review of the hazard assessment and controls, emergency response plan, Daily Safety Log Book daily briefings, and the Go/No-Go tool. 

Question:  After I have submitted my Field Activity Safety Plan to the Central Registry and it has been approved, am I required to resubmit a plan if there have been subsequent changes?

Response:  Short answer, it depends.

If the revision is substantive (adding new tasks that have not been reviewed and that could change the risk rating), YES, you are required to submit the plan again.

If the revision includes adding new researchers, new dates, an additional location (that would not change the risk rating), NO, you can revise the linked version of the FASP and let fieldoff@ualberta.ca or your Faculty Safety person know of the changes

Wilderness First Aid

We held two Wilderness First Aid courses this year, one in February and one in May. We will not be running another course until the fall, possibly reading week in November. 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. Please contact Jeff Brady, our Fleet Safety Advisor, to arrange for training.