Fieldwork Safety
For a number of academic disciplines, fieldwork is an essential part of the core teaching, learning and research functions. The University requires that fieldwork is undertaken in a safe and responsible manner. All fieldwork must be properly managed and coordinated in such a way as to meet the best interests of the University while protecting the safety of staff members, students and the wider community
To aid fieldworkers the University Safety Office has prepared a number of documents that may be of use.
The UCD Fieldwork Safety Manual is designed to give practical advice on the planning and execution of ‘traditional’ fieldwork activities such as those undertaken in archaeology; botany, zoology, geology, etc. To complement this document a Fieldwork Risk Assessment Template has also been developed which allows fieldworks to identify the hazards associated with their fieldwork and to design control measures to reduce the risk from those hazards.
For those staff and students engaged in fieldwork that involves ‘home visits’ or ‘face to face’ interviews with members of the public the University Safety Office has prepared Safety Guidelines for same.
Further information on fieldwork safety training courses and general fieldwork safety advice can be obtained from safety@ucd.ie.