© Imperial College LondonPage 1 Fieldwork risk assessments Anton de Paiva Biological Safety Officer

© Imperial College LondonPage 1

Fieldwork risk assessments

Anton de PaivaBiological Safety Officer




Why the templates?

• A systematic way in which to glean the answers to questions that must be asked

• To provide a record of these answers• To provide the first step when determining

the work processes


The process

• What are you doing?• What level of detail is required?• What do you do with the forms?


Use of the templates

• Use of these particular forms is not mandatory– As long as the alternative is ‘adequate’

• Existing risk assessments do not need to be transferred to the new templates– As long as these are ‘adequate’


The process

What offsite activity?Which form?

How much info required?

What do you do with the form?



The process


Fieldwork

What are you doing?

Hosted activityConference / meeting


What are you doing?

Conference / meeting

•Scholarly conferences and research meetings only•UK and abroad


What are you doing?

Hosted activity

•Observation of research activities at another organisation•Participation in research activities at another organisation •Visit to a landfill site or sewage plant for teaching purposes•UK and abroad


What are you doing?

Fieldwork

• From taking air samples on the Marylebone Road to tagging crocodiles in Namibia

• From interviewing shoppers on Oxford Street to geological surveys in the Pyrenees

• UK and abroad


The process




How much info?

• A conference in Brighton will require less effort than one in Mogadishu

• Learning a microscope technique in another institute may require less input than learning a technique with TB

• Taking blood samples from feral dogs in the Sudan will require more detail than counting plovers in the Bristol channel


The fieldwork template form

• Intro - description of the activity• Travel, to, from and during the activity• Accommodation• Hazards and risks - the location• Hazards and risks - the activity• Personnel involved and contact details• Emergency procedures• Training• Declaration• Approvals• ‘Useful’ links


The process






• Conferences - DA and group members• Hosted activity - reviewed by offsite co-

ordinator or DSO.• Fieldwork - reviewed by offsite co-

ordinator or DSO.• Approval from HoD when required



Documents

© Imperial College LondonPage 1 Fieldwork risk assessments Anton de Paiva Biological Safety Officer