• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Procedure
• Communication
• First Aid
• Vehicles
• Insurance
• Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 4 - Implementation and Reporting
• Reporting
• Section 5 -  Policies

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Procedure sets out the University's processes for field trips. To be read in conjunction with the Field Trip Policy.

Section 2 - Procedure

(2) Faculty Deans and Directors, Research Institutes or Centres will ensure that staff organising field trips have received training to help them to understand their legal obligations and to be able to assess any likely risks and to develop strategies for their control.

(3) Staff responsible for organising field trips must prepare a risk management strategy. For short excursions in the ACT urban area, the risk management strategy should include the itinerary and a risk assessment and measures for controlling any identified risks. For field trips in rural and remote areas, the risk management strategy will need to be more comprehensive and should include: 

1. a list of the work to be done and its objectives;
2. an itinerary;
3. the participants;
4. a risk assessment and risk control strategy;
5. an emergency response and communication plan.

(4) Staff organising overseas field trips should refer to the International Mobility (for students) Procedure and use the risk assessment template provided.

(5) In developing the risk management strategy, field trip staff should take into account:

1. transport arrangements;
2. legal requirements relating to vehicles used;
3. availability of maps, GPS devices and satellite phones;
4. relevant licences, permits and permissions to enter private property;
5. equipment;
6. first aid;
7. vaccinations;
8. catering;
9. accommodation;
10. clothing;
11. personal protective equipment;
12. dangerous substances;
13. weather forecasts and conditions;
14. precautions to ensure the health and safety of participants engaging in medium to high risk activities; and
15. whether any students are under the age of 18 years of age.

(6) The risk management strategy should take into account the likelihood of accidents, injury or other damage and their possible consequences as well as proposed corrective actions to reduce the risk. Risk management strategies should include strategies to deal with emergencies as well as normal operations.

(7) Field trip leaders must provide all students, fellow staff, and any volunteers participating in the field trip with written details sufficiently in advance of the field trip to enable them to be properly prepared. The information included will be dependent upon the nature of the field trip; however, the following should be considered for inclusion in the written information to participants:

1. the nature of any hazards likely to be encountered;
2. details of any appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment and materials needed;
3. whether any visitor inductions will be required, and the need to follow directives arising from such inductions;
4. whether any vaccinations are recommended;
5. expectations about appropriate behaviour, including advice about relevant University rules and policies;
6. policy on alcohol consumption for the duration of the field trip; and
7. details of any catering arrangements and food hygiene.

(8) Field trip leaders must ensure that all field trip participants have been instructed in the use of any specialist equipment they will be required to use during the field trip.

(9) Prior to departure, field trip leaders must complete University travel request forms for approval regardless of whether any claim is to be made for travel allowance or reimbursement of expenses. The University travel form must be accompanied by a list of all persons (staff and students) travelling on the field trip.

(10) Field trip leaders must provide to the relevant faculty office, a list of all participants which includes the contact details of their next of kin.

(11) Field trip leaders must seek approval for any proposed solo work in the field in accordance with the Field Trip Policy. 

(12) Field trip leaders will submit risk management plans to the Faculty Dean (or nominee) or Director, Research Institute or Centre (or nominee) for approval at least two weeks in advance of the field trip.

Communication

(13) Where possible, contact should be made at agreed intervals with University staff on campus with protocols in the event that contact is not made. Ideally there should be daily communication. Staff leading field trips in remote areas will need to consider whether they need to use satellite communication systems such as the SPOT GPS Device and to ensure that they have been trained in their use. A back-up plan should be in place in case of satellite communication system failure. In some cases it may be necessary to establish alternative communication arrangements with regular contact people such as the local police station or national park ranger.

(14) Leaders of field trips to remote areas must prepare an emergency response and communication plan as part of their risk management strategy. Details will depend upon the nature and location of the field trip but as a minimum the plan should include:

1. emergency response procedures for incidents that have a high likelihood of occurring;
2. emergency contact details both on-campus and in remote areas;
3. more than one on-campus contact person should be identified;
4. procedures for communicating including frequency of contact between the home base and field teams and the field trip leader and the University and triggers for concern such as failure to meet a daily call-in commitment;
5. clear lines of responsibility when the group is divided into more than one team; and
6. protocols for reporting over-due or missing participants and for raising the alarm in emergencies.

(15) Leaders of international field trips should contact the University’s overseas assistance provider, International SOS, for emergency assistance. A card listing country contact numbers is available here: International SOS Contacts, and should be carried on all international field trips.

First Aid

(16) At least one of the participants in remote area field trips must be qualified in first aid. In determining the number of first aid officers required, field trip leaders will consider the risk proposed by the specific circumstances. Occupational Health and Safety regulations recommend the following ratios:

1. Low Risk Workplaces
   1. one first-aider for 10 to 50 workers;
   2. and two first aiders for 51 to 100 workers;
   3. an additional first aider for every additional 50 workers.
2. High Risk Workplaces
   1. one first aider for up to 25 workers;
   2. two first aiders for 26 to 50 workers;
   3. an additional first aider for every additional 50 workers.

(17) If snakes have been identified as a risk in the particular location, field trip leaders should ensure that a sufficient number of field trip participants have been trained in how to apply a compression bandage to themselves or others in the event of snake bite.

(18) Health and Safety will provide advice on first aid kits. Faculty first aid officers are responsible for maintaining the kits. In the event of a medical emergency or major trauma, first aid officers should manage the immediate needs of the patient and arrange for prompt evacuation to medical care.

(19) Field trip leaders must report all accidents, necessitating the rendering of first aid, all near miss incidents, and incidents resulting in loss or damage to University property. Incidents requiring emergency response or police intervention must be reported to the Faculty Dean or the Director, Research Institute or Centre, preferably within 12 hours. Workplaces must report 'notifiable incidents' to Worksafe ACT.

(20) In the case of the field trip incident being a ‘notifiable incident’ Health and Safety, the Faculty Dean or the Director, Research Institute or Centre, should be notified immediately. Faculty Deans or Directors, Research Institutes or Centres must report the matter to Health and Safety for their onward reporting to Worksafe ACT. Serious incidents involving students should be reported to the Dean of Students in accordance with the University’s Critical Student Incident Management Policy and Procedures.

(21) For all instances involving injury or illness a University Safe Community Report or Health and Safety Report must be completed and submitted to Health and Safety, refer: Report an Incident. All accidents and incidents must be investigated and Deans and Directors need to review the field trip’s risk management strategy. See Section 4 of this Policy for a summary of reporting requirements.

Vehicles

(22) Vehicles should be appropriate to the nature of the field trip. They should be well maintained and suitable equipped.

(23) For field trips to remote locations, drivers should be trained in how to operate the vehicle in the expected field conditions, including basic vehicle maintenance and the use of recovery equipment, if supplied.

(24) Rest breaks should be taken every two hours and drivers should drive for a maximum of 12 hours in any 24 hour period.

(25) In accordance with the University’s Tobacco-Free University Policy, smoking is not permitted in University vehicles.

Insurance

(26) Staff and students participating in field trip activities officially organised and approved by the University are generally covered by the University’s insurance and protection arrangements.

(27) All insurance or protection arrangements are subject to certain exclusions, terms, conditions and limitations. Student’s Personal Accident Insurance has limitations on claims relating to medical expenses, no cover is provided where the expense can be claimed under Medicare or the individual’s private health insurance fund. If in doubt about insurance coverage check with the Insurance Office.

(28) Field trip leaders must notify the University’s insurance office at least 7 working days prior to any field trips involving travel in helicopters or chartered aircraft to allow for any necessary additional insurance cover to be arranged.

(29) Where possible, University vehicles or hire vehicles should be used for field trip activities. If a private vehicle is used it must be registered and have comprehensive insurance that covers the use of the vehicle for business travel. The driver must hold an appropriate and valid licence. The University’s Motor Vehicle Insurance does not cover damage to private vehicles being used for field trip activities. The owner of the vehicle will be responsible for any vehicle insurance claim including the payment of any excess. Any passenger personal injury claims should be lodged under the vehicle owner’s Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. University staff members undertaking their employment duties are covered under Workers Compensation.

Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities

Section 4 - Implementation and Reporting

Reporting

Section 5 -  Policies

(30) Refer Field Trip Policy.