NEW 2024 Field Research documentation and training requirements
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Field safety changes 2024
The new field safety training changes for 2024 will affect the following:
Field Activity Plans
Daily Field Safety Log Books
Risk Matrix/Approval Process/Central Repository for Field Research Documents
Field Research Training
What to expect
For those who will be researching in-field before Apr. 30:
The current FAP template can be used but please incorporate these enhanced elements into your field activities, reviewing them with each of the participants.
Mar. 18: A 2024 addendum to be attached to the Field Activity Plan (FAP) and a revised risk matrix will be available on the HSE/FRO webpage.
Beginning Mar. 18: All U of A field researchers must complete two to three hours of eLearning sessions.
Beginning April 2: All U of A field researchers must complete two to three hours of eLearning sessions.
Beginning Apr. 2" All U of A field researchers must complete an in-person session (three hours).
Apr. 30: All new processes are expected to be in use.
To learn about the new tools and processes, all field researchers — including faculty, staff, and students who conduct research off-campus — must complete mandatory training before beginning fieldwork.
The online course delves into hazard assessment and controls, field-level hazard assessments, and emergency response planning during field research. If possible, research groups should complete the training together as there are discussion points throughout (you may log in through one account).
Field researchers will be required to take one in-person half-day session. These sessions will begin on Apr. 2. The online course must be completed before the in-person session. The in-person training is an opportunity to apply the principles from the online course, completing activities related to hazard assessment, and incident/emergency response.
Watch for the Mar. 18 edition of the Field Research newsletter when all links to training and new forms will be available.
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Alberta Wildfire Season begins February 20, 2024
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The Alberta government ordered an early start to the 2024 wildfire season beginning on Feb. 20, nine days ahead of the legislated date of Mar. 1. This means that fire permits will be required for burning within the Forest Protection Area, except for a campfire.
Do you have research operations within 1 km of public land in Alberta from Mar. 1 to Nov. 30? If you do, the Industrial Wildfire Control Plan (IWCP) is a mandatory requirement under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act.
This provides information to Agriculture and Forestry as to where your employees are working full-time to increase employee safety in the event of a wildfire emergency.
The Alberta government requires companies that operate manned facilities on public land to create, update and activate Industrial Wildfire Control Plans before Mar. 1.
Log into your IWCP and view user resources from the alberta.ca/firesmart web page.
For ADS account-related changes (i.e. updating your official email address or company name) or applying for access to any new accounts, email aep.accountmgt@gov.ab.ca.
For all other user support inquiries for IWCP, please email aws.service@gov.ab.ca.
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George Lake Research Station
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George Lake Research Station has recently had a break-in. If you plan to use the station this coming spring/summer, please contact Vicky Sandberg with ALES before you make plans to attend the station.
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Edmonton Consular Corps Award
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The Edmonton Consular Corps Award - Deadline Extended to Mar. 5, 2024
The Edmonton Consular Corps Award is an endowment that supports Graduate programs and research outside of Canada in areas of international relations and development including diplomacy, conflict, trade and cultural relations. In the past, graduate researchers traveling to countries such as India, Iran, Nigeria and New Zealand have received the award to support their research abroad. The Edmonton Consular Corps Award - Deadline Extended to March 5, 2024
Please contact eapaward@ualberta.ca if you have any questions. See more information at this link.
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Chainsaw Training Certification
When: May 1-3 | 8:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Alberta Botanic Gardens, north of Devon
Cost: The full three-day course is $1,000.
The comprehensive three-day course covers safety considerations, basic saw maintenance, basic saw handling, emergency response plans, basic bucking, and limbing techniques, bolt and boring cuts, compression/tension cuts, and felling technical training.
There is the option to take a two-day course which will bucking and limbing with no falling for $750.
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Our next Wilderness First Aid course will be organized for the beginning of May 2024. Intermediate First Aid is a pre-requisite. Exact dates will be released next month.
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If you have new hires for the field season that require driver authorization, reach out to Kenji Kinoshita, Fleet Safety Advisor, to get your paperwork in and book driver evaluations in advance of the spring rush. Contact Kenji if you require ATV training.
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FRO Equipment Rental Program
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We rent 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 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
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ACCESS TO SOUTH CAMPUS STORAGE LOT
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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.
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The Firearms policy is being revised by UAPS under Facilities and Operations.
Mandatory annual firearms training (hands-on training from a third party, two days in duration) has been organized for Mar. 4 and 5, and Apr. 16 and 17. This will be required before any firearms are taken to the field.
Please fill out this form, if you require the Firearms Training.
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Field Research Office
Website
2-10 Materials Management Building
Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2R3
HRHSE
Email: fieldoff@ualberta.ca
W 780-492-8981
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