Returning From a Field Trip
Upon returning from a field trip, supervisors should meet with team leaders and members to discuss the field trip. These discussions should go beyond asking about the success in collecting data or establishing experiments; supervisors should debrief with the field team to celebrate their accomplishments and discuss unsafe or risky interactions or injuries that occurred during the trip. The purpose of these discussions is for supervisors and team members to assess whether or how the trip was unsafe, discuss how the team handled the risk, and how the team could better prepare for similar risks in the future.
Check in with supervisors about negative or risky interactions within field teams or with the public
During this discussion the supervisor should ask about any interpersonal team issues that arose during the field research or any negative or positive encounters with the public. Team leaders and members should debrief on the details of the interaction, how the team responded, whether the team was prepared for the interaction, and how the team could prepare for a similar interaction in the future. Supervisors may refer team leaders or team members to counseling services or mental health providers after negative interpersonal interactions. Portland State University students can reach out to the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC).
Report negative or unsafe encounters
Supervisors should work with team members to file an incident report for negative interpersonal interactions or interactions with the public (Appendix 2: Field safety incident and near-miss log). Supervisors may also refer team leaders or members to the PSU Global Diversity and Inclusion to report a bias incident if a team member experienced harassment or prejudice. Or to PSU’s Sexual Conduct Response to report a sexual harassment incident or assault. If the field team was working at a field station or field site owned/managed by another institution, supervisors should work with team leaders and team members to report the incident to the field station or site managers.
Report medical incidents or injuries
Team leaders should report to the supervisor if any injuries, minor or major, occurred during the field trip. Supervisors may need to file incident reports or may consider making maps of dangerous areas of the field site for future field trips. For reporting a work-related injury or illness please submit an Injury Report Form with Human Resources. If a PSU employee sustained an injury during the field trip, they may be eligible for worker’s compensation to cover any medical expenses.” More information can be found on the Human Resources Workers’ Compensation webpage. Supervisors should review the incident with the team leader and members and discuss the reasons the injury occurred, how the team responded to the injury, and what (if any) safety protocols should be updated to avoid similar injuries in the future.
Check in with site land owners or managers
Supervisors should communicate with site managers and owners to maintain strong working relationships and increase opportunity for future research and engagement. Team leaders or supervisors should complete all required reporting on the research activities that took place at the site. For example, some agencies require a final report of the number and type of samples collected or any research products that have come from the work. It is not uncommon for land owners to delay or deny a new permit until a researcher has submitted all required reporting. Even if a formal permit report is not required, researchers should communicate with land managers after field research is finished, or in some cases throughout a long field season, to keep them informed on how the research project is going or any problems the researchers have encountered.
Restock spent supplies
Supervisors should designate the team leader or a team member to restock any supplies used from the field safety kit (Appendix 3: List of recommended safety equipment to bring in a field vehicle) and the first aid kit (Appendix 5: List of first aid kit essentials).
Return rental vehicles and report any damage
Before returning the rental vehicle, make sure to remove all field equipment from the vehicle. If the field team was involved in an accident during the rental, the supervisor should have already alerted the rental company about the accident. However, whoever returns the vehicle should bring copies of any accident reports, photographs of the damage, contact and insurance information of any other people involved in the accident to the rental office.