Work in hot environments can have direct effects on human health including, heat exhaustion, heat stoke, and can lead to reduced labor productivityAll university employees who work outdoors or in environments with elevated indoor temperatures may be at risk for heat illness– the group of medical conditions caused by the body’s inability to cope with heat.
Certain high-hazard activities and equipment require additional safety training and written pre-approval. Faculty-led committees issue use authorizations for high hazard activities to ensure the work is safe and monitored appropriately. These include:
The following materials are for researchers, principal investigators, staff, and faculty involved in off-campus fieldwork–both domestic and international.
Off-Campus, Field, and International Research Resources for a Safe and Inclusive Experience collapse allexpand all Know Before You Go: Planning Resources for Fieldwork Know Before You Go: Planning Resources for Fieldwork
The 2024 UC Field Safety Leadership Retreat featured timely, challenging workshops with opportunities to discuss scenarios, practice skills, and plan for field projects and settings. Attendees participated in small group activities, and reported back lessons learned to their own groups/departments. The retreat was held on March 8-10, 2024 at UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab. It was a unique opportunity to learn and collaborate with leaders from a variety of field disciplines from across the University of California.
Improve your leadership and communication skills! The UC Field Research Safety Center of Excellence’s leadership training series features timely, challenging topics led by subject matter experts, presented online in workshop format with example scenarios, practice skills, and planning guidance to promote safe teaching and research outdoors, at remote sites, and abroad. Access the UC Field Safety Leadership Training Series Library below.
Safely working and conducting research outdoors, off-campus, and abroad. The UC Field Operations Safety Manual serves as a reference document and teaching tool to promote safe,...
EH&S evaluates workplaces for possible airborne hazards and recommends ways to reduce these hazards when found. When appropriate, EH&S will fit campus workers with respirators and provide annual training on their proper use. This program is administered in cooperation with University Health Services. UHS evaluates a person's ability to safely wear a respirator prior to a respirator being issued. For more information contact EH&S at ehs@berkeley.edu.
Heat Illness Prevention and Response 