[Entm-beu] Fwd: Fall2025 UC Field Safety Update

Rick Redak richard.redak at ucr.edu
Tue Dec 2 10:54:58 PST 2025 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Pamela A. See <pamela.see at ucr.edu>
Date: Tue, Dec 2, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Subject: Fwd: Fall2025 UC Field Safety Update
To:


Hi Everyone,

I hope all is well. Below are some good updates from UC Field Research
Safety, which includes a link to register for the 2026 UC Field Leadership
Training Series, which will include 27 different topics in keeping your
field work and team working at its best. This training series is provided
by the UC Field Research Safety Center of Excellence online on Zoom.

Thank you!



*Pamela A. See*

*Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Coordinator/Research Safety Specialist*

Environmental Health & Safety | University of California, Riverside

pamela.see at ucr.edu | 951.827.5878





View this email in your browser
<https://mailchi.mp/16e83cff025e/fall2025?e=d013ec1c4d>

*UC Field Research Safety*
Hello out there! I hope you're all well and staying warm as days are
shorter and some sites begin to get snow. This photo was taken yesterday,
November 24, and the tree markers indicate notable snowpack heights at the
Central Sierra Snow Lab in Soda Springs, CA since 1946. We'll see how deep
it gets this season, at a site where scientific work has been conducted for
over 75 years.
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=fbb51092f4&e=d013ec1c4d>
I'm sharing a mix of news and resources this issue, including a *near miss
reporting tool *and lessons learned from a* SOS alert on White Mountain*.
Also, registration is open for the *2026 UC Field Safety Leadership
Training Series. *As always, you're welcome to contact me via
sarasouza at berkeley.edu with any questions or suggestions.

Warmly, Sara

*2026 UC Field Safety Leadership Training Series*
First, if you're new to this newsletter or missed training -- past
recordings and slides are posted in our growing library: U
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=beddf7baad&e=d013ec1c4d>C
Field Safety Leadership Training Series
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=dede2370a1&e=d013ec1c4d>.
New
content planned for 2026 is described below and registration is now open.
Thanks in advance to all our speakers and contributors!
Register
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=12a6fe751f&e=d013ec1c4d>

*Emergency Response Panel *
This session will bring together professionals with expertise in emergency
response to share lessons learned, protocols, and highlight practical tips
valuable for a broad range of travelers and field researchers.

*Eric Hessell,* UCSB Boating & Diving Safety Officer
*Jeff Holmquist, *UCLA researcher/Mono County SAR
*Hannah Keith,* National Cave Rescue Commission
*Julie Pollard, *Director of International Health, Safety, and Crisis
Management, UC Education Abroad Program

*Format:* Zoom (choose one session)

   -

   *February 25 | 2:00 PM–3:30 PM *
   -

   *February 27 | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM PT*

*Mental Health First Aid in Field Settings*
This will be a highly interactive workshop focused on developing skillful
empathy and practicing tools to address behavioral challenges that arise in
field settings.

*Speaker:* Shannon Anderson, Ph.D., NREMT, WEMT

*Format:* Zoom (choose one session)

   -

   *March 4 | 1:00 PM–5:00 PM *
   -

   *March 6 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM *

<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=c420cff7f1&e=d013ec1c4d>

ADVANCEing FieldSafety
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=5df5e8b10c&e=d013ec1c4d>(AFS)
is a widely accessible training for anyone working in field science to help
build a safe and welcoming field environment and team culture. The program
is a NSF-funded collaboration between the FieldSafe team at the Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University
of Colorado Boulder and the ADVANCEGeo Partnership. In this presentation,
the AFS team will introduce the program and all of its components and will
share content from the first two parts of the online course: Module 1:
Preparing for and Evaluating Hazards and Module 2: Communication and
Leadership.

*Speaker:* University of Colorado Boulder FieldSafe Team

*Format:* Zoom (choose one session)

   -

   *Wednesday March 11 | 2:00 PM–3:30 PM *
   -

   *Friday March 13 | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM*

*Emergency Response Tabletop Exercise*

This event will offer the opportunity to network with peers and learn in
person on campus or at a field station. Participants will build knowledge
and skills by practicing a mock emergency scenario in small groups.
Participants should indicate interest on the series registration form and
will receive an email invitation with additional information. Those
interested in hosting a tabletop exercise at their site should contact Sara
Souza directly via sarasouza at berkeley.edu <sarasouza at berkeley.edu?>.

*Format:* In Person

   -

   *Dates/Times:* TBD — Registrants should indicate interest and will
   receive follow-up via email

*Emergency Response Debrief *

This final session of the series will be a facilitated discussion via Zoom
to reflect on the tabletop exercises, identify what went well and what
could be improved, and develop recommendations to strengthen our operations
and plans.

*Format:* Zoom

   -

   *Wednesday, April 8 | 2:00 PM–3:30 PM PT*

*Other Resources & News*
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=031299e1bc&e=d013ec1c4d>
*UC Field Safety Near Miss Report Form*
https://forms.gle/HwxEBnrPzdJ35q7Q8
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=7ad6881e3e&e=d013ec1c4d>


   - A "near miss" is an unplanned event or situation that could have
   resulted in injury, illness, or damage but did not.
   - Encouraging the reporting and analysis of near misses promotes a
   culture where faculty, staff and students are proactive about safety and
   contribute to a safer learning environment.
   - Reports may be submitted anonymously.
   - The UC Field Safety Program Director will review submissions and share
   valuable lessons in a redacted format with the UC Field Safety Workgroup
   and via the UC Field Safety newsletter.
   - If you have questions, please email Sara directly via
   sarasouza at berkeley.edu.

*Near Miss Example | Damage to Weather Station Tower*

*What happened?* A climate monitoring specialist noticed damage to a
weather station tower from moisture entering at the top and freezing in
cold weather, compromising the integrity of the structure at the joints.

*What went well? *The tower was taken out of service and replaced before an
injury or property damage occurred. Gaps at the top of other towers were
identified and sealed to prevent this from happening elsewhere.
*Near Miss Example | Barbed Wire*

*What happened?* Installing barbed wire fencing at a field station, a
worker leaned over to grab the wire and at the same time, a coworker pulled
and it flung towards their eyes. Eye protection was available but not worn.

*What went well? *They dodged the wire by leaning backward in time.

*Recommendations: *Insist that people wear protective eyewear. Barbed wire
is dangerous and staff should talk together as a team to coordinate their
tasks before starting the work.
*Lessons Learned | White Mountain SOS*

*What happened?* During a UC Natural Reserve System tour of *Barcroft
Station
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=942d317771&e=d013ec1c4d>*
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=2aee7a8da6&e=d013ec1c4d>(12,470
feet elevation, Mono County), a SOS alert was inadvertently transmitted
from an inReach satellite device. There was no emergency in this situation,
but the incident helped us better understand how a response would play out.
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=27094b1f30&e=d013ec1c4d>
Photo: UCNRS Tour of Barcroft Station, September 30, 2025,  Lobsang Wangdu

*Keep your emergency contacts informed and assist search and rescue
authorities:*

   - Provide your emergency contacts a detailed itinerary of your trip
   - Ensure they are aware of any times you will be working or traveling
   alone
   - Ensure they have information for multiple local contacts

*Learn more: *Review the Full Report
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=c5ec023a8c&e=d013ec1c4d>.
The
Mono County Sheriff’s Office was incredibly kind and helpful in all their
communications during and after this incident. You can help authorities by
building your own outdoor skills and developing specific and accurate
plans. We'll focus on emergency response in the field during the 2026 UC
Field Safety Leadership Training Series
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=1875ff00a5&e=d013ec1c4d>,
with an opportunity to practice a mock field emergency scenario.

*Seasonal Tips on Rodent Exclusion*
As field staff close up seasonal buildings for the winter, a helpful tip
for small holes and gaps is to use a copper mesh material, such as the
commercially-available Stuf-Fit®. It's a compressible product that does not
rust. Like steel wool, it is best to caulk over openings filled with copper
mesh as rodents can push the mesh aside to gain entry through an opening.
Learn more: National Park Service Rodent Exclusion Manual
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=04d2980765&e=d013ec1c4d>.
Other guidance on preventing rodent damage in unoccupied buildings:

   - Remove and limit food, harborage, and nesting sites.
   - Remove bed linens.
   - Remove padded cushions from furniture and store cushions on edge,
   separated from one another and off the floor.
   - Store all boxes and other materials on raised pallets or shelves.
   - Place all stored food in rodent-proof containers or cabinets.

*For a dose of beauty and exploration from your desk*
The Virtual Field
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=5c4bb91e9c&e=d013ec1c4d>
collaboration
hosts ecosystem exploration, 360-degree seasonal videos, live events from
the field, and more from field stations and marine labs.  Learn more about
the project at https://thevirtualfield.org/about/project-history/
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=aeee326918&e=d013ec1c4d>

*Last...*
The eastside trip to S
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=d0332e7138&e=d013ec1c4d>
NARL
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=94802ee7af&e=d013ec1c4d>
and White Mountain Research Center
<https://ucop.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=435d242eb85b68919be297700&id=c995d2ceb4&e=d013ec1c4d>
was
a treat for me this Fall. I appreciated that Kris Morris (UCOP/UCSD), Chris
Jakober (UCANR) and Claudia Alli (UCLA) were able to join, and that the UC
Natural Reserve System continues to bring people together to visit these
diverse ecosystems across California.
That's all for now. I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday
with friends and family and find time to get outdoors and recharge. As
always, feel free to contact me via sarasouza at berkeley.edu with any
questions.
Cheers, Sara






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