In the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, undergraduate and graduate students, managers, staff and faculty, often find themselves working in environments with inherent dangers. Often, we approach our jobs accepting a certain degree of risk. Understanding risk and steps to reduce harm for those around us and ourselves is part of being a responsible professional.
Possessing knowledge and implementing training are first steps to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Accidents happen fast and knowing what to do in an emergency can save the lives of your colleagues, and yourself.
In an effort to increase safety awareness, the following web-sites are quick references to better understand occupational hazards and responses to emergency situations.
Index: EH&S | Travel | Aquatic | Equipment & Vehicles | Hunting | Diseases | Field Binder | Wood Shop
The first stop for safety information at Iowa State University is the web site for Environmental Health and Safety. This site has information on all facets of campus safety issues including, in part, the following:
- Accidents and Injuries
- First Aid Procedures
- Heat Stress in the Workplace
- Resources for Laboratories
- Required Training for Laboratory Personnel
- Shop and Power Safety
- Weather Preparedness
It is highly recommended that all graduate students, undergraduate student workers and staff enroll in the CPR/AED/First aid class prior to working in campus labs and/or field sites.
Enroll in CRP/AED/First Aid Class
Before traveling overseas, be sure to check the US Department of State's Travel website for any travel advisories and warnings.
The Handbook from the American Fisheries Society assists researchers, educators, managers, and administrators involved in the fields of fishery and aquatic science and resources management in creating a safe and productive work environment. This handbook covers safety issues within the fisheries profession including defensive driving, boating safety, electrofishing safety, CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) and first aid training, fish handling safety (injuries from spines and fins), pesticide application certification training (rotenone and aquatic herbicides), underwater and diving safety, and laboratory safety (chemical safety, slippery floors).
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Boating website provides training and educational resources:
- Boater Education
- Boating Laws
- How to Paddle
- Vessel Occurrence Operator’s Report Form
- State map of contact information
Other aquatic safety guidelines can be found on a variety of other websites:
- Vessel Safety Check - US Coast Guard Auxiliary
- Navigation Rules - US Coast Guard
- Water Safety Resource Guide - The Water Page
- U.S. Boating Laws, Safety Courses, and Licensing by State - Boat-Ed
- Chainsaw Use and Safety
- OSHA Chainsaw Safety Certificate Course
- All-Terrain Vehicles Safety Tips
- Winching Safety Tips
- Trailer Towing Safety Tips
- Ladders, Lifting, and Falls
General and Miscellaneous Resources:
- Histoplasmosis
- Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
- Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Pests of Significance
- Poisonous Plants
- Rabies Immunization
- US Department of Agriculture - Disease Damage
- World Organization for Animal Health -Wildlife Diseases Fact Sheet
- Zoonotic Diseases - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Avian Disease
Lyme Disease Prevention
Bites and Stings
- How to Treat Insect Bites and Spider Stings
- General First Aid for Bites and Stings - Oklahoma Center for Poison & Drug Information
- Prevention and First Aid - New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center
- Spider Bites: First Aid - Mayo Clinic
- Cobra Envenomation
Draft provided by Ryan Wyllie, Iowa State University - Environmental Health & Safety
- Emergency contact information
- Who are you working for
- How do you get a hold of them in the event something goes wrong
- Emergency Hospital Visit Documentation
- Any forms that may be needed at an emergency room or other hospital visit
- General summary stating “In the event of an emergency seek medical treatment, contact supervisor"
- Safety Data Sheets
- SDS's for any chemicals they may be exposed to
- This is not limited to chemicals they are working with but if they are working in a field that another employee may have sprayed etc.…
- Standard Operating Procedures for each field procedure
- Emergency Facilities
- Locations of near-by emergency facilities for remote locations
- Locations of near-by emergency facilities for remote locations
- Safety "Quick Cards"
- Tick Bites
- Insect bite (prevention, may be included in PPE or recommendations for treatment)
- Poisonous plant identification (poison ivy, oak etc…)
- Snake bites
- Hazard animals (diseases associated with mice, rabbits etc…)
- Emergency weather situations
- Standard Operating Procedures
- What to watch for in regards to serious weather
- What to do if you are in a field when severe weather hits
- Watch vs. warning
- Standard Operating Procedures
- Heat stress
- Prevention
- Signs symptoms of heat stress
- Treatment
- Equipment Checklist
- Check list for things to take out to the field
- water
- first aid kit
- bug spray
- etc.…
- Check list for things to take out to the field
- List of smart phone apps
- Provide a list of mobile apps that can be accessed in the field
- OSHA heat index tool
- First aid guide
- Ladder guide
- etc.…
- Provide a list of mobile apps that can be accessed in the field
- Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment requirements
- Provide a list of clothing and equipment most appropriate for the filed
- long pants
- boots
- hats
- etc….
- Provide a list of clothing and equipment most appropriate for the filed
- Sign off sheet for trainings
- List of potential hazards
- list of hazards that could be encountered while working in field
- fox holes
- insect nests (wasps, bees, etc.)
- etc....
- list of hazards that could be encountered while working in field