2. Arctic Field Safety - Overview
• NSF Policies and Expectations
• University/Institution Participation
• Remote Sensing Technology
• CRREL Analysis of PGC Imagery
• Arctic Field Training
• Field Team Members
oMountaineers
oMentors
• Discussion
3. Polar Code of Conduct
• Shared statement of commitment to uphold ethical, professional, and legal standards
o Treat others with dignity and respect
o Exercise the highest level of professional and ethical behavior
o Work cooperatively to resolve differences
• Applies to all persons at all NSF-managed sites
o Arctic, Antarctic
o Researchers, contractors, federal, military
• Violations of The Code may result in adverse consequences
• Academic institutions or program support contractors may have more stringent
Codes of Conduct
Polar Code of Conduct
4. Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic
• Guidelines for conducting responsible and ethical research and encourage
respect for all individuals, cultures, and the environment
oBe Accountable
oEstablish Effective Communication
oRespect Indigenous Knowledge and Cultures
oBuild and Sustain Relationships
oPursue Responsible Environmental Stewardship
Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee
Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic
5. Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide
oChapter II Proposal Preparation and Submission Guidelines
▪ Section E.9 Safe and Inclusive Work Environments
oChapter IX Recipient Standards
▪ Section B.1 Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research
oNew requirement – Proposals for BIO and GEO (Jan. 2023)
oDocumented plan for responsible, ethical, harassment-free off-campus working environment
▪ Off-campus research is defined as data/information/samples being collected off-campus such as fieldwork
or off vessels or aircraft.
oDocument must address
1. Field setting and unique challenges
2. Steps the organization will take to support an inclusive working environment
3. Communication within the team
4. Reporting, responding and resolving issues of harassment
Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide
6. Safety and Occupational Health Policy
• Comprehensive accident and illness prevention program
• Emphasis on prevention and empowering all participants to be engaged in field safety
• Composite Risk Management
o Identify the hazards
o Assess hazards to determine risk
o Develop risk-mitigating controls
o Implement the controls to eliminate or reduce the hazards
o Evaluate the effectiveness of the controls
• Includes
o Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) Standards
o Polar Physical Qualification process
o Reporting Incidents and Near Misses
• Applies to all participants at all NSF-managed sites
o Arctic, Antarctic
o Researchers, contractors, federal, military
7. University/Institution Participation
• Consistent
o Health, Safety, Environment Office
o Equal Opportunity/Diversity/Inclusivity/Harassment Prevention Office
o Training
o Reporting Incidents
o Committees
• Examples
o Dartmouth
▪ International SOS, Risk Assessment
o Georgia Tech
▪ Fall Protection, Electrical training
o University of Idaho
▪ Hazardous materials handling, Confined Space training
o Washington State University
▪ Cold weather, First Aid training
8. Remote Sensing Technology
Crevasse Webinar Series
• Using Modeling to Predict Where Crevasses Form
oMonday, March 27th at 10:30-11:30 am Eastern
• Using Drones, Automated Radar Collection and Other Techniques in the Field to Detect
Crevasses
oTuesday, March 28th at 3-4 pm Eastern
• Using Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing for Crevasse Detection
oTuesday, April 4th at 1-2 pm Eastern
• Automated Detection of Crevasses from Remote Sensing
oThursday, April 6th at 4-5 pm Eastern
Crevasse Webinar Series
9. CRREL Analysis of PGC Imagery
• Projects with traverse components and/or work near potential crevasse sites
• Site and traverse route selection and analysis support
• Annual analysis process and timeline
• Site selection working group may include Polar Geospatial Center (PGC), CRREL,
NSF, Battelle ARO, the Summit Science Coordination Office (SCO), other national
programs, science community, glaciologists, and/or the Principal Investigator on
the science proposal
Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Polar Geospatial Center
10. Arctic Field Training
• Risk Assessments
o Proposal stage
o Post-award
• Field Emergency Action Plan
• Arctic Field Training
o Tailored to the project
o Stove use, set up tents, bear spray use, camp hygiene, winter camping
• Glacier Travel
• Swiftwater Travel
• Small Boat Training
• Aviation Land and Water Survival School
• Harassment Awareness
• Bear Awareness
• Snowmobile Training
• Altitude Awareness
Battelle Arctic Research Operations
11. Field Team Members
• Level of experience of all team members
• Empower everyone on the team
• Mentors
oExperienced PIs
oEarly Career Researchers
oBest practices
• Technical expertise, specific roles
oMountaineer
oBear Guard
• Identify resource needs at the proposal stage
12. Discussion
• Discussion questions:
oWhat are your concerns?
oWhere are you planning field work?
oWhat resources will you use to manage field risk?
oWhat resources does your academic institution offer?
oCan you act as a mentor to early career researchers?
oAre there any barriers to access field safety resources?
