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Hello out there, I hope you are all well. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the Fieldwork Toolkit Leadership Training Series last month. The training content is posted for all and available to share further. With a lot of fieldwork resuming, this spring newsletter is focused on environmental and biological hazard awareness, including important heat illness training, as well news from around the world, travel updates, upcoming WFA training, and funding opportunities. As always, feel free to contact me directly at sarasouza@berkeley.edu with any questions or suggestions. Best, Sara
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Vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccines are now available to everyone age 16 and up in California. Find an appointment via myturn.ca.gov.
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Travel Updates
UCOP updated its executive directive on travel on March 12, 2021. All travelers on UC business, including research, must follow CDC Guidance before, during, and upon return from domestic or international travel. Determination of what travel is considered essential remains up to each campus. Generally, essential travel to countries rated Level 3 and 4 requires Dean, VCRO, and/or International Activities Office approval as well as a "Know Before You Go" trip brief coordinated through Risk Services, regardless of vaccination status. I suggest you check your own campus travel policy at least 6 weeks prior to planning travel.
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Within California:
Check county risk levels using this interactive map. Case and vaccination rates have improved and are hopeful, but workplace precautions are still warranted and required. At Berkeley, our COVID-19 Field Protocol Worksite Planning Checklist has been updated and continues to include guidance on training, continuity planning, housing, transportation, cleaning, shared equipment and facilities, and emergency procedures.
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Heat Illness Prevention & Response
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Relevant News:
Cal State to pay $39.5 million to student who suffered heatstroke
LA Times, Feb 22, 2021. Other Preventable Tragedies, Cal/OSHA
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Training: Required in California by Cal/OSHA §3395 for all outdoor workers
Action needed: All faculty, supervisors, employees, and researchers that work outdoors must complete compliance training via the UC Learning Center (search "heat"), or contact your campus EH&S office for other training options.
For each worksite: Review access to shade and potable drinking water, communication options and how to check in with each other, signs/symptoms of heat illness, and emergency procedures.
Implement high heat procedures: Anytime the forecast is expected to exceed 95 degrees.
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Wildfire Smoke & N95 Use
Similar to heat illness training, Cal/OSHA requires wildfire smoke training for all outdoor workers when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 150 due to wildfire. Review the UC systemwide training handout or contact your campus EH&S office for other training options. This training may be completed in advance or on demand if/when wildfire occurs in a region and conditions approach an AQI of 150.
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Training: This poster may be used to review general precautions on ticks, poisonous plants, snakes, rodents, and mosquitoes with field teams or students. You may document participation in small group training discussions using this Blank Training Form.
For each worksite: Consider endemic diseases and hazards relevant to your worksite or tasks and include safe work practices in your site-specific safety plan.
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