Field courses

The technical support available to field courses and fieldwork

Services include...

Preparation for fieldwork and field courses

• Consulting with fieldwork supervisor with regards to scheduling and practicality of the chosen activities (e.g. availability of equipment and materials, requirement for demonstrating)
• Ensuring that the fieldwork equipment is maintained and available for users
• Preparing the equipment, reagents and consumables required
• Providing PPE and waste container if required and set out in the fieldwork risk assessment provided by the supervisor
• Providing sample container and, on behalf of the School, recharging the cost to users as appropriate

During fieldwork and field courses

• When required and agreed, providing demonstration and support during the activities
• If suitably trained, providing First Aid assistance whilst present delivering demonstration and support

After fieldwork and field courses

• Receipting allocated equipment from organiser as soon as practical after the fieldwork
• Providing guidance on disposal/removal of project materials

ADDITIONAL SERVICES WITH A CHARGE FOR TECHNICIAN TIME

• Cleaning and repair of fieldwork equipment not returned in an acceptable condition
• Training and support of any visiting students and researchers (e.g. external UG students, UROP students, external PG students) for fieldwork activities
• Providing a driving service to and from field sites
• Participation in field activities outside of normal working hours
• Maintenance of sample collections
• Use of a technician specifically to avoid a lone working situation

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Management of any travel arrangements (e.g. vehicles bookings and maintenance)
• Creation of risk assessments or completion of indemnity forms and inductions

WHAT WE NEED FROM OUR SERVICE USERS

• Access to account codes for the purpose of ordering and disposing of items as required
• Suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all fieldwork activities prior to hand out of equipment
• At least 2 weeks' notice (before departure date) for fieldwork of up to 2 days and at least 12 weeks' notice for technical support to prepare for all fieldwork activities requiring international travel and/or of duration of more than 2 working days
• SOPs for sampling/data collection
• All travel and subsistence costs