HSE at Fieldwork, Research cruises and Group trips

Fieldwork, research cruises and group trips can involve an increased risk of human injury and/or environmental damage.

Potential risk factors during fieldwork and cruises must therefore be mapped and risk assessed before departure. The same is recommended for other group trips. Once the risk conditions have been mapped and assessed, measures must be implemented to reduce the risk conditions.

Local emergency response plan and notification procedures must be prepared prior to departure.

• Guidelines for health, safety and environment at fieldwork, research cruises and group trips (UiB's Rules and Regulations)
• Checklist to help identifying risk factors at fieldwork, research cruises and group trips 
• Norwegian Institute of Public Health (fhi.no/en)
• Book travels at UiB
• Travel registration for stays abroad (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (NO)
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' travel information (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (NO)
• UiB Emergency Preparedness Plan (NO) (UiB's Rules and Regulations)
• Emergency Preparedness Plan for UiB students abroad (UiB's Rules and Regulations) (NO)

All travel must be pre-approved by the line manager and must, as far as practicable possible, be booked through UiBs travel agency supplier.

• Book travels at UiB 
• Travel registration for stays abroad (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (NO)

• Should participate in risk mapping and assessment
• Shall register information about next of kin and contact information prior to travel.
• Shall respond to digital information they receive in connection with travel
  • Students: Next-of-kin information must be registered. Until a new system is in place, the travel and next-of-kin overview will be maintained locally. Contact your Academic leader/Tour leader for assistance.
  • Employees / Phd: Registers relative information and mobile number in the Self-service Portal. Under "Working conditions", choose "My information", "Add family/contact persons" and "Add new phone number". 
• Shall follow the safety routines and local adjustments required to carry out the fieldwork/research cruise/group trip in accordance with sound HSE principles.
• Have an independent responsibility to assess the safety of the activity, make necessary adjustments and, if necessary, to stop the activity for safety reasons.
• Has an obligation to inform the Academic leader or the Tour leader of health-related and other factors that may have significance for safety in connection with the fieldwork/research cruise/group trip.
• Shall, in the event of an emergency situation, notify according to the local emergency plan.

• Travel insurance for employees (Employee Handbook)
• Travel insurance for students (NO)
• NAV (nav.no/en)
• The National Union of Students (student.no/english)

• Vaccination 
• Issuance of a Seaman's certificate
• Health interview before travelling to areas with high risk
• Norwegian Institute of Public Health (fhi.no/en)
• Coronavirus disease - advice and information (fhi.no/en)
• Special agreement for the persons working on board who are pregnant, have recently given birth and breastfeeding (NO)

• Employees who are to work abroad for more than one month must fill in “Addendum to work contract mobility period according to Working Environment Act. §14-7" before departure. Does not apply to travel to conferences and seminars abroad.

Where employees with different employers or students from different educational institutions participate in joint fieldwork / research cruises / group trips, it must be decided in advance which employer/institution is responsible for coordination (principal undertaking) with responsibility for coordinating HSE work for joint fieldwork / research cruises / group trips.

• Institute of Marine Research (hi.no/en)
• The University Centre in Svalbard (unis.no)
• HSE coordination agreements (NO)

For locally concluded HSE coordination agreements, contact the faculty / department.

• Guidelines for field work in the State Employee Handbook (lovdata.no) (NO)
• Regulations on working environment, safety and health for those who have their work on board ships (Norwgian Maritime Authority)

• Agreement regarding fieldwork for employees at UiB (Employee's Handbook)
• Special agreement regarding salary and working conditions for time-limited temporary fieldwork appointments at UiB (Employee's Handbook)
• Guidelines for health, safety and environment at fieldwork,  research cruises and group trips (UiB's Rules and Regulations)
• Guidelines for risk assessment involving health, safety and the environment (UiB's Rules and Regulations)
• HSE Guidelines (UiB's Rules and Regulations)

The Travel Administrator has been appointed administrative support for the Line Manager / Academic leader / Tour leader, and is responsible for registration and follow-up of fieldwork, cruises and group travel.

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* Applies to category 1C Exchange students to contract university and 1D. Free-movers with pre-approval from UiB