Biology Laboratory

Safety
Field Safety Module

Off-campus Lab Safety

Follow all directions & safety advisories
provided by instructors
Remember: Safety first! Use common
sense.

NMU students conducting a

plant survey near Harlow Lake

 Dress appropriately for lab site

conditions, including footwear
Warm Weather:
& outerwear
Examples:

Light clothes to prevent heatstroke

and/or sunburn
Layers for the U.P.
Insect-resistant clothing
Raingear
Footwear good traction
etc.
Cool/Cold Weather:
Warm clothes to prevent
hypothermia
Gloves, hats
Warm boots
Wet weather clothes
etc.

NMU students collecting Lake Superior

plankton on a cold October day

Hunting Season:
Blaze orange

 Be aware of unexpected changes

to your trip schedule. Consider taking

Extra clothes
A flashlight
Extra food and water
Foul weather gear despite a nice forecast
A map of the area
Compass
Sunscreen

These precautions are especially important if you are

working in remote areas!
If working independently for a class, leave travel plans,
including a return time, with a responsible contact
person. Do not work alone.

 Tell your instructor of special considerations needed for your

participation (medical conditions, allergies, etc.). This
information will be kept private. Providing it is optional, but
recommended to help insure your
safety. For example,
Allergy to bees or other insects
Allergy to poison ivy or other plants
Asthma
Arthritis, joint pain or other issues
that may impact your ability to hike
or climb
NMU students head
Problems with your vision that might
home from a field site
impact your ability to detect hazardous
conditions
If you carry an epi-pen or other medication for

allergies or reactions, please inform your instructor

A graduate student conducting

work at Beaver Lake

Consider your personal capabilities when attempting

any tasks; let your instructor know if you have
concerns.
Do not carry more than you can safely carry
Might you need to swim? Can you?
Exercise-induced respiratory issues (e.g., asthma)
Fear of heights, water, snakes, etc.

DO NOT participate in any task that you feel is

beyond your physical capacity.

Working with organisms

Be aware that organisms of all kinds can be
dangerous Exercise caution!
Giant water bug
Dont forget about
Poisonous mushrooms
Toxic plants
Wildlife vectors that transmit diseases
to humans (e.g., ticks & mosquitoes)
Large AND small wildlife that can bite!
Allergies that can be triggered by
plants and animals
Infectious agents in the environment
Amanita

 Specialized activities may

require Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) which will be
provided by your instructor
Electroshocking
Waders
Rubber gloves

Boating
Personal Flotation Devices

Animal handling
Gloves

ALWAYS pay attention to

special instructions when using
equipment
NMU students electroshock for fish
in Harlow Creek

Travel in vehicles
Rental vehicles must be driven by NMU
employees or students with a valid drivers
license.
Rental vehicles should only be driven
directly between NMU and the field site (no
side trips).
Students should maintain appropriate
behavior in the vehicle at all times.

 If private vehicles are used

to transport students,
vehicles must be properly
insured according to
Michigan state law. NMU
liability insurance is
secondary to that of the
owner & does not
provide physical damage
insurance for private
vehicles.

NMU students getting ready to help stock

trout in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Off-campus Emergencies
Report any incident to your instructor
immediately
Follow your instructors directions at all times
during an emergency. Remain with your lab group
unless otherwise instructed.
Instructors will carry
First aid kits
Cell phones for dialing 911

Public safety will be advised of any incidents

through an Accident Report filed by your instructor

 You always have the right to ask questions,

or report hazards, either directly or
anonymously without any fear of reprisal
to
Your lab instructor and/or the course instructor
Department Head and Chemical Hygiene Officer
Dr. John Rebers (jrebers@nmu.edu)
Public Safety (227-2151)

Next
Please complete the PRESENTATION REVIEW
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Then complete the QUIZ that follows the
confirmation
You must achieve a perfect score on the quiz to
successfully complete your safety training. You may
retake the quiz as many times as necessary.
Failure to complete your safety training will result
in your exclusion from the laboratory portion of
your course

After the quiz

Remember to complete any additional Safety
Training modules that are required for your
course.