The sections below outline Itasca's safety guidelines and requirements for researchers and instructors. While station staff are available to help researchers develop a field safety plan, it is ultimately the responsibility of the PI to plan for and meet the health and safety needs of the research team, including responding to any health and safety emergencies that may arise.
All researchers and associated project personnel should complete project-specific safety and ethics trainings. Researchers from institutions outside of the University of Minnesota should complete trainings through their own institutional portals. PIs are responsible for maintaining records of these trainings.
Creating a Field Safety Plan
All researchers and instructors should develop a project- or course-specific field safety plan prior to initiating fieldwork. The following resources are available to you for making your plan:
- Prior to creating a plan, review the IBSL Health and Safety website.
- A template to create your field safety plan is available through the UMN Department of Environmental Health and Safety's Field Safety Resources webpage.
- It is encouraged to develop a field safety plan that considers risks for marginalized identities. This publication presents guidelines on how to incorporate such considerations for more inclusive safety planning.
- The station also provides these general guidelines to structure a safety discussion with your research team.
- Some grant proposals require a written Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan for off-campus or off-site work. See the NSF SAIF page for more detailed information.
IBSL Laboratory Safety Plan
The UMN Department of Environmental Health and Safety Lab Safety Plan Toolkit is an extensive resource for lab safety information and planning. IBSL has a station-specific Laboratory Safety Plan that all researchers and instructors are required to read before beginning lab activities:
Additionally, researchers and instructors from institutions outside of the University of Minnesota must complete the IBSL Laboratory Use Agreement form.
For emergency assistance for chemical spills, evacuate the area and call 911. For non-emergency assistance, visit the UMN Department of Environmental Health and Safety webpage, or call (612)-626-6002.
Equipment Protocols
Motorboat Use
Station motorboats are reserved for field courses or research purposes only, and their use must be pre-arranged with IBSL staff. Researchers and instructors can request access to the motorboats by contacting the Station Scientist at [email protected]. Users must complete the IBSL Motorboat Protocol agreement form through the portal below before use of motorized watercraft will be approved.
IBSL Motorboat Protocol Agreement
Additionally, users must always be aware of and abide by all MN state regulations.
Ranger Use
The station's Polaris Ranger may be requested to access field sites during the winter and is reserved for course or research purposes only. Use must be pre-arranged with IBSL staff by contacting the station scientist at [email protected]. Users must complete the IBSL Ranger Protocol agreement form through the portal below before use of the ranger will be approved.