Leaders and instructors are key members of the field research team. Their job entails more than just leading groups of participants to and from the field research site. Leaders and instructors must have the appropriate level of experience and training to successfully accomplish the field research, as well as to make every possible effort to keep all participants safe from hazards. Principal Investigator’s, Administration, and other leaders are key members of the research even if they aren’t present in the field.   As a field leader, you must accurately assess risks, mitigate hazards, and carry out safe actions.  You should always be asking yourself the following question:  “If we get into an accident right here, could I justify my actions and decision-making when I describe this back home?”.

An equally important consideration for leaders is establishing safe working environments that cultivate a safe and positive culture aimed at eliminating toxic environments that could encourage harassment and bullying.  Small group settings in remote locations can amplify toxic climates and interpersonal power imbalances.  Unfamiliar environments can empower an abuser and limit the target’s ability to seek assistance.

Even if you’re not a leader yourself, it is helpful for everyone to understand what to expect from members of leadership in the field.

Key Traits of Safe Leaders

Leaders should be able to effectively manage and oversee diverse groups of researchers, such that all participants retain focus on both the goals of the group, as well as on safety.  Some important characteristics for successful leaders include the following:

• Solid communication and leadership skills
• Accessible and approachable
• Ability to assess risks, to mitigate hazards, and use conservative judgement to protect participants from harm
• The ability to learn from mistakes
• Experience with the field techniques
• Knowledge of conditions at the field site through personal experience
• Model appropriate behavior

Recommended Rules and Policies

Crew leaders/PI’s should establish specific rules to guide everyone’s conduct and behavior in the field and they must teach these rules, provide a good example to follow, and hold all group members accountable to these rules with clear consequences for not doing so.  Critical areas to consider for recommended policies include the following:

• Personal Safety
• Sexual Harassment – UMCES Policy
• Other forms of harassment
• Disruptive or counterproductive behavior
• Aggression
• Language
• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use
• Cell phone use
• Consequences if rules are broken
• UMCES Principles of Conduct