USAP Safety and Health

1. USAP Safety and Health Polar Research Support Section Gwendolyn M. Adams Associate Program Manager for Safety and Health NSF/Office of Polar Programs

2. USAP Safety and Health SEQUENCE OF EVENTS • USAP Policies • Proposal Preparation • Defining Support Requirements • Deployment Process • “On-ice” Activities U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

3. USAP Safety and Health POLICIES • Travel to Antarctica is inherently risky • USAP establishes policies to help mitigate those risks • Most USAP Requirements are consistent with Institutional Programs • General laboratory safety • OSHA-type programs U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

4. USAP Safety and Health POLICIES(Cont’d) • Some USAP Requirements are Unique • mountaineering/survival skills for remote field parties • underwater diving U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

5. USAP Safety and Health PROPOSAL PREPARATION • Complete “Safety and Health” checklist • Identify “field requirements” • Objective is to identify Safety and Health risks or unusual support requirements early • Subsequent support planning is based on responses to above • Does not influence grant award decisions U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

6. USAP Safety and Health DEFINING SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS PROPOSAL STAGE: • Identify your needs • Hazardous materials--waste management • Remote field work (mountaineering skills) • Underwater diving • Use of explosives • Use of radioisotopes U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

7. USAP Safety and Health DEFINING SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS AWARD STAGE: • USAP Support Contractor Will Appoint a Coordinator to Guide and Assist PI • Based on Operational Requirements Worksheet: • Rad authorization request, if using radioisotopes • Diving authorization request, if conducting underwater diving, • Details on waste streams, if using hazardous materials, • Additional specifics on remote field work U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

8. USAP Safety and Health DEPLOYMENT PROCESS • PRE-DEPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES • Finalize “research support plan” • Medical clearance required for all personnel traveling to Antarctica • NSF establishes the medical clearance criteria • Difference between summer and winter deployment criteria • RPSC applies the criteria U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

9. USAP Safety and Health DEPLOYMENT PROCESS (Cont’d) • RPSC sends Deployment “packet” to all deploying personnel • Typically sent out ~May prior to ~October deployment • Packet includes medical and dental exams • Personnel wintering over must also pass a psychological examination U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

10. USAP Safety and Health DEPLOYMENT PROCESS (Cont’d) • Traveler completes the packet and returns to RPSC for medical and dental qualifications determination (PQ/NPQ) • Grant pays for exams, not “repairs” • Some people may not qualify, so PI needs to have alternates identified • If collaborating with international scientists, some reciprocity between other national programs U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

11. USAP Safety and Health “ON-ICE” ACTIVITIES • USAP provides all “on-ice” medical care • USAP operates medical clinics at 3 stations and dispensaries on two Research Vessels • Medical capabilities are limited, so Program needs to insure “healthy” population U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

12. USAP Safety and Health “ON-ICE” ACTIVITIES (Cont’d) • Specified training requirements • remote field work.... “Snow School” • waste management • recreational safety • helo, aircraft safety • Follow “house rules” • Lab facilities “Codes of Conduct” • Research Vessels • Remote field work (e.g., radio checks U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators workshop

13. USAP Safety and Health BOTTOM LINE • KEEP IN THE FRONT OF YOUR MIND, “THIS CONTINENT IS DANGEROUS” • RISKS CAN BE MITIGATED • YOU ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND AND YOUR WORST ENEMY • STAY VIGILANT • DON’T BE A HERO • READ THE MANUALS, LISTEN TO THE RECTORIC • FOLLOW THE RULES • COME BACK ALIVE, HEALTHY, AND IN ONE PIECE