General - Safety in the Field

Field seminars are small group exercises in the field. They are not site visits (excursions) nor vacation trips. The purpose of traveling to remote regions nearby and abroad is to learn the geological skills to (i) observe, (ii) recognize, (iii) interpret and (iv) derive processes.

Preliminary meeting

In addition to the information given here in the course or via Ilias, a short preliminary meeting on organizational matters and general questions can be convened if necessary.

Safety in the field

The following aspects have to be considered in the field:

Basic physical fitness and surefootedness in rough terrain.
If any medical reasons could have an impact on your own safety or the safety of another group member, please give a confidential information to the leader before starting the field seminar.

Before the field seminar:

Check your insurance coverage regarding medical care, liability, and, if necessary, repatriation in the event of illness.
Check your vaccination status and get vaccinated if necessary (see, e.g., RKI). When traveling abroad, be sure to check which vaccinations are required and which are recommended (see, e.g., the Federal Foreign Office). Also ensure you are vaccinated against TBE; Baden-Württemberg is a TBE risk area, with the disease transmitted by ticks.
Before you travel, find out the applicable emergency numbers for your destination country and save them in your cell phone.
Research the destination on your own in advance, particularly regarding the climate, local customs, and customary behavior, as well as travel and safety advisories, e.g., from the Federal Foreign Office.
Find out in advance about dangerous animals (e.g., bears, snakes, scorpions, spiders, wild boars, wolves, etc.) and plants (e.g., blue monkshood, foxglove, etc.) at the field seminar location, and familiarize yourself with the appropriate precautions to take.
Pack clothing appropriate for the weather and keep in mind that conditions can change-i.e., long pants, sunscreen, a sun hat, a rain jacket, rain pants, and warm clothing.
Bring a small first-aid kit, plenty of drinking water, and enough food for the day.
If you are working in remote or mountainous areas, bring a survival blanket, a whistle, a change of clothes, and emergency rations.
If you are working in remote or mountainous areas, be sure to bring a survival blanket, a whistle, a change of clothes, and emergency rations.
Exchange your cell phone number with the participants and leaders, and save the Europe-wide emergency number 112 in your cell phone.
Take advantage of cancellation options or purchase trip cancellation insurance for bookings you pay for yourself; this will cover any potential costs if the outdoor seminar is canceled due to illness or similar circumstances.

During the field seminar:

You must follow the safety instructions given by the field trip leader. If you wish to leave the group, please inform the leader in advance.
In an emergency, administer immediate life-saving measures and dial the local emergency number.
The field trip leader must be notified immediately. The field trip leader will coordinate further actions, including calling emergency services, administering first aid, ensuring the group’s safety, and, if necessary, halting fieldwork. Participants must follow the field trip leader’s instructions.
If participants are out in the field in small groups and the field trip leader is not present with that particular small group, the group will coordinate the emergency call, first aid, and safety measures, and will inform the field trip leader.
When making an emergency call and informing the field trip leader, keep the five W questions in mind:
1. Where is the emergency location? e.g., coordinates, mobile phone location, landmarks, or nearest address
2. What happened?
3. How many people are injured?
4. What are the injuries?
5. Who is calling?
  Then wait for any follow-up questions!
Impairment of driving ability, off-road ability and potential threat to the safety of the group such as alcohol and drug use will lead to exclusion.
We expect sturdy, ankle-high off-road shoes to the off-road seminar.
You must wear a helmet in regions affected by rockfall. This is mandatory in quarries, mines, and buildings or roads under construction.
You must always wear a safety vest during the field seminar. Participants wear a yellow safety vest and supervisors wear an orange safety vest so that supervisors can be found in case of emergency.
If illness or injury has occurred, notify the leader immediately.
You work circumspect and take care about your safely and that of your group members. Please note that not in all remote areas and quarries have mobile phone coverage and thus the help of third parties could arrive later than normal.
You must bring your own geological field notebook, magnifying glass, geologist’s hammer, and safety goggles.
Wear safety glasses or goggles when striking splintery rocks and using a chisel, never stand near others when you or they are working with the hammer.
Use extra caution on steep slopes (e.g., loose boulders, cliffs, and quarries); on clayey slopes and slippery shoreline areas; and when working on road embankments and outcrops, especially during progressive construction activities and traffic is heavy .
Watch for traffic and be alert when crossing roads and railroad crossings.
When working on shorelines, check the times of low tide and high tide. Be aware that tides can be higher than expected during high winds, and make sure you are familiar with locations where you can easily and quickly leave the shoreline.
In the event of thunderstorms or other acute weather hazards such as heavy rain, flooding, flash floods, wildfire risk, or extreme heat: follow the instructions of the field trip leaders. Fieldwork may be restricted, interrupted, or suspended.
During thunderstorms, you must immediately leave exposed areas such as ridges, peaks, isolated trees, utility poles, wire fences, and unprotected rock outcrops. Fieldwork must be suspended until the risk of thunderstorms has passed.
Be aware of the ethical and cultural characteristics of the region in which you are working.
Do not go into the field alone and let the leaders know in advance the area in which you plan to work with your small group.
Obtain permission from the owner or manager before entering private property. if applicable, permission to sample or special permits may be required especially for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's).
Avoid being under overhanging and unstable rock faces, especially during the dew season, after cold showers or heavy rain. This is also important in quarries, mountainous areas, and coastal cliffs where large areas can fall without sign.
Consider flora and fauna such as dangerous plants and animals. Keep your distance. If necessary, do not pick up rocks by hand but first turn the rock over with a hammer before picking it up.
Rivers, streams, and water-filled ditches may only be crossed at designated crossing points. If you are unsure or if the current is strong, do not attempt to cross. Swimming across any body of water including rivers, streams, water-filled ditches, lakes, and ocean bays is not permitted.
Fatigue can impair concentration and the ability to navigate the terrain. Participants must ensure they get sufficient rest and sleep.
The excursion leaders may change, interrupt, or terminate individual program items, fieldwork, parts of the day, or the entire field seminar at any time if, in the judgment of the excursion leaders, this is necessary for safety reasons. This applies in particular to accidents, personal injury, medical emergencies, extreme weather events and natural hazards, transportation failures, official orders, on-site safety risks, or other unforeseen events that no longer ensure the safe continuation of the field seminar

The risk assessment for each field trip is prepared by the respective field trip leader and regularly reviewed to ensure it remains up to date.

Luggage

Amount of luggage:

For 1-day field trips: 1 daypack
For multi-day field trips: 1 daypack and 1 bag or 1 backpack, if overnight in tents then sleeping bag, mattress, towel and etc. 1 tent for 2-3 persons

What to bring

valid identity card or passport, visa if necessary, insurance coverage if necessary (especially health insurance)
medicines if necessary, small first aid kit, tweezers, depending on the region: emergency blanket, mosquito repellent
sturdy ankle-high (!) hiking boots
geological field book (no simple notebook, no loose paper work), pencil, eraser, waterproof pen e.g. Staedler Pigmentliner 0.3, hand magnifier, compass if available.
long trousers (no jeans, during continuous rain the jeans become heavy and do not dry again)
for cool and possibly damp areas: rain jacket, rain pants, a moisture-wicking plastic undershirt should be considered
food for the journey and the first day
local currency
If staying in a tent: sleeping bag, sleeping mat, washcloth, towel, stove, cutlery, plates, cups, after consultation with other participants: 2-3 person tent (costs for many campsites according to number & size of tent)
If you stay overnight in a youth hostel: washcloth, towel, if necessary a youth hostel sleeping bag.
Please check all items in-time BEFORE departure for functionality (e.g., zippers on clothing, sleeping bag, tent, etc.)

The geological compass

If you have a simple hiking compass with clinometer and lid flap, please bring it with you (also helps for orientation in the field). For example, Recta DS 50G can be used globally as a geological compass. With a small, round circular bubble level (e.g. http://www.feinewerkzeuge.de/level.htm), which is glued to the bottom plate of the compass (make sure that the lid can still be closed), the hiking compass becomes a geological compass.

Additional geological compasses from the companies Freiberger and Breithaupt are loaned out by the institute and distributed in advance. Make sure your personal insurance covers any damage you might cause to the measuring instruments.
If you are interested, you can occasionally find inexpensive Breithaupt and Freiberger compasses for personal purchase on the secondhand market. In that case, look for a 360° geological compass (there are also 400-gon compasses, which are commonly used in mining).

Daily schedule

The field seminars start in the morning, depending on weather, tide and other factors, and end in the evening. Food and drinks for the day are taken by the participants themselves.

In an evening meeting the observations of the day are evaluated and the field book is revised.

Field seminars are not vacation trips. Participants must therefore refrain from engaging in leisure activities that carry an increased risk of accidents or injury, such as climbing, swimming, and similar pursuits, during their free time while participating in the field seminar. This requirement applies from the morning of departure until the evening of the day on which the field seminar ends.

Travel abroad

A valid identity card or passport and, if necessary, a valid visa are required for entry into the country. Please note that the entry documents must also be valid on departure. Therefore, please check the completeness of the documents in advance and bring the documents with you. In case of missing documents, entry and exit problems, such as a missing, invalid passport or passport that becomes invalid during the field seminar, non-observance of import and export regulations or similar, participants must unfortunately manage their return themself at their own expense.

What are the costs to be calculated?

The paid-in costs should cover travel and accommodation costs. Overpaid contributions will be refunded only after the event and after settlement of all costs incurred.

Which threats can occur during field work?

Following lists are not complete and miss details. Please consult the respective information source and your doctor.

Threat = Potential of health impact

Risk = probability of entry x extent of damage

what	where	reason	Symptoms	First Aid	Prevention
Dehydration	everywhere	not enough water intake	dark urine, lethargy, headache	drink enough water, take rest	carry and drink enough water
Demineralization	hot climate	expsure to hot temperatures, not enough mineral intake	lethargy, headache	take enough minerals	carry and eat/drink enough minerals
Sunburn	everywhere	exposure to the sun	red skin	shadow , cool down, water	long sleeves, hat, sun cream with sun protection factor >30
Heatstroke	hot climate	expsure to hot temperatures	exhaustion, headache, red skin	shadow and cool down, water, seek medical attention	Acclimate to height slowly, drink enough, take rests
Frostbite	cold climate	exposure to cold temperatures	waxy, whitish numb skin, swelling, burning, deep pain as the skin warms	warm up the area slowly, don't rub the area,seek medical attention	dress in layers, cover extermities with headgear, glooves, socks and warm booths
High altitude illness	altitude from 2000 m and higher	lower oxygen in air	headache, nausea, weakness	decrease altitude, supply oxygen if possible	acclimate
Drowning	sea, rivers	inhalation of water	apnea (no breathing), death	take out of water, turn head to side to allow water to drain out, perform CPR if needed, seek medical attention	keep distance to waters, be able to swim, no swimming during free time while participating in field seminar
Hunting season	everywhere	hunting season	gunshot wound, death	first aid, seek medical attention	avoid hunting areas, wear a signal vest, don't behave animal-like (hide behind bushes, ...)
Rock fall, falling from height	steep rock face	loose scree / debris, standing too close to the edge of an outcrop or cliff	abrasions, broken bones	first aid, medical treatment	wear helmet, do not remain near steep cliffs or rock faces

Selected animals: Please consult the respective agency/literature for the possible threat in your area.

Animal	where	Dangerous species	Prevention	First aid	Avoidance
tick	D	BW is high risk region	long trousers, tuck pants into socks	pull out with tweezers, when red skin around biting point consult doctor	get vaccinated TBE
wild boar	D		keep distance	in injured seek medical treatment	avoid thicket
wolf	D		keep calm, langsam rückwarts gehen, bei nahem Kontakt laut rufen und sich groß machen	if injured seek medical treatment	avoid thicket
bear	D		don't run, move slowly, speak calmly, if attacked lie down in fetal position and play dead	if injured seek medical treatment	store food away from campsite, carry bear bell to make noise
snake	D D W	Kreuzotter (viper berus) Aspisviper rattlesnake and others	don't touch, move away	let wound bleed for 30s, apply cooling pack, immobilize area of biting point at heart level, seek medical attention	walk in open areas with sturdy high boots, use a stick to disturb the brush in front of you
scorpion	W	not in Germany	don't touch	clean wound and apply cooling pack, immobilize area of biting point at heart level, seek medical attention	shake out cloting, boots, sleeping stuff and tent, avoid logs and rock piles

selected deseases: A complete overview is provided e.g. by the Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung BZgA. and their vaccination suggestions (Impfempfehlungen). Country-specific health-warnings are provided by the Websites of the German Foreign Ministry. Please also consult your family doctor.

Vaccinations such as those for rabies and TBE require a longer lead time and should be started no later than 6 weeks before your trip.

For KIT employees participating in the field trip:

Please review the information from KIT – Medical Services – Travel Advice / Business Travel and seek guidance; see LINK.

Please note the mandatory preventive care requirements under the former DGUV Guideline 35; see also the List of Countries 35.

Sickness	where	Infection	Symptoms	First Aid	Avoidance	Vaccination
Tetanus	D	via wounds and scratches	painful muscle contractions, death by suffocation, heart failure	seek medical attention	vaccination possible	possible
Rabies	W	via bites	fatal without immediate medical care	immediate medical attention	vaccination possible	possible
Typhus	W	fecal-oral (contact transmission)	Headache, body aches, and a slightly elevated temperature, followed by a high fever of 39–41°	Vaccination as a preventive measure, but not 100% protection	vaccination is possible in advance; “cook it, peel it, or leave it,” wash your hands before eating	possible
Spotted fever (Typhus exanthemicus)	W	bite by a tick, mite, flea, or louse	Headache, fever, rash	No vaccine available	wear long sleeves and long pants; tuck pants into socks	Not possible
TBE (FSME)	D	bite by tick	flu-like symptoms, paralysis, neuritis, not contagious	medical attention if symptoms appear	long sleeves, long trousers, tuck pants into socks, regularly check your body for ticks	possible
Borreliosis	D	bite by tick	Skin redness around the bite site (erythema migrans) occurs in 50–80% of cases; joint inflammation; inflammation of the nervous system; not contagious	medical attention if erythema migrans is present. See a doctor if symptoms of infection appear within a reasonable timeframe after a tick bite.	long sleeves, long trousers, tuck pants into socks, regularly check your body for ticks	no vaccination to date available
Hantavirus	D	in D via salival, urine or vices of bank vole (Rötelmaus)	fever, head- and muscle pain, body aches, not contagious	seek medical attention, reportable	wash hands	no vaccination to date available

Tables adapted from:

KIT Medical Service 2/2026

Safety Guidelines for Fieldwork, University of Georgia, Link

Pathogen Profiles from the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA)

and their vaccination regulations Impfempfehlungen der Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung BZgA, or the information provided by your country of residence.

Travel advice of the German Auswärtigen Amt and the UK government, or your country of residence.

Please consult your doctor.

Final Clause

Participation in the field seminar requires that participants have read and agree to comply with these safety regulations.
Effective 07/2023, updated 01/2025, updated 02/2026