Editor’s note: Kayla Stukes (PhD Student in Forestry) received her master’s degree in Forestry with a minor in Human Dimensions from NC State University and is the Executive Assistant for Field Inclusive. Field Inclusive strives to provide tangible and actionable improvements in the natural resources by addressing social field safety issues related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). They seek to support all field biologists in the natural sciences through identifying and addressing field safety issues, developing field safety resources, and supporting marginalized researchers through financial aid and experiential learning opportunities.

Earlier in my academic career as an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to work on numerous natural resource projects at different locations through summer internships. These summer internships were usually spent doing field work of some sort. Two summers in particular, I was an environmental education specialist and stewardship intern at a beach park located on a relatively isolated barrier island. I lived on-site at the very tip of the island, essentially alone, except for the campers and a couple of coworkers in a neighboring house. During this internship, one of my routine tasks included environmental education-based snorkeling where I gave talks about local species and environmental protection while snorkeling with visitors (quite the opposite of fire science!). During this internship, numerous safety measures were implemented before hosting snorkeling sessions. We reviewed standard operating procedures, including thorough weather checks for the day. Safety measures included evacuation plans, CPR certification requirements, first aid kits on site, and physical safety tips for visitors, such as how to avoid stepping on a stingray by doing the “stingray shuffle.”

However, one aspect I found lacking was the presence of psychological field safety measures. We were taught how to proceed if someone were to sustain an injury while on the beach but we weren’t given guidance on what to do if a visitor became aggressive or hostile. There weren’t any concrete procedures to guide us in an instance of feeling emotionally overwhelmed. In a fieldwork setting where you’re living in such a remote place and interacting with dozens of people a day, the risk of encountering psychological safety challenges can be high. Psychological field safety refers to protocols and practices that ensure the well-being and protection of individuals from social risks and hazards in the field. This includes measures to prevent harassment, discrimination, and other forms of interpersonal harm, as well as fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all participants. Psychological and social challenges occur just as often as physical challenges; however, the emphasis on addressing them can sometimes be vastly different, especially in field work. 

Field Safety in Academic Field Research 

Fieldwork, including fire, is a complex and demanding endeavor that requires planning and rigorous implementation of safety procedures and precautions, both prior to and during fieldwork. Natural resource professionals, including fire practitioners, are frequently required to venture into harsh terrain, as field sites are often located in remote, unpredictable and potentially dangerous environments where physical risk is a concern. To reduce potential risks to safety, comprehensive safety plans are often established. These safety plans can include standard operating procedures for emergencies, communication strategies, protective gear guides and other established safety protocols. For fire practitioners, these considerations are often, though not always, addressed in burn planning. 

What is Psychological Safety and What Does it Look Like in Field Research?

As a field researcher, having these safety procedures in place is crucial in any form of fieldwork. Physical safety is often a given in fieldwork, however, one important, but often overlooked consideration is psychological field safety. Psychological field safety in field research encompasses the emotional and mental well-being of researchers. Psychological safety and social field safety often go hand and hand. Amy Edmondson, PhD, defines psychological safety as an environment in which people believe that they can speak up about concerns, questions, and mistakes. As fieldwork, including fire, is often conducted in physically dangerous, remote and not-so-common conditions – the creation of a safe emotional space is crucial to the success and overall well being of practitioners. Ensuring a safe and respectful social environment helps to create a positive and productive work atmosphere, where all participants feel valued and protected. This is particularly important in field settings, where individuals may be isolated or in remote locations, making them more vulnerable to social risks. 

This aspect of safety is also particularly vital for minority groups, including racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent individuals, women, and people with disabilities. Minorities often face additional social stressors such as discrimination, isolation, and a lack of adequate support systems. In an environment where social and psychological safety are a priority, these challenges can be mitigated by fostering an inclusive environment where all natural resource professionals and fire practitioners feel supported, enabling them to engage in open communication about concerns and effectively manage stress in challenging situations.

Examples of Psychological Safety in Field Research

To better understand psychological safety, let’s look at the story of Jane*, a dedicated field researcher specializing in environmental science. Despite her dedication and professional accomplishments, Jane lives with an invisible disability: chronic migraines. Her condition often brings sudden sensitivity to light and sound as well as debilitating pain, which can all be onset without warning. Despite the challenges that come with her invisible disability, she continues to conduct fieldwork. Jane works with a team that is studying the ecological impact of wildfires in a remote mountainous region. After multiple days of vigorous activity in strenuous conditions, Jane begins to feel overwhelming pain and dizziness.

Understanding the importance of psychological field safety, she decides to speak up and tell their team leader about their concerns. The team leader, who is trained in social and psychological field safety practices, acknowledges her concerns and validates them. To accommodate, the team leader incorporates more rest periods and lighter tasks into the schedule for the following days. This response not only helps Jane manage her condition effectively, it also stresses the importance of psychological safety in the field, creating and ensuring a safe space where wellbeing is a priority.

We see how psychological safety is important and can be implemented effectively in the previous example, but what does it look like when psychological safety isn’t being practiced? Take Serena*, a fire practitioner participating in a controlled burn. During the burn, she began to experience severe pain, as she was on her period at the time. Although the pain was severe, she chose not to inform the burn boss about her condition out of fear that they would perceive her as weak or unfit for the job. This perception was in part based on her observation of the burn boss’ past comments about and behavior towards women. Serena decided to stick it out, even though her pain was not allowing her to be fully present. 

Serena expressed that the burn boss of this particular burn did not create an environment where she felt safe and comfortable bringing her concerns to them. If she had felt comfortable expressing her condition, she might have been able to talk with the burn boss and accommodations could have been made to make her more comfortable in a time of physical stress while also improving safety on the burn. In this example, the lack of psychological safety significantly impacted her ability to communicate her needs and manage her condition effectively. While it did not impact the safety outcomes of the burn, it certainly could have.

How Psychological Field Safety can be Implemented and Practiced

Field safety can be implemented from a psychological and social standpoint through several strategies – including training sessions, pre-field preparation, support, inclusive practices and check-ins. Through training and awareness, practitioners as well as project leaders, can gain insight on stress management, coping strategies, and ways to recognize psychological distress and intervene. Training and awareness can assist in navigating emotional challenges that may come with field work. As part of addressing these issues, Field Inclusive hosts webinars and workshops, highlighting and amplifying the importance of field safety. Through these events – organizations, universities, and other groups can learn about social and psychological field safety and offer the appropriate resources and support to practitioners.

Pre-field preparation is also a key element in field safety, ensuring that those working in the fields are properly equipped and informed before going into the field. For example, creating and utilizing vehicular magnets that promptly displays affiliation with their institute or organization creates safety and legitimacy while traveling to and from their field site. Another act of pre-field preparation: informing nearby neighbors and stakeholders about fieldwork activities including timeline, place, and objectives. This offers clear communication of activities such as fireline preparation and reduces the chances of a practitioner being questioned or interrogated while in the field. This proactive approach fosters a safe and secure environment while also facilitating productive fieldwork results. 

Fostering an environment where fire practitioners and other natural resource professionals feel safe and secure is also crucial to psychological safety. Offering support to those we work with can contribute to a positive outcome. Some examples of support include access to mental health resources, scheduling regular “check-ins” with leaders, as well as establishing open communication where practitioners can express their concerns openly without fear of consequence or judgment. Incorporating inclusive practices into fire and other fieldwork has proven to be a positive contributor to the enhancement of psychological and social safety. Actively and intentionally promoting inclusivity creates a supportive environment where individuals feel safe and valued regardless of their race, gender, disabilities, or orientation. 

Psychological safety is a critical component of fieldwork and has a significant impact on the wellbeing of practitioners as well as the effectiveness of their work. Creating a space where psychological safety is a priority can foster a more supportive and productive environment by ensuring practitioners feel safe and comfortable when it comes to expressing concerns without fear of judgment or repercussions. Just as physical safety protocols are encouraged and often required, integrating psychological safety protocols is just as essential for achieving better fire outcomes for everyone.

 To learn more about psychological field safety and Field Inclusive, visit fieldinclusive.org. If you would like to improve psychological field safety in your work, Field Inclusive’s list of resources, including an accessible fieldwork checklist, may be useful.

*Names have been changed for personal stories.

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