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| Safety Director - Since 1995, SFS has had a full time Safety Director whose role it is to coordinate our safety strategies worldwide.
Student Affairs Manager (SAM) - Each field station has a SAM whose job it is to be the primary safety manager on site. They help the students become acclimated to their new tasks and environment. They educate the students on local hazards, present the rules and manage compliance. Each SAM is required to have training as a Wilderness First Responder, a 72-hour medical course. They assist students when they become ill or injured and are there if students just need someone to talk to. They coordinate the accident and incident reporting system and report all safety incidents directly to the Safety Director. They also conduct periodic comprehensive safety audits at their field stations.
Safety Advisory Committee - A network of experienced professionals with medical, international and outdoor program expertise.
Communication – Each center has landline phones, email, fax and a satellite phone. HQ maintains a 24 hour emergency contact system.
Contingency Plans - We have an array of written contingency plans, which include an Emergency Action Plan, Evacuation Plans, Hurricane/Cyclone Plans, Business Continuity Plans, etc.
Risk Assessment and Management Plans (RAMPs)-These are in-depth, center-specific, surveys of foreseeable local and regional risks. A RAMP includes local disease vectors, swimming safety, wildlife, local community dynamics, meteorological patterns, road conditions, etc. It lists local medical and emergency resources.
Risk Management Plans - Prior to any field trip the SAM files a Risk Management Plan (RMP), specific to that trip, that identifies all foreseeable risks and describes all mitigating interventions.
Field Preparation Guide - Customized for each field station, this document is sent out to each student upon acceptance. The Field Preparation Guide serves to orient the students to the School and their field station's local environment, including health and safety recommendations, hazards and policies. Students are required to sign a Terms and Conditions Statement that states they understand and agree to comply with all School policies.
Student Database - Allows us to track student medical and psychological screening issues.
Internal Safety Audits - Each field station's systematic review of all safety systems and procedures by field staff and/or Safety Director.
External Safety Audits - Safety review by Safety Advisory Committee members and/or external experts.
Semester Safety Summary - Review of all incidents and identification of issues and opportunities for intervention, written by Safety Director.
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