The natural environment in the Arctic is undergoing rapid change. At the same time the interest in presence and economic development in this region has never been greater. As a consequence there is increased population and fast development of tourism industry and commercial activities in this pristine and fragile environment. The risk of accidents and major threats to life can be caused by geo-, cryo-, hydro-, and biosphere, so risk assessment of natural hazards threatening people’s lives and infrastructure is essential. The most important tool to keep yourself safe is your head – take your time to use it early enough! Most accidents happen because we do mistakes or bad decisions. During this lesson I will present major natural hazards in arctic environment, discuss safety routines during fieldwork and share my 10 years experience in how to operate in a safe and environmental manner in the high Arctic, and present some safety & emergency gear that me and my colleagues use during fieldwork.

Presenter: Tomasz Wawrzyniak