The U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs Polar Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) team facilitates a culture of safety and health in support of research throughout the Polar regions. The team protects life and property through a coordinated risk-based approach with all stakeholders. SOH conducts industrial hygiene and safety activities, including research and project safety evaluations, incident reviews and investigations, and field assessments. The team also oversees the occupational health and medical system for polar programs to ensure deployment public health and continuous improvement.
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Programs supported by SOH
The Arctic and U.S. Antarctic Program physical qualification (PQ) process
The medical clearance process has been developed to mitigate, as reasonably possible, the inherent risks of deployment to the polar regions (see 45 CFR Part 675). The purpose of the medical screening is "to determine whether candidates for participation in the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) are physically qualified and psychologically adapted for assignment or travel to Antarctica." A similar process has been adapted for the Arctic.
Credit: NSF
SOH resources
Contact information
Email opp-safety@nsf.gov with questions or requests for the SOH team.