Meet the Instructor and Explore the Skills and Expertise to Lead Safe and Effective Field Activities

Kevin Bohacs

Register now for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) upcoming short course, Field Safety Leadership, 14–15 April 2020, at the ExxonMobil Houston Campus.

This short course is designed for anyone who leads or coordinates field activities such as Field Trips, Field Seminars, Field Camps, or general fieldwork for companies or student groups. Participants will acquire and practice strategies to prepare for and conduct safe and effective field activities.

Meet the Instructor

Kevin M. Bohacs is a sedimentologist and stratigrapher recently retired from ExxonMobil in Houston, Texas, who has taught first aid and field operations safety for more than 50 years. He co-authored AAPG’s bestselling text on Field Safety and taught Field Safety Leadership more than 40 times in countries around the world. He serves as an American Red Cross Instructor Trainer in emergency response, CPR/AED, and water safety. He has volunteered and worked as a firefighter, paramedic, disaster response leader, lifeguard, water safety instructor, and camp director. Kevin is an Eagle Scout and assistant Scoutmaster. Bohacs graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.Sc. (Honors) in Geology and earned his Sc.D. in Experimental Sedimentology from M.I.T. He joined Exxon Production Research Company in 1981 and has conducted fieldwork and training on six continents and in more than 42 countries. He has been honored with numerous outstanding instructor awards and is an Honorary Member of AAPG and a fellow of the Geological Society of America, Royal Geographical Society, and The Explorers Club.

Course Content

The first day of this fully interactive course covers injuries and illnesses that occur commonly during field activities, why accidents occur (human factors analysis), first-aid review, and the field safety process in normal operations and emergency response through scenario analysis, problem-solving, and role-play. Participants will also practice using field-safety-training materials and modules designed for field-camp students and suitable for use in field-methods classes.

On the second day, participant teams will take turns leading a model field day at a nearby site, including briefings, driving, hiking, risk assessment, intervening for safety, safety equipment use, and emergency response drills. This field day allows the participants to practice what they learned the first day, interact and learn from their colleagues, and to learn from observing how their fellow participants put into practice what was covered in the first day. Thus, the participants will learn both to lead safe field activities and to train others in safe field practices.

Please note that this is NOT a first aid course, no certifications will be provided.