The British Standards Institute has published a new code of practice that advises companies on how to address and manage the safety and security risks employees face when travelling.
Developed in association with security risk company International SOS, the Travelling for work – Responsibilities of an organisation for health, safety and security – code of practice (PAS 3001) gives practical advice for travel buyers who want to better manage employees when they’re travelling.
It also offers recommendations on how to develop, implement and evaluate issues such as travel safety, health and security policy, threat and hazard identification, prevention strategies and incident management.
The new code can be used by any organisation with travellers, whether they are workers, volunteers or contractors, subcontractors or students. It’s also applicable to businesses that provide health, safety and security assistance to other companies.
It can be used on its own or integrated into an existing health and safety management system.
Howard Kerr CEO BSI said: “Global mobility has had a dramatic change on the way that we work today, affording both workers and organisations much greater flexibility but at the same time creating new risks.
“These risks must not go unchecked and, aside from everyday risks, there may be a significant difference between an assessed medical risk and an assessed security risk for a given location. These differences highlight the complexities organisations face when preparing workers for travel.”
Arnaud Vaissié, chairman and CEO of International SOS, said: “We are in the business of helping organisations achieve their objectives while reducing risks to their people.
“Our goal in supporting PAS 3001 was to share our experience in travel risk mitigation and the lessons we’ve learned. While organisations have begun to consider response plans in the event of major catastrophes, we find the main risks to travellers are everyday incidents like petty crime, road accidents and falling ill.
“That’s why it’s so important that organisations don’t wait until the next crisis and have a support plan and network in place to safeguard their mobile workforce.”
BSI outlines the benefits of implementing PAS 3001:
- Reducing costly interruptions to business activities and allowing for the development of new opportunities which could have otherwise been lost
- Generating a positive return on investment
- Reducing exposure to criminal liability and reputational damage, while enhancing corporate image
- Improving worker motivation through the worker’s perception of a safe and healthy working environment
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