International Travel Wellbeing Solutions

Planet Wise - Policy Writing, Travel Safety Training, E-learning

Since 2003 Planet Wise has been a global provider of integrated travel safety services, delivering duty of care compliance for organisations and peace of mind for travellers

  • Philippines

    "Latest update: Summary - removal of Tropical Storm reference

  • Pakistan

    Latest update: Safety and security, Islamabad updated information about advice to FCO staff: Terrorism - we advise caution in areas around US consulates in Pakistan:...

  • Guinea

    Latest update to Summary and Safety and security, Political situation section - Legislative elections to form a new National Assembly due to be held on...

  • Laos

    Latest update: Safety and security section - petty crime and travelling at night

  • Japan

    Latest update: Summary - leak of radioactive water at Fukushima nuclear facility

  • China

    Latest update: Summary - Severe Tropical Storm Trami

  • USA

    Change to Summary (Yosemite wild fires)

  • Egypt

    Latest update: Summary - enhanced security measures in South Sinai resort areas

  • Turkey

    Latest update: Summary - Fenerbahçe v Arsenal on 21 August

  • Taiwan

    Latest update: Summary - Severe Tropical Storm Trami

A robust Travel Safety Policy is a must for all organisations that send staff or students overseas. It should be readily available, up to date, pertinent and pragmatic. Travellers need to know what to do, when to do it and how to use the knowledge held within it. In fact, it should form the bedrock for all international travel and be fully audit-able to ensure the organisation is covered under duty-of-care legislation.

 

Watch the video to find out more

 


THE PROVISIONS OF A TRAVEL SAFETY POLICY:

A Travel Safety Policy helps both the traveler and the organisation understand the correct processes and procedures to follow when booking and conducting overseas and domestic travel .

  • It  explains what services are available and where these can be accessed -be they occupational health, risk assessments or flight bookings.
  • It also explains what actions should be taken should an unforeseen incident occur when overseas. This might be from the mundane such as a lost passport right up to serious injury or even worse.

 

In today’s litigious clime a company has to be sure it’s being seen to be doing, and is actually carrying out its duty of care. Legislation affecting an overseas traveler can include:

  • The 1974 health and Safety at Work Act – a company must provide a safe working environment for all staff members, no matter where in the world they are.
  • The Corporate Social Responsibility Act (CSR) has now strengthened this and in particular with the recent introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act. Although not directly applicable overseas, it’s thought that a company could fall foul of the act if an employee dies overseas as a result of decisions made in the UK
  • The Bribery and Corruption Act – recently introduced with severe penalties for companies should an employee, agent or subcontractor fall foul of the law.

 

Linked Travel Policies

It may well encompass a range of other linked policies including:

  • Travel booking process – linking to TMCs or Travel Department
  • Country Risk Assessments
  • Health Risk Assessments
  • Job Specific Risk Assessments
  • Security briefings –
  • Finance and Expenses
  • Laptop and Data Security
  • Personal Safety
  • Business Equipment
  • Overseas support
  • Communication

 

The Process

Planet Wise can help your organisation research, audit, write and implement a suitable Travel Safety Policy. We usually spend a couple of days on site researching and liaising with all relevant departments including: Finance, Travel, IT, Insurance, HR, Occupational Health, Directors and anyone else deemed necessary. During our research we include:

  • Administration
  • Pre-trip risk assessment
  • Inoculations
  • Expenses and how to claim
  • Personal safety
  • Driving abroad
  • Data protection
  • Emergency procedures

 

Your policy also needs to address more corporate requirements including:

  • Airline choice and safety records
  • Risk management for health and security
  • Trip management and sign-off (not just for budget)
  • Management of rogue travelers – those that travel outside of your policy and, therefore, put themselves and the business at greater risk
  • Determine what actions the business or traveler should take in the event of an emergency overseas (or back in the UK)
  • Internal and external resources available to improve the safety and well-being of staff when overseas