Ensuring Health and Safety of Your Business Travellers and Assignees

Business travelers and assignees are exposed to particular health and safety risks. Employers, on the other hand, have special obligations. In particular, the employer's Duty of Care arising from the employment relationship obliges companies to fulfil their responsibility to protect their mobile employees from risks and hazards. The best way for organisations to do this is through a comrpehensive Travel Risk Management programme that systematically anticipates, prevents and responds to unplanned risks to which travellers or assignees may be exposed during their stay abroad.

According to the latest International SOS Risk Outlook Survey for 2024, 69% of respondents from Europe expect health, wellbeing and security challenges for their workforce to increase in 2024.

Source: Risk Outlook 2024 survey by International SOS (675 participants worldwide, fieldwork took place online from October 10^th to November 10^th, 2023.

New International Guidance: ISO 31030 Travel Risk Management

In recent years, travel risk management has undergone significant change, largely influenced by complex health and safety incidents. These developments have led to regulatory adjustments and increased demand for a robust approach. In September 2021, ISO 31030 - Travel Risk Management Guidance was published as a crucial response to this need. Its main objective is to create a global standard that applies to organisations of all sizes and industries. The aim is to protect the health and safety of employees while minimising the operational, legal and reputational risks associated with work-related travel outside the usual workplace.

The ISO 31030:20221 Travel Risk Management Guidance can be purchased at ISO 31030:2021 - Travel risk management — Guidance for organizations

White paper – Ensuring Compliance for Swiss Organisations

In collaboration with ASTM and r&associés avocats, the International SOS Foundation has launched a white paper “ISO 31030 Travel Risk Management - Safeguarding Your International Workforce”. The publication looks at recent advances in travel risk management and examines the impact of these changes on Swiss companies and their Duty of Care obligations.

Download the free whitepaper to gain insight into the evolving landscape of travel risk management in line with ISO 31030.

Benchmarking your Travel Risk Management Programme to ISO 31030

The new ISO 31030:2021 provides essential guidance for organisations wanting to ensure that their workforce stays healthy and safe when travelling for business or sent on assignments. To assess your approach to travel risk, International SOS’ health and safety experts have created a five-minute assessment. Once you do the assessment you will receive a customized report which will help you to identify possible gaps.

Start your free assessment here: International SOS Self Assessment Tool (assessmyrisks.com)

Your Contact for Travel Risk Management

If you want to discuss further how you can fulfil your Duty of Care and can support your mobile workforce to stay healthy, safe and secure while travelling, we are at your disposal.

Maxime Gaillard

Email: Maxime.Gaillard@internationalsos.com

Phone:  +41 22 719 1126