Empowering Travellers: Safeguarding Employees During Travel in Warmer Months

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the necessity for collaboration and business travel increases. This makes planning and preparing for travel, especially to unfamiliar regions, crucial for organisations. Ensuring all potential risks are considered can make the difference between a successful trip and a problematic one.

Challenges for business travellers

Risks to business travellers can range from petty crimes to carjacking, implementation of movement restrictions, floods or political and social unrest. Being in an unknown location, especially in the event of an emergency, can pose a serious risk to the wellbeing and safety of your employees if they are not appropriately prepared.

“Normalising the practice of completing a thorough risk assessment prior to travelling is essential as this can be the difference between having a successful trip or not. An assessment of the country’s risk profile, including political climate, health concerns and weather-related hazards should be among the risks monitored,” says Salome Odhiambo, Lead Security Analyst, East & Southern Africa at International SOS.

Adopting a pre-trip checklist can help ease anxiety before employees travel to unfamiliar locations. This also ensures their safety during the trip should an adverse event occur. Preparing your workforce not only makes them aware of the relevant risks, but also provides the tools available to help them manage these risks should they pose a threat.

“Many businesses still do not consider whether their workforce has the correct support during travel, which should include vetting transportation and accommodation options and ensuring there are reliable communications. Additionally, ensuring travellers know who to contact in the event of an emergency is vital, and this means clearly communicating roles and responsibilities to relevant stakeholders in your organisation as well,” adds Odhiambo.

Risks and recommendations for travel during warmer months

If we consider 2024 to be the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023, the shift in global weather patterns is adding to the growing list of risks travellers must navigate, compounding the usual safety concerns. “These risks include heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration. Warm climates also lead to food and water to spoil more quickly, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses,” explains Dr Chris van Straten, Global Health Advisor Clinical Governance at International SOS.

Warmer months can also bring more intense cyclones and monsoons, which can disrupt plans and pose safety risks. In some areas, the risk of wildfires also increases significantly.

So, what are the guidelines for organisations, and their workforce, to stay healthy and safe whilst travelling in warmer seasons?

1. Pre-travel health check-up: Encourage employees to schedule a pre-travel consultation with a healthcare professional. This allows for necessary vaccinations, a review of existing health conditions, and guidance on travel-specific health risks.
2. Destination research: Advise employees to research their destination thoroughly. This includes understanding local weather patterns, potential health risks, cultural norms, and security concerns. International SOS offers a suite of travel advisory resources for various destinations worldwide.
3. Plan ahead and choose safe accommodation: When selecting a place to stay, use credible booking sites, pick the location carefully and consider checking reviews from other travellers. Opt for reputable accommodation where possible and consider the safety features of the hotel (e.g. lockable doors and windows).
4. Understanding traveller-targeted risks: International visitors are often targets for pickpocketing and scams. Provide basic travel safety training to travelling employees.
5. Preventing heatstroke: Promote sun protection practices and remind travellers of the importance of hydration.
6. Food safety risks: Food poisoning peaks during the summer months due to warmer temperatures. Advise travellers to exercise caution with unfamiliar food and water sources. Bottled water and thoroughly cooked meals are generally safer options.

“As we approach the busy travel season in the latter part of the year, prioritising safety precautions is essential for organisations. Appropriate safety planning reduces business risk and enables businesses to continue operating – while providing employees the confidence to travel for business,” Odhiambo concludes.

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