One of the questions we sometimes get when we are approaching travel safety assessment is whether we are using a particular template or standard. For example, has Tundra, the company, or our consultant made up their own format, or are we borrowing one from somewhere else.

While there can be value in making bespoke assessments, or in particular having the ability to amend standard assessments based on the specific circumstances of any travel safety request, one good starting point is ISO Standard 31030:2021.

ISO 31030, titled “Travel Risk Management – Guidance for Organizations,” is an international standard developed to provide comprehensive guidelines for managing travel-related risks. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it aims to support organizations in protecting their employees and other stakeholders when they travel for work-related purposes.

This ISO standard covers a broad spectrum of travel risk management aspects, emphasizing the importance of a systematic and structured approach. It’s main objectives include:

1. Risk Assessment and Planning: including methodologies for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing travel-related risks. This involves the analysis of potential threats such as health risks, security concerns, natural disasters, and political instability in the travel destination.

2. Travel Risk Mitigation: including strategies to mitigate identified risks. These can include developing contingency plans, ensuring access to medical care, and establishing communication protocols to maintain contact with travellers.

3. Policy Development: including the creation of robust travel risk management policies, that are clear, communicated effectively to all stakeholders, and regularly reviewed to remain relevant.

4. Training and Awareness: including the education and training of travellers and staff about travel risks and the organization’s risk management procedures. Training programs should cover safety measures, emergency response, and cultural awareness.

5. Incident Management: including guidance on how to respond to travel-related incidents effectively. This includes emergency response procedures, crisis management, and post-incident review to improve future risk management practices.

6. Monitoring and Review: including the ongoing monitoring of travel risks and the effectiveness of the travel safety program, mindful of factors such as feedback and changing circumstances both the places that people are travelling and what they are doing there.

Overall, ISO 31030:2021 provides a structured framework for managing travel risks, offering practical guidance to enhance the safety and well-being of travellers. From a compliance and regulatory framework it also protects the company too: it’s much easier to demonstrate duty of care using a recognised, established standard, even if it is selectively implemented to suit the business’ specific operations, risk tolerance and style, versus something that someone has just made up for themselves. 

This is why we tend to look to ISO 31030:2021 when we are helping our customers with travel safety too.

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Tundra International provides B2B travel safety advice and training. Please contact us for more information about how we can assist your organisation.

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