Mitigating risk when travelling to a dangerous location

By Brian Robertson, COO Vision Travel Solutions

Travelling to dangerous locations is part of every Canadian mining executive’s job description. Mineral exploration requires venturing into some of the remotest, most contested and most vulnerable places in the world. Mitigating risk is a crucial aspect of operations for a mining company, to ensure that employees are adequately protected while conducting business abroad.

The law is clear on this. Bill C-45 in Canada’s Criminal Code, known as Duty of Care, is a company’s legal obligation to take reasonable steps in preventing any harm to their employees and anyone involved in the undertaking of the company’s work. To this end, most companies establish Duty of Care protocols based on risk and security assessments and implement them using tools such as Vision Assure.

Vision Assure by Vision Travel from Vision Travel on Vimeo.

The responsibility however, is far from being one-sided. Duty of Care provisions are only as reliable as the employees keeping within the bounds of what has been deemed reasonably safe. Here are some recommendations to ensure you take the necessary steps to protect yourself on your next business trip:

Preparedness is key

Identify risks you could potentially face in your destination – is there a health scare, an evolving security situation or adverse weather? Different risk categories present different preventative measures and solutions. Research the destination in advance, review the security reports, and arm yourself with advanced knowledge of the ground situation from local contacts. If your company is subscribed to a service like Vision Assure, you will receive pre-trip notifications that serve as a crucial planning resource. Information is power and it is your responsibility to do your own due diligence.

Know the protocols

Make sure you are completely briefed and familiar with your company’s Duty of Care policy and protocols. This is your biggest safety net when you travel for work. It’s easy to dismiss this as another corporate procedure, but in my line of business, I have seen this happen time and time again – an executive’s awareness of Duty of Care protocols can mean the difference between a seamless evacuation and an escalated security problem.

When planning your trip, ALWAYS book within the corporate travel policy. I cannot stress this enough. What most employees don’t know is that when you book your own travel, OUTSIDE of your corporate booking system, you will NOT be covered by your company’s Duty of Care provisions.

Keep communication lines open

When you reach your destination, immediately establish communication lines. It could be as simple as ensuring your cellphone has a roaming signal. In more remote areas, be aware of the nearest satellite phone access. Establish a regular communication schedule with your company’s travel manager/supervisor/emergency contact, and stick to it. A study by the Global Business Travel Association found almost two-thirds of companies will take over an hour to locate a travelling employee in the event of a crisis, and nearly one-third DO NOT KNOW how long it would take to reach their staff caught in a crisis situation. Make yourself accessible and reachable at all times.

Keep a list of emergency contacts at home and abroad, including, but not limited to: your home AND host company’s emergency contacts, embassy and foreign affairs contacts, local emergency numbers, among others.

Stay on top of your travel arrangements

Keep your travel documents in a safe place. It may seem common sense, but in the face of calamity, it’s easy for things to get lost in the shuffle. Make note of all your reservation and booking details for flights, car rentals, accommodations, etc. Monitor for any changes and updates so you can plan accordingly in case flights get delayed, hotels get overbooked or your travel plans change.

After everything is done – safe travels.