to go or not to go? that is the question. how to decide if its safe to send your people overseas.

assessing travel risk.

Are you sending people on an overseas assignment, but concerned about potential risks? Navigating the complexities of international travel can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of those abroad. With the rise of global uncertainties, having a reliable tool to assess travel risks is indispensable. In this blog post, we will explore a simple tool to quickly understand the threat of traveling to a destination. This tool should help you make quick, informed decisions and proactively manage the potential challenges associated with international travel.

travel threat assessment tool.

How easy is movement in destination?
1 Free movement around country
3 Some restrictions
5 Significant restrictions or escorted travel only

What is the threat from crime?
1 Sporadic petty crime
3 Frequent petty crime and incidental violent crime
5 Organised crime groups operate freely due to ineffective law enforcement and/or persistent violent crime

What is the threat from political violence?
1 The area has few domestic terror threats
3 Occasional attacks on government targets, security forces or commercial targets
5 Frequent attacks against civilian targets

Does a kidnap threat exist?
1 No active threat of kidnap
3 Threat from kidnap for financial gain
5 Active threat of kidnap for social or political exploitation or high profile media coverage

Is there a threat from civil unrest?
1 Civil unrest is unlikely to occur
3 Organised protests in urban areas - effective law enforcement response
5 Recurrent protests with escalating violence in urban and rural areas - ineffective law enforcement control.

What about armed conflict?
1 No presence of armed conflict in the country
3 Armed opposition groups active in some subnational areas. or Threat or buildup or large forces
5 Active civil war or international armed conflict

What is the standard of medical care?
1 Structured healthcare system capable of providing definitive care
3 Good standard of care available in major cities but limited in rural areas
5 Lack of adequate healthcare - prolonged evacuation to a third country would be requried.

Does the traveller's or organisation's national government advise against travel?
1 No
5 Yes

Add one point if travellers fall into higher risk categories
1 Solo female travellers 
1 LGBT travellers travelling to countries with Anti LGBT laws 
1 High Net worth travellers 
1 High media profile travellers
1 Threats have been made against travellers demographic 

You can now add up the points scored so far. Your total will indicate how risky a trip to this location would be

8 - 10 LOW
10 - 20 MEDIUM
20 + HIGH

This risk assessment tool is designed to provide a rapid and efficient means of determining the level of risk associated with sending travellers to a particular destination. Whether it's for business or leisure, ensuring the safety and well-being of those embarking on a journey is of paramount importance, and this tool aims to streamline the decision-making process with its comprehensive evaluation criteria.

why do i need to understand the risk to my travellers?

Ultimately, when evaluating travel plans, it comes down to the responsibility and obligation an organisation has towards ensuring the safety and well-being of its travellers. Your duty of care extends to the safety and well-being of individuals who are traveling, and this responsibility is governed by various pieces of legislation that are specific to your particular industry. You’ll find plenty of my favourite travel risk resources here.

what should i do if it turns out to be a high risk trip?

Regardless of the level of risk you might encounter during your travels, it's crucial to have a few essential elements in place to effectively manage the situation. This could be as straightforward as ensuring you have reliable travel insurance, keeping emergency contact details readily accessible, and having a clear plan for communication in case of an unexpected event. The higher the risk score the more things we need to put in place to manage the risks - so consider the areas you’re scoring higher in and what measures you could introduce so if the country has poor medical care do you put your team through more detailed medical training or consider taking a healthcare professional with them. Higher risk trips should require a more formal written down travel risk assessment and supported by good quality response plans and more formal crisis response training

This tool is intended as a guideline and Overwatch Risk Management Ltd cannot be held liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience arising as a consequence of any use or misuse of this resource.

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