A new guide developed jointly by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the International SOS Foundation is intended to help occupational health and safety professionals protect mobile workers who are involved in travel or international assignments. The publication includes information on putting together a travel risk management strategy; preparing for travel or assignment; understanding and assessing safety and security risks, including social and political risks; and minimizing medical risks. The guide aims to account for the diverse group of workers who travel on the job; for example, the publication notes that travel safety policies may require specific arrangements for women, older workers, or workers with disabilities, depending on where they’re traveling.

Also included in the guide’s appendices are an action plan to aid in the development of an international travel policy and a travel risk mitigation checklist.

“The role of the occupational safety and health professional is identified as key in helping to manage events that could have an impact on the safety, health, and security of workers traveling or working abroad,” said Kate Field, IOSH’s head of information and intelligence. “It is the OSH professional who has the competencies to assess risk and then subsequently plan, maintain, and implement risk mitigation strategies, systems, and procedures.”

The guide is available as a download from IOSH’s website.