26 Jan A guide to BS ISO 31030:2021
According to a 2020 survey from the Institute of Travel Management, the top three priorities for corporate travel managers are traveller safety, budget control and traveller wellbeing,. These findings were followed by the launch of ISO 31030 a year later, setting a new benchmark for travel risk management.
Our Executive Director, Bob Quick, has since developed a guide to BS ISO 31030:2021 in partnership with BSI, outlining how UK organisations should approach the new standard to meet their duty of care. The document, which summarises the new standard and how it is expected to impact organisations, combines the knowledge and expertise of industry leaders in global travel risk management and legal professionals. The executive briefing provides organisations and travel managers with the tools to better understand what is required to ensure employees traveling on behalf of a company can stay as safe and secure as possible.
What are the key takeaways?
The guidance is structured into seven discrete aspects of a travel risk management programme:
- Scope and organisational context
- Managing travel risks
- Travel risk assessment
- Travel risk treatment
- Communication and consultation
- Programme monitoring and review
- Programme recording and reporting
These are designed to help organisations manage the challenges associated with the fast-changing and diverse risk and threat landscape that surrounds business travellers.
The guidance contains valuable practical considerations and associated guidance. This includes a risk reduction segment related to a wide range of sources of risk such as the booking process, the travel route, the destination, the travel itinerary and the selection of safe, secure accommodation and many other aspects of a travel programme.
BS ISO 31030:2021 outlines other important areas, such as establishing an effective booking process, implementing robust accommodation selections, ensuring data protection, and assessing key aspects of medical needs.
Why has this guidance been introduced?
Bob explains, “In the field of travel risk the challenges range from day-to-day events that can impact on performance, through to crises that can threaten life or destroy whole organisations. Risk to people working around the world for their organisations is complex, and many organisations have struggled to understand and balance what capabilities they need and what is appropriate for their people and business.”
The benefits of implementing an ISO 31030 compliant travel risk policy include:
- An overall increase in the safety and security of travellers resulting in fewer incidents of disruption, loss (including data and IP), harm or illness
- More productive and successful business travel due to fewer incidents and greater confidence and well-being on the part of travellers
- A greater level of preparedness when incidents do occur
- Signalling to employees, other workers and staff associations that TRM is a top priority
- Reducing the legal exposure of executives
- Stimulation of a market response (suppliers) enabling organisations to fully align with the guidance
Why does it matter?
Alison Rogan, Chair of the Institute of Travel Management, comments “[ISO 31030] has many benefits that will help buyers and risk managers develop an efficient and unified process to ensure the safety and well-being of travellers. It will also help organisations meet duty of care requirements and ensure suppliers adopt these standards as well”.
Who should be focusing on BS ISO 31030:2021?
Peters & Peters LLP’s White Paper ISO 31030: Travel Risk Management Standard – Legal Implications and Risks for Organisations (October 2021) states: “The ISO and the law of England and Wales are clear: top management should be responsible and accountable for the overall implementation of policies to reduce the risks to employees associated with travel overseas. If they do not take such responsibilities seriously, this may lead to corporate as well as personal liability.”
Read the full briefing on the BSI website now: https://pages.bsigroup.com/l/35972/2022-01-13/3892y7p
