Travel security risk mitigation is undermined by a lack of effective communication, according to the medical and security emergency company International SOS‘ 2017 Business Impact of Travel Risk survey. Some 70 per cent of respondents are planning to address this in 2017, and 60pc have only a partial or no understanding at all of medical threats faced by their mobile workforce, according to the survey.
Other findings include:
– 46pc said health and travel security incidents had an impact on their business continuity;
– 27pc are still moderately to not confident in their level of preparedness;
– Only half of organisations have conducted a comprehensive review of the health of their mobile workforce; and
– Only a minority, 39pc have a wellness programme in place.
Karel van de Pijpekamp, Managing Director Northern Europe at International SOS said: “While organisations have medical and travel security risks high on the agenda, the survey demonstrates that a rigorous implementation and an on-going communication process is key to ensuring programmes are utilised effectively. This highlights potential cost and business continuity risks if travel security issues aren’t managed successfully due to a lack of communication. It also highlights a possible gap in Duty of Care when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of mobile workforces.”
Despite the fact organisations have mobile workforce risk management high on their agenda (so say 64pc of respondents), 60pc have only a partial or no understanding at all of medical threats and hazards faced by their mobile workforce, and more than half don’t have health and wellbeing programmes in place.
Xavier Carn Regional Security Director for Europe at International SOS and Control Risks, said: “Should another major travel security incident occur tomorrow, 27% organisations declared they were still moderately to not confident in their level of preparedness. Testing both plans and procedures are a critical success factor of travel risk management to ensure the continuity of the business.”
“It is essential for decision-makers to have a reliable and up to date source of objective information2 to help them implement travel risk policies and individual travel plans. Recent crisis like Brussels, Tunisia, Turkey or even Berlin have also demonstrated that emergency communications must be robust and our advice is to ensure these are multi-channel3 so that people affected by a crisis can receive and request the information they need to reduce their exposure to associated risks.”
About the survey
The survey was among 257 people in 25 countries in Europe, mainly executives in Security, Travel, Health and Safety, Risk, HR, Operations and General Management. Research was online in the period November 16, to December 11, 2016.
