In the construction industry, the duty of care refers not only to safety on-site but also to the many travel requirements that companies ask of their workers. This, therefore, means such traveling construction companies must take further responsibility to ensure workers’ safety while on the road.
It doesn’t matter whether employees are going to project sites, client meetings, or training sessions; there is some level of risk associated with traveling. Such risks include road accidents, health problems, or even natural disasters, especially when employees travel to unfamiliar locations.
With this in mind, the following guide will consider some key considerations, strategies, and tools. These will help you ensure the safety and well-being of your workers during travel, thereby building a robust duty of care for traveling workers.
Why Duty of Care is Crucial in the Traveling Construction Companies
The nature of the work itself in construction contributes to its high-risk industry status. Add in the need to travel, and the risk of exposure increases even more. The reasons duty of care is important include the following:
- Highly risky job sites : Construction sites are by their nature dangerous, but the risk is multiplied when the employees are in new locations.
- Travel frequently : Many employees involved in this industry have to shift from site to site or visit other regions due to their projects, which may increase the rate of accidents or problems related to travel.
- Legal liability : It is a legal obligation for the companies to offer a safe working environment, which extends to traveling too.
- PR and staff retention : Taking good care of your employees can boost morale and lower the rate of turnover. People will be more likely to be loyal when they feel secure.
Key Elements of a Duty of Care Plan
A proper duty-of-care strategy for traveling construction companies’ employees has several layers of preparation and management. Here is what your strategy should cover:
1. Risk Assessment
The whole process before your employees travel will be studying possible perils from their journey, such as:
- Health risks: Are there disease outbreaks in the area? What’s the quality of local healthcare?
- Weather: What is the risk from severe weather conditions such as storms or floods?
- Local Safety: Are the destinations to be traveled to politically stable? Are there any crime and safety-related concerns?
Early identification of potential risks will go a long way in devising mitigation strategies.
2. Travel Policies
Clearly, documented travel policies serve to define guidelines for both the company and the employee. Some areas to be contained within the policy include:
- Pre-trip briefings: Detailed information to the employees on the travel destinations, with an exposition of the likely risks and the measures that can be laid down for personal safety.
- Travel approval process: Information on the approval procedures related to traveling, especially to high-risk areas.
- Emergency procedures: Clearly outline the procedures in case the employees must deal with an emergency, whether personal-injury-based or political unrest situations.
3. Health and Safety Measures
The health – physical and mental- of the traveling employee should be of the utmost importance. One can consider implementing the following:
- Health clearances: Ensure employees are fit and healthy before deployment to work travel.
- Vaccinations and medications: When required, allow time for employees to receive the necessary vaccinations and take the relevant medications while traveling.
- PPE: Traveling construction companies must provide appropriate safety equipment an employee may need in-country, even if the employee is traveling abroad.
- Mental Health Support: Travel can be very stressful physically and mentally. Travel construction companies should provide mental support resources to help employees handle stress on the road.
4. Tracking and Communication Tools
Tracking and communication systems help a company always know where the employees are and be able to communicate with them quickly for any eventuality.
- GPS tracking: GPS tracking tools help a company to track the location of employees while traveling.
- Communication applications: Traveling construction companies should provide employees with communication means that they will work from other regions. Satellite phones or emergency messaging apps have proven to ensure communication when conventional networks fail.
- Check-in requirements: Set frequent check-in times, especially in hazardous areas, in order to confirm the employee is safe.
Steps to Implementing Duty of Care for Travel
The following is a step-by-step guide on how traveling construction companies can put into place a duty of care for a traveling workforce.
1. Establish a Travel Risk Management Plan
The TRM plan outlines how the company will manage the risks of traveling. Elements of a TRM would include:
- Risk identification and analysis
- Emergency response plans
- Insurance coverage information
- Company and employee responsibilities
2. Establish a Duty of Care Team
Travel construction companies must assign individual team members to take ownership of the policies dealing with duty of care. This team will oversee the following activities:
- Booking travel
- Coordinating responses in emergencies
- Periodically reviewing and updating policies
- Having dedicated people means nothing slips through the net.
3. Employee Training
Regular training makes sure employees know what to do while traveling, and how to act in emergency circumstances.
- Safety training: Emphasize situational awareness, first aid, and evacuation procedures.
- Travel briefing: Instruct the employee on specific risks at their destination.
4. Use Technology
Technology can play a huge role in ensuring duty of care: from GPS tracking to communication apps, it can facilitate real-time firm monitoring and protection of moving employees.
Some of the tools that you can make use of include:
- Mobile travel management applications that have a quick reporting feature in case an employee encounters any issues.
- Online medical services through which employees can consult a doctor if they fall unwell while traveling.
Benefits of a Strong Duty of Care Policy
There are several benefits traveling construction companies could benefit from the process, including an appropriate duty of care plan. These include:
- Reduced risk: Identifying and reducing risks minimizes the chances of accidents or injuries.
- Improvement in employee morale: When employees feel protected, they are likely to be loyal and productive within the organization.
- Cost savings: Avoiding accidents and delays also avoids possible litigation procedures, saving the company money in the long term.
Ensure the Duty of Care of Your Employees
Safety, while employees travel, can be considered the most paramount aspect of travel construction companies. A comprehensive duty of care plan will help your company manage risks, maintain compliance with legal requirements, and protect your workforce. Emphasize risk assessments, health and safety measures, and technology, and your employees will stay safe while on work travels.
If you’re planning travel for your employees, choose itilite. We offer 24/7 support, live traveler tracking, seamless booking options, and real-time travel insights, ensuring a smooth and efficient travel experience.
Book a free demo with us to know more!
