Safety & Backup

Trekforce Safety Policy Statement

Trekforce Worldwide places the highest priority on the health and safety of all of its operations. Working within the practicalities and guidelines of adventurous and challenging activities, Trekforce endeavors to minimise all the necessary risks and dangers that would not lead to any more than a reasonable level of physical, mental or emotional distress for its participants, staff and partners.

Backup, Support & Training

Tekforce has one of the leading reputations within the expedition industry with over 20 years of experience. 

Trekforce Worldwide have a 24/7 support system for staff, volunteers and clients overseas. Trekforce has its own leaders, medics, fieldbase and local staff on the ground, with every expedition reporting back regularly to the UK. Everyone who comes on expedition must understand that they are voluntarily entering into a world vastly different from their normal way of life.

Trekforce can only operate in extreme environments because we have a comprehensive safety support system. We are not adverse to risk, but for each activity we undertake an exhaustive risk assessment, which is fully briefed to the participants and which is continually reviewed during the expedition.

A & E Medics on every expedition

Trekforce have a combination of satelite phones, VHF radios and local staff on every expedition. Unlike many gap-year companies we have qualified and experienced medics on every expedition. You will be more likely to be nearer a Doctor, Nusre or Paramedic than you would in the UK !

Communications

Every expedition or project team is equipped with a satellite phone and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). In some areas we also carry VHF radios. Expedition leaders are in constant contact with the Trekforce Worldwide support network, both in the UK and overseas. In the instances where we use in-country bases, the leaders report on the progress of their expedition to that base. In an emergency they can contact the base or UK support network at any time.

Where appropriate, we continue to enjoy the active support of the British Army for evacuation assistance, as well as the national defence forces in the countries we operate in. Casualty evacuation plans are drawn up for each expedition or project and we have the assistance of a bespoke medical assistance company, linked to the insurance policy for all participants. In addition, and where possible, we put in place alternative evacuation plans using military and civilian aircraft.

Every expedition will have an experienced and qualified medic (doctor, nurse or paramedic) and every expedition or project begins with a period of acclimatisation and training.

Trekforce Worldwide Staff

We have consultants who are professionally and uniquely experienced in the areas of expedition planning, logistics and health and safety provision for both Gap Year expeditions, Production companies and Corporate clients. We have combined 20 years of staff expertise, in such places as Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Far East and the Middle East . We aim to match our clients’ requirements with our consultants and bank of experienced expedition leaders and medics. As such we have a worldwide scope of expeditions and projects.

Government agencies

Trekforce maintains close relationships with the Government, Police, National Security organisations and the British High Commission.

Year Out Group

Read more about the Year Out Group operating standards that Trekforce, as an executive member of the Year Out Group, adhere to and helped to formulate. 

 British Standards 8848

Our safety policy is based on six main pillars:

• A commitment to running safe expeditions and projects by the Trekforce management.
• The use of experienced consultants, expedition leaders, medical staff and project managers.
• Comprehensive and current Trekforce Operating Guidelines (TOGs), issued to all members of staff.
• A commitment to comply with approved voluntary codes: the Young Explorers’ Trust "Guide to Safe and Responsible Expeditions", "Guidelines for Youth Expeditions" and the YOG’s operating standards for expeditions. Trekforce also have a strong ethical and responsible travel policy.
• Adherence to relevant guidelines laid down by UK governing bodies, including the UK Mountain Training Board, British Canoe Union and National Caving Association.
• A comprehensive insurance policy, back-up and advice network.

Controlled Risk Group 

We are unique in that we also utilise the support of one of the UK’s leading security and specialist risk consultancies, Controlled Risk Group. CRG have 18 offices across five continents and they provide Trekforce with a worldwide network of risk analysts, as well as a dedicated 24/7 crisis response team. Combining Trekforce’s 20 years of experience with CRG’s 30 year expertise, we are able to take you to many extreme parts of the world, safely and expertly informed.

Gaye Kasperuk, Extreme Dreams series 
"At the end of the day you have to put your life in the hands of people like the Trekforce team, exactly the same way as you do with surgeons who operate to save your life. If I hadn’t been able to trust everyone implicitly, I wouldn’t have been able to go on to achieve the things I have."

Nicholas Fowlis, expedition to Belize
"The best thing about the expedition was floating downstream in the jungle, in the sunshine, using our packs as buoyancy aids."

Find out more about our previous rainforest conservation work.