Safety and Support

• What are the organisation's policies on health and safety?
• Trekforce's Safety Policy Statement
• Who is responsible for me at the programme location?
• Has anyone from the organisation vetted this person?
• Where is the nearest representative of the organisation?
• What emergency procedures are there?
  

What are the Trekforce's policies on health and safety?

The health, safety and welfare of all volunteers are absolutely paramount to Trekforce Worldwide. A full Risk Assessment, medical evacuation and communications plan is carried out by the Leader Teams (including in-country managers) for each project prior to the arrival of the expedition volunteers in country. All Expedition Leaders and Assistant Leaders are fully conversant with, and abide by Trekforce Operating Guidelines (TOGs) and Internal Jungle / Mountain / Desert Training Lesson Plans. In addition the medics are fully conversant in Trekforces’ medical, health and hygiene manual (updated by Dr Jon Dallimore). All these documents are updated on a regular basis. Regular updates and briefings are given verbally to all volunteers throughout the course of the expedition.

During the orientation and jungle training phase lectures are given by the expedition staff and medical teams regarding food handling, water purification, the importance of high standards of personal hygiene, base camp hygiene, rubbish disposal, communication, operating safely in the specific environment you are in, risk assessment, environmental guidelines, cultural, flora and fauna implications and considerations.

Prior to the start of each new phase (such as language or teaching) the volunteers are given a comprehensive brief on any potential health and safety issues that are relevant for that part of the programme. In addition they are briefed on risk assessment and health and safety issues for the language and teaching phases.

Trekforce have a detailed crisis response plan and risk management strategy. There are clear guidelines both overseas and in the UK in order to minimize the risk of a crisis. All volunteers and staff are issued with detailed emergency cards and manuals.

Trekforce's Safety Policy Statement:

Trekforce Worldwide places the highest priority on the health and safety of all 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 lead to any more than a reasonable level of physical, mental or emotional distress for its participants, staff and partners.

Our safety policy is based on six main pillars:

• A commitment to running safe expeditions by the Trekforce management.
• Strong commitment to safety when selecting experienced expedition staff and medical personnel.
• Comprehensive and current ‘Trekforce Worldwide Operating Guidelines (TOGs) and Crisis Response Plan (CRP), including a thorough risk management plan.
• A commitment to comply with approved voluntary codes: The Young Explorers’ Trust ‘Code of Practice’ and ‘Running Safe and Responsible Expeditions’.
• Adherence to relevant guidelines laid down by the following UK governing bodies, unless there is a valid reason why these are not appropriate: UK Mountain  Training Board (MTB), British Canoe Union (BCU), Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and National Caving Association (NCA).
• A comprehensive insurance policy and recommendations.

Who is responsible for me at the programme location?

Trekforce Worldwide staff are responsible for you at all times, until you depart on independent travel after the expedition. In addition you will become more and more adept at looking out for each other as a team, using the comprehensive buddy system.

Has anyone from the organisation vetted this person?

All persons in positions of responsibility are Trekforce staff who are selected for their expedition experience and / or qualifications.  All schools for the teaching placements have been vetted by Trekforce staff, as have the host families with whom the volunteers are placed.

Where is the nearest representative of the organisation?

Jungle expeditions: on each project team the expedition leaders and medic team are on hand at all times.

Spanish language phase: during this phase there will be a member of Trekforce staff staying in the same town or village who will be contactable 24 hours a day.

Teaching placements: volunteers will be in pairs during this time, and will be able to communicate with our in-country staff at any time, as it is a fully supported placement. Our staff will also visit all the volunteers during their placement.

Diving: We use reputable companies that have been thoroughly vetted by Trekforce. Trekforce will arrange the placement and the Dive company will provide the professional staff to deliver the course/dives and provide for the welfare of the participants.

What emergency procedures are there?

Each project site has a full medical evacuation and communications plan in place before the expedition begins. All expedition teams have a fully qualified medical team with them, in addition to comprehensive field medical kit for immediate aid. The expedition leaders are themselves competent first-aiders with a great deal of experience between them.  The permanently staffed office that we have in each country has radio and satellite communications with all of the project sites in the field. 

All hospitals and clinics have been assessed by our staff for suitability of use, and routes to them fully prepared. In addition, the British Army and local Defence Forces, if required, provide helicopter casualty evacuation and support on training with their instructors.

In addition to a system of GSM mobile phones, Irridium and Inmarsat, and VHF radios used, every expedition carries an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).  Trekforce UK staff can be contacted 24 hours a day whilst expeditions are in the field. In the event of a volunteer becoming ill or injured whilst on a teaching placement, volunteers are briefed to contact in-country staff who will co-ordinate hospitalisation if necessary and subsequent treatment of the volunteer.

Return to FAQ list...