Protecting employees from terrorist attack abroad
Employees who are travelling abroad are more vulnerable to terrorist attack. The Anvil Group's Matthew Judge sets out good business practice to minimize the threat
Terrorist acts occur unpredictably, making it impossible to protect yourself entirely. The first and best protection is to avoid travel to areas where there has been a persistent record of terrorist attacks or kidnappings. Most terrorist attacks are the result of careful planning. Terrorists are looking for the most accessible targets as well as ways to create impact and attention.
Though there has been wide spread reporting of terrorist acts recently, it is worth noting that most of these efforts are centralized to certain areas. Where countries like Iraq and Afghanistan will be susceptible for terrorist attacks and kidnappings compared to countries in Europe, it does not rule out the possibility of an attack. Incidents such as 9-11, bombings in Turkey in 2003 and in Spain 2004 and the 7/7 attacks in London, suggests that no country is immune to the dangers of terrorism.
If an employee is about to travel to a destination that is deemed 'high-risk', it is important to ensure that a risk assessment is carried out on the country. This will enable businesses with a view of what security measures are required to mitigate the risks.
Where pre-trip planning and intelligence will help out immensely, organisations still need to prepare for the worst and put in place contingency and incident response plans in case an incident or event occurs. For businesses to initiate immediate incident responses, a travel risk solution such as our Employee Travel Monitoring Solution (ETMS) and the Travel Risk Intelligence System (TRIS) is required. Technology solutions such as these enable businesses to identify affected employees as well as other assets such as buildings and facilities at the touch of a button. Through leveraging Global Incident Mapping built into TRIS, organisations can zoom in on the location of a threat, such as a terrorist attack and alert any employees that are in the vicinity of the incident. Through indepth information and the support of a "Crisis Avoidance" service provider, businesses are able to implement the evacuation of employees as well as advise on safe havens, such as hotels, police stations or hospitals near by.
The key to ensuring employee safety is to follow the following steps:
1) Have a Travel Safety Policy that is mandated and regularly reviewed.
2) Ensure that the policy is effectively communicated throughout the organisation.
3) Monitor for events and incidents that may have an adverse effect on travelling employees or other business assets.
4) Have processes and procedures in place so that in the event of an incident you are able to react quickly and effectively.
The following pointers may help travelers avoid becoming a target of opportunity.
· Schedule direct flights if possible, and avoid stops in high-risk airports or areas.
· Be cautious about what you discuss with strangers or what others may overhear.
· Have your transport from the Airport to the Hotel pre-arranged and be aware of the greeting procedure.
· Try to minimize the time spent in the public area of an airport, which is a less protected area. Move quickly from the check-in counter to the secured areas. Upon arrival, leave the airport as soon as possible.
· As much as possible, avoid luggage tags, dress and behavior that may draw attention to yourself.
· If staying in a destination for a period of time try to vary your routes to and from the place you are staying.
· Keep a mental note of safe havens, such as police stations, hotels and hospitals.
· Understand what your employers will do for you in the case of an emergency
Through appropriate due diligence prior to travel, businesses as well as travelers have peace of mind that their trip will go ahead with the minimum of problems. It is the organisation that does little in the way of planning that will be caught out by a terrorist attack and other risks to employees. There is no room for the 'it can't happen to me' attitude.
The Anvil Group Director, Matthew Judge
For further information about pre-trip intelligence and how to prepare in case of a terrorist attack, please visit: www.anvilgroup.com
About The Anvil Group
The Anvil Group is an internationally renowned single source security organisation, specialising in 'Crisis Avoidance Services'. Anvil has a proven track record in offering a comprehensive range of end-to-end services that provide physical, technological and information security systems in the global marketplace. In the ever increasing and demanding global environment coupled with international responsibilities and duty of care, Anvil has continually impressed its clients to the extent of its global reach. Anvil's network of global intelligence, international contacts, quality of personnel and customer-focused service have been keystone qualities that resulted in its rapid growth and success. The Anvil Group has discreetly served individuals and corporations since 1988.
