Adventure Alternative

Health and Safety Policy

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Our first concern is the reduction of risk to health and safety as far as practically possible. Adventure Alternative has in place a seven-point health & safety policy which can be found below.

Alongside our in-country and UK staff we have strong relationships with local and national health care facilities should any assistance be required resulting from an incident or situation. Our clients and staff are assured that they are never alone and always have someone to turn to in the immediate location and are not expected to rely on a representative hundreds of miles away.The principles and ethos of Adventure Alternative are paramount to the company’s excellent safety record.

 

 

7 Point Health and Safety Policy

1. Provision of relevant health and safety information to all volunteers before they arrive in-country.

• All volunteers, staff and clients are instructed to contact their doctors or travel clinics to ascertain the most recent information on the immunisations and prophylactic medications required before entering the country. 
• Specific information is also provided, both written and verbal, on necessary equipment for activities such as trekking, climbing, medical work, teaching and safari’s. Also information on local politics and culture.
• Information is also given on all our projects and trips regarding social responsibility. People’s role and responsibility in their new society is explained, as they will often be immersed in delicate cultures, which can easily be upset through ignorance or through what is socially acceptable behaviour in their home country.
  
  2. Ensuring that appropriate staff are employed on the projects or regions where we operate and that all field staff and group leaders are trained in safe operating procedures.

• All staff have to go through an on- site induction, which includes training in the relevant procedures.
• Auditing of operating procedure on a regular trip basis in each area / region followed by meetings of all relevant staff (both UK and in-country) to identify problems and improvements.

3. Identification of the risks associated with activities and locations, as well as the development of measures to minimise these risks. 
   
• Risk assessments are produced for each location visited or were activity or work is carried out. This covers activities undertaken, specific projects and residentially associated risks.
• All staff are required to consult these reports before visiting a new site, undertaking a new activity or participating in a new project. The risk assessments are continually evaluated and updated.
  
4. Development and implementation of safe operating procedures for each of the activities undertaken 

• Procedures to ensure trekking teams remain in contact with all the members of the group are practised and there is always a staff member at the front and the back of each trek team. 
• Additional procedures cover activities such as safe driving, hygiene, snorkelling and swimming and many other aspects of trips, projects and expeditions, which are covered in trip specific risk assessments.
• Adventure Alternative has strong relationships with guides, porters and National Park Authorities governing safe operating procedures and contingency plans should a situation arise.
• Adventure Alternative does not outsource and always uses it’s own main in-country staff who have been taught by the company to act, think and be safe and aware at all times.
  

5. Ensuring there are adequate communication, medical and evacuation procedures in position 
• All in-country transportation is carried out by our own staff. On the odd occasion where this is not possible they are met at either end of their journey and given emergency phone numbers and always use approved and safe vehicles.
• Each of the areas and regions where we work has a qualified Medical Officer and extensive medical supplies.
•  All teams have to carry a First Aid kit with them.
•  There are hospitals with good facilities for all possible injuries in all of the regions where we work. These have all been visited and assessed by our local and UK specialist medical teams.
• Evacuation plans for High Priority emergency evacuations have been developed for each of the areas where we work.  Evacuation plans for Medium Priority (fastest overland route to a hospital) and Low Priority (most convenient and comfortable overland or over water route) have also been developed for each region and will be updated with any local developments or changes.
• In all areas where we work communication is possible by either mobile, landline or satellite phone. Additionally all in-country teams have the applicable numbers and equipment to ensure a quick solution to any situation.

6. Training of all volunteers / clients on arrival in the safe operating procedures, and acquainting them with the medical facilities available.
• All volunteers / clients on arrival are given a general health and safety briefing.
•  Leaders give additional briefings as the volunteers join new projects or visit new areas.

7. Recording all illnesses, accidents, near misses or incidents which may have a bearing on health and safety and using this information as part of an ongoing refinement of the operating procedures. 
• The in-country staff keep detailed confidential medical records on all staff, clients and volunteers, which are used in combination with accident and 'near miss' data reported by various staff, in compiling accident and illness reports. This is recorded in an incident report diary.
• After every trip, expedition, trek, gap, sabbatical or safari the incident report diary is signed off and all possible improvements are noted in the amended risk assessments.