Each year, millions of young people around the world take part in trips for a wide range of reasons, including: educational, training and development, religious, cultural and sports. Schools and other educational institutions, commercial operators, youth organizations, charities, cultural and religious groups, among others, provide opportunities for young people to travel for those reasons. A new standard guides organizations on how to manage travel risks, including how they can respond should an incident occur.
ISO 31031, Managing risks for youth and school trips, provides guidance for both domestic and international travel with specific attention to minors.
The standard provides a broad set of risk treatment options for activities related to trips. It also includes guidance for creating an emergency response plan.
Joël Marier, Convenor of the group of experts that developed the standard, said ISO 31031 helps organizations strike a balance between protecting the health, safety and well-being of children at the same time as seizing opportunities that support their growth and development.
He said: “Trip organizers have a duty of care towards children, youths and vulnerable adults involved in these trips. Safeguarding applies to the adults, teachers or instructors involved as well as the children and youths participating. This is a key component of ISO 31031.”
“One of the aims of this new standard is to promote a culture where the risk involved in organizing trips for children and youths is taken seriously, resourced adequately and managed effectively, and where the benefits to the organization and relevant stakeholders are recognized.”
ISO 31031 was developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 262, Risk management, whose secretariat is held by BSI, ISO’s member for the UK. It can be purchased from your national ISO member or the ISO webstore.