Safety While Working Abroad

Assessing & Controlling Risks

At ASSE's Safety 2013, Eldeen Pozniak, CHSC, CRSP, CHSMSA, presented "Far Away and Cannot Be Forgotten: Managing OSH-Related Risks for Expatriates/Employees Traveling Abroad." Pozniak, who is operations director for Pozniak Safety Associates Inc., is a past president of Canadian Society of Safety Engineering and vice president of the International Network of Health and Safety Practitioner Organizations. Working abroad presents many hazards, and employers must take steps to protect workers.

Health Hazards

The first concern might be health issues, Pozniak suggests. " [Employers] need to ask, What is our medical program set up for when workers are traveling abroad?'" Widely known health concerns that may be present in certain countries include swine flu, avian flu, West Nile virus and other diseases carried by mosquitos, but Pozniak warns that less-publicized health concerns may exist as well. She suggests seeking information from various resources about any known infections or viruses in the country where employees will be working.

Other preventive measures employers can take include providing first-aid kits, sterile cots and health cards for calling in medical problems. Pozniak also recommends implementing an immunization and prevention program as well as forming partnerships with healthcare providers abroad so that employees will know where to seek medical attention. International SOS (www.intemationalsos.com) can also connect workers to the nearest medical center where physicians speak English or any other needed language.

Natural & Environmental Hazards

Before working abroad, workers should be aware of the types of natural disasters that may occur in a given region. "Just look at America and how different the natural disaster risk is depending on [the region]," says Pozniak. Other environmental concerns include chemical exposure due to high levels of air pollution in countries such as China and Japan where manufacturing thrives but air quality regulations are few. Pozniak warns that even if air pollution is not a widespread problem, workers may be exposed to chemicals emitted from a nearby factory, so employers should work with local staff to address such hazards.

Wildlife, such as venomous reptiles and insects, can also pose threats so employees should be informed about any dangerous animals they may encounter. "If you're working in northern Canada or Alaska, the grizzly might be a concern," Pozniak explains.

Employers and employees alike should obtain as much information as possible about housing accommodations in advance to determine whether they provide appropriate shelter from natural disasters and to ensure that issues such as insect infestations will be handled accordingly.

Violence & Crime

Political unrest can be one of the most serious hazards for anyone traveling to a country with which they are not familiar. "We're seeing [political unrest] in almost every country around the globe; some more than others," says Pozniak. "Even in North America, people spreading their opinions can tum [violent]."

One strategy for avoiding political violence is to register with both the foreign and U.S. embassies to receive alerts about political violence and other emerging risks. Employees should also know the locations of embassies and other resource centers near their workplace and residence.

Kidnapping is a growing concern in many countries as well, with workers in Africa, southeast Asia, South America and the Middle East being at the highest risk. Kidnapped workers are most often held for ransom and, in the most severe cases, may be killed if captors' demands are not met. Organizations must ensure that workers sent to countries where kidnapping is prevalent have insurance that covers kidnapping, ransom and extortion.

"Education on being alert and how to watch for certain signs is important as well," Pozniak says about crime and violence, including terrorism and organized crime that may be present. She recommends completing a detailed risk assessment before travel, and cautions that if a significant risk is detected, employees should be provided with housing that is equipped with a security system. In critical cases, companies might also consider hiring an armed guard.

Less serious crimes such as theft are common internationally as well. "It's amazing how when people travel for business they don't think about how they should keep their most expensive jewelry at home," Pozniak remarks, adding that traveling workers should refrain from packing items of great monetary or sentimental value.

Communication Problems

When working abroad, staying informed about the laws in the country where one is working is critical. "Sometimes we're ignorant of foreign laws and don't know we're breaking them," says Pozniak, citing laws about appropriate dress for women in the Middle East and laws against chewing gum in Singapore as examples.

Cultural misunderstandings can also trigger hostility. In some countries, hand gestures commonly used in North America may be viewed as obscene while elsewhere, use of certain colors may carry a meaning of symbolism.

For example, a Canadian company was surprised to learn that its Chinese workers did not want to wear green hats because in China wearing a green hat can be a sign that one's wife has been unfaithful. To prevent such misunderstandings and to make other tasks such as buying food or supplies easier, Pozniak suggests that employers provide workers with translators to assist them when working abroad.

Duty of Care

All employers have duty of care, a legal obligation to ensure that the right controls are in place. According to Pozniak, this obligation "presumes that individuals and organizations have legal obligations to act toward others and the public in a prudent and cautious manner to avoid the risk of reasonably foreseeable injury to others." Employers can be held accountable for not following duty of care, and each country has its own legislation in this area. Even within one country, multiple jurisdictions may have differing laws, so it is important to be aware of applicable laws. "We have to be concerned about not only what is happening in our home countries, but about the standards abroad as well," she says.

Risk Assessment

To develop an awareness of potential hazards, Pozniak suggests that employers conduct a formal, documented process of identifying all hazards, determining specific risks within each category of hazards and implementing risk controls. "I often use the Haddon matrix to look at each possible event," she explains.

Pozniak recommends involving safety professionals as well as middle managers in the risk assessment process. These professionals can enlist higher management support and approval, and help devise a backup plan should the controls fail to effectively mitigate risks. Management at varying levels should also be engaged in planning training to prepare employees for work abroad. In addition, hazard checklists can be distributed to employees to help them think about the problems they may encounter.

Tracking employees while they are overseas is another way managers can protect workers. "We need to have something in place to track our people and know where they are," says Pozniak. "That doesn't mean using the iPhone tracker to know when they're in the bathroom." Instead, Poz niak advises using a database tracking system to store itinerary information and access safety networks for sending alerts about known hazards.

Companies can also protect workers by providing a 24-hour hotline for guidance should an unanticipated hazard arise.

Conclusion

By providing training and conducting a detailed risk assessment, employers can protect those working abroad against anticipated risks. Employers should seek information about potential hazards related to health, environment, violence and crime, and communication problems. They should also be familiar with the kinds and quality of accommodations and transportation that will be available to workers. Finally, employers should take steps to track workers while they are in foreign countries and provide them with alerts about new hazards.

Strategies for Protecting Workers Abroad

? Before sending workers to another country, conduct a formal, documented risk assessment to identify all hazards that may be encountered when abroad.

? Organize a customized training program that will prepare employees for potential challenges in the specific location to which they are traveling.

? Distribute hazard checklists to all affected workers.

? Track employees using a database tracking system and send them alerts about known hazards while they are overseas.

? Provide a 24-hour hotline to provide guidance on responding to unanticipated hazards.

Bethany Harvey is a communications and design assistant for ASSE and part of the editorial staff for Professional Safety. She holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Communications Mass Media from Elmhurst College.