Safety
Safety is at the heart of everything we do. All our volunteers receive full safety training on expeditions and our head office provides 24 hour emergency cover and support for each expedition. We focus on preventing accidents, but sometimes accidents do still occasionally happen. For this reason we have a robust Crisis Management Plan, comprehensive risk assessments and casualty evacuation and emergency plans for every project site in place, covering all eventualities from natural disasters and political instability to individual incidents.
Experience
Raleigh has always endeavoured to be at the forefront of safety and development of systems and procedures. Because of our experience running expeditions we represented the Year Out Group in setting up the BS8848 specification for the provisions of visits, fieldwork, expeditions and adventurous activities outside the United Kingdom. We have comprehensive systems and procedures in place that all comply with BS8848 and we are looking forward to incorporating any future developments as BS8848 is amended later in 2008.
Advice
We consult with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regularly and have good relationships with the British Authorities, Government ministries and agents in each country who will give us early warning of any potential problems. Local medical services, emergency services and the military are also on hand to help if needs be.
Risk assessment and casualty evacuation
Before every expedition we carry out a full risk assessment of the whole expedition and each project site. Our volunteers also do their own risk assessment when they arrive, which encourages a vigilant attitude towards safety within the group. As well as this we have comprehensive emergency and evacuation plans in place for every project site and our volunteer managers visit and assess the local medical facilities. If any individual has to return home we also have services in place to assist this.
Experienced volunteer management team
Every expedition has a number of qualified doctors and nurses working in volunteer manager roles. Where possible we recruit volunteer managers who have recognised national governing body qualifications to safely run adventurous activities such as trekking.
Safety training
Volunteer managers and venturers undertake basic health and safety training in the expedition country. This includes safety briefings, risk assessment, casualty evacuation, training in the correct and safe use of tools, camping equipment and safety equipment including radios.
Before each expedition we also hold training at our head office in London. Please contact your support coordinator at head office to find out when the next course will be. Alternatively we recommend Crown Medical Training or Wilderness Medical Training.
Safety equipment
We provide all the required safety equipment including buoyancy aids, helmets, protective goggles, GPS receivers, flares and communications equipment.
Safety communications
On every expedition we have a network of high frequency radio communications so that field base can carry out a 24-hour radio watch and project sites can call in twice daily if they need advice or assistance.
Insurance
We have a comprehensive medical and personal accident insurance policy, offering the best medical care available and a repatriation service where necessary.
If you have any questions on safety please contact David Giles Head of Operations, on +44 (0) 20 7183 1279 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
