Nigeria…Angola…Iraq…to some, they are countries of political instability, criminality and danger. To others, they offer lucrative opportunities to work on some of the world’s largest oil & gas projects, gaining extensive experience within the industry and earning the most competitive rates of pay available.
For those whose career path leads them to assignments in high-risk locations, personal security really can literally mean the difference between life and death. From diseases such as malaria and cholera, through to the risk of muggings, car-jackings, armed robbery, kidnapping and terrorism; companies and individuals alike must be aware of the dynamic requirements of health and security and plan accordingly.
The key to successful security management is planning: namely having procedures in place to cater for all eventualities when in a high-risk country. Being conscious of the risks, being vigilant at all times and making sure that both your local host and your family back home are fully briefed about your travel plans will help to limit the likelihood of an incident, and the impact of an event if and when it should occur.
Essentially, there are three vital components of good risk management: accurate information, travel management and emergency support. The planning and establishment of procedures are key elements of all components, with the building of awareness, organisation of travel and arrangement of support services all taking place prior to departure.
Accurate information
When travelling to any new and unfamiliar country, understanding the potential hazards and risks will help reduce the risk profile. In much the same way as you would read up on a tourist destination, the same diligence is required of assignments in challenging countries. Even if a country or region is well known to you, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with recent events and security developments in your absence so that you can plan for their eventuality. In security more than any other discipline, “familiarity breeds contempt”. Building awareness is one of the key principles of security and goes a long way to ensuring a successful mobilisation.
There are numerous online resources that can be used in preparation for travel to high-risk locations. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides comprehensive travel advice by country, as do those of other Governments. Several subscription based commercial resources exist such as CityBrief, an online service offered by leading business risk consultancy, Control Risks which gives access to information and analysis of political, security and travel risk developments in around 300 different cities globally.
The information should provide details of potential threats and criminal activity and advice on good hotels and accommodation as well as explaining the most secure methods of travel to and within the country you are visiting.
In certain countries, hotel security requires additional precautions and will include the protection of documentation:
· Can your passport and other important documentation be stored in a safe in your room?
· How is your room locked?
· Does the hotel store check in details about you on your key card?
· How are messages relayed and does the hotel suffer from fraudulent calls / activities?
You should also ensure that you locate your nearest emergency exists and test that the doors open when allocated your hotel room. Insist on a change of room if you are not convinced with the evacuation preparations.
In summary, the information should provide useful hints and tips that cater for the peculiarities of the destination country and a list of local useful telephone numbers, be they the consulates, or local police. Indeed, the site should similarly provide advice on dealings with the authorities – especially when in regions notorious for their corruption. In this way the traveller can prepare themselves as effectively as possible for the country and its specific risks
Travel management
Travelling to a high-risk location should be addressed with similar diligence as pre trip information gathering. Booking flights through the most reputable airlines is a must – for example, many African National Carriers have dubious safety records and as such should be avoided both for international and national flights.
Knowledge of the meet & greet procedures on arrival – namely the location of the meet, the driver identification process and relevant telephone numbers are all pre-requisites for a successful rendezvous. For contractors, some recruitment agencies arrange meet & greet services as standard in regions considered to be high-risk. Check that your recruitment agency is fully prepared for your travel, and question them on their knowledge of the in country procedures that will include details on a “no show”. Do not assume that all is in order, as in all cases of security, individual accountability is key.
Road travel can be complex in countries such as Angola, Nigeria and Iraq. Issues such as road and traffic conditions, security choke points, rampant criminality and in places like Iraq - roadside bombings, all combine to make travel challenging. Evidence shows that the majority of kidnappings globally occur when the victim is in transit between home and place of work. Your travel management should involve knowledge your transport routes from your secure compound to your place of work, emergency support locations like Police stations and security refuges such as hotels and hospitals. Timings and routes should be varied in order to avoid establishing a routine and in certain countries any non-essential travel is often ill advised. Again the pre trip knowledge of the security situation helps with establishing the required travel procedures. Lip service to this advice can often result in unfortunate complications.
Emergency support
Detailed knowledge of your own emergency procedures is vital. Knowing who to contact in the event of an emergency, how to behave in the event of a robbery / evacuation etc will all help in the immediacy of the emergency response and increased resolution success. Having access to the most accurate information at the right time will enable you to take the correct course of action according to the circumstances. Unfortunately, in crisis situations, word-of-mouth isn’t always the most reliable source of information. Indeed, the very interpretation of the term ‘emergency’ will undoubtedly vary from person to person Knowing that your concerns will be met with professional assistance can be a great reassurance.
In the case of a security emergency, NES offers its contractors and their families’ access to a 24-hour security support service. Regardless of time of day, those mobilised with NES can get access to experienced security consultants who will advise on the most effective course of action. Indeed if appropriate, they will mobilise local resources to handle the event so that any issues can be resolved quickly. If you are a contractor working through an agency, check to see if they operate this kind of service and find out if your family members can use it too. Make sure you take details of the contact number with you and leave the same details at home with your family.
Automatic updates to situations in various high-risk regions are also very useful to ensure an individual is informed of changes in the security threat. For example, text message alerts from the likes of CR24 will allow a contractor greater confidence in their situational awareness that can subsequently assist in dispelling rumours or appease family concerns. For example, the recent upgrade in terrorism threat for Yemen (April 08) was passed quickly to NES contractors prior to any potentially disturbing rumours were heard, and knee jerk reactions initiated. Emergency support considerations are important for families of those working on assignments in high-risk areas as well as the individuals themselves. Peace of mind is of great value in the event of an emergency. In this way, emergency preparedness demonstrates its multi faceted nature.
To most, medical emergency planning is a more familiar exercise. Organisations such as International SOS, International Medical Rescue etc provide medical assistance and international healthcare designed to cater for medical emergencies when abroad. Travellers would seldom travel without this insurance, whilst perhaps more worryingly, are prepared to take security risks. Emergency planning should cater for all possible eventualities and in much the same way that personal responsibility is advised above, in medical situations, the traveller should be satisfied that they are aware of the claims procedure and the associated support centres.
Ensuring that you register with an embassy upon arrival in a new country, checking that your medical insurances are current before you depart and finding out local clinic information are all key steps that combined will help reduce your risk profile.
Whilst it is impossible to cater for all eventualities, the three components outlined above will help contribute to an improved risk profile. Whilst most client organisations have excellent security infrastructures in place, individuals cannot abdicate their responsibilities in this field. Security is as much an individual responsibility as a corporate one, and it is therefore important that you take a personal interest in steps taken to minimise the threats you’re exposed to in high-risk locations.
Understanding the three vital components of good risk management: accurate information, travel management and emergency support provision will help you to plan and execute travel and work in higher risk locations with a reduced likelihood of becoming a victim.
Resources
NES Security Support: www.nesglobal.com/security-support, +44 207 939 8674 (24-hrs a day)
Foreign & Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk
Author Biography
Former Royal Marine Officer and MBA graduate, Nick Stocker, is Risk Manager at specialist technical and engineering recruitment firm, NES. He has been responsible for the development of NES’ risk management service which includes the establishment of NES Security Support in partnership with Control Risk’s CR24.
The security support service provides NES contractors with access to security consultants 24 hours a day and can be used in the event of an emergency. These can range from serious incidents when the security expertise of the consultants is employed, through to the more mundane information provision. Indeed, it has been known to provide information on the latest football scores – clearly an emergency requirement from one perspective! The is accessible by phone or email and is available to contractors and their families whilst mobilised with NES so that, in times of uncertainty, practical, current advice on the proper course of action is available.
Nick can be contacted on +44 208-335-1484 or at nicholas.stocker@nesgroup.com
