Duty of care means recognizing that your employer has a legal and moral obligation to
protect staff safe, secured and protected from harm at any assigned workplace. In a
nutshell, a duty of care means a company has the responsibility to protect employees from
unnecessary risk of harm when working or travelling on the employer’s behalf. Safeguarding
employees’ health, safety, and well-being would make them happier, more involved, more
motivated and productive.
In practical terms, if any organization staff travel internationally, he or he should be briefed
by a security officer or coordinator of the designated organization about the international
region, route and spot he or she would be visiting. The security official would also need to
communicate with the peer or relevant staff of the host organization of the region or area
that the vehicles and accommodation for the intended travelling staff have been safely
ensured. The security official also needs to confirm that the security and access to the
visiting places have been cleared.
If the staff is a VIP or if there is a convoy of delegates, the security official would need
confirm that police and other responsible authority have been informed and referred in
regards to the VIP or delegate’s travel security.
If the target place for the visit is pandemic prone, the security official would need to take
measures to reduce the risk of infection for the staff. In prior to the visit, he or she or the
group of the staffs should be briefed about the health risk, and also about the severity of
the epidemic. The security official would need to advise the staff on the do’s, don’ts and
how to use the disease preventive wearings or tools before the travel. The official should
ensure that adequate preventive equipment and kits are arranged that the travelling team
can carry and use during their visit.
