People and security
Travel risk management for companies
How companies manage risk to staff traveling for work: duty of care, ISO 31030, pre-trip assessment, monitoring and crisis response.
Guide
People and securityLast updated
3 minute read
By Zed Three analysts
Short answer
Travel risk management is how an employer protects staff who travel for work, by assessing destinations, approving trips, briefing travelers, tracking them and responding to incidents. ISO 31030, published in 2021, is the main international guidance. It is voluntary, but it can serve as evidence that an employer took reasonable care.
Last updated
Duty of care
Employers keep a moral and legal duty of care for employees on work trips, and using a travel risk provider does not transfer that responsibility. Legal obligations vary by country, so take legal advice for your jurisdictions.
The core of a program
A policy with approval levels by country risk; pre-trip assessments and briefings; vetted transport and accommodation; traveler tracking and a way to reach people fast; incident response and evacuation plans; and post-trip review.
What 2026 changes
Conflict in the Gulf, kidnap risk in Nigeria, Mexico and the Sahel, and fast moving unrest mean country risk can change within days. Weekly country scores and daily briefings help travel managers spot that change before staff are on the ground.
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Related country risk assessments
Frequently asked questions
Is ISO 31030 mandatory?
No. It is voluntary guidance and cannot be certified against, but it is widely used as a benchmark.
What is a pre-trip risk assessment?
A review of threats at the destination, along the route and at the accommodation, with controls agreed before the trip is approved.
Which countries need extra approval for business travel?
Most programs require senior approval for countries in the High and Severe bands of the World Threat Map, such as Iran, Yemen, Sudan and Ukraine.
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