Navigating Risk on School Trips: Discussing the ISO 31031 Standard

Quick Overview

The new ISO 31031 Standard, a risk management standard for youth international and domestic travel, applies to K-12 and higher education institutions. It provides comprehensive guidance for youth travel risks, increases accountability and offers a framework for developing a robust risk management strategy. To learn more, watch the full webinar on demand.

Key Takeaways

• Identify stakeholders and provide them with the necessary tools to identify risks and execute strategy.
• Understand the internal and external operating contexts of your school and planned travel.
• Internal: mission & values, structure, objectives, risk tolerance
• External: politics, culture, infrastructure, weather, healthcare
• Assess your school’s travel risk profile, prioritize risks according to likelihood and the severity matrix, and development a risk management plan.

Risk Assessment Process

• Identification: Consider all potential risks (hazards, security threats) and determine destination risk level.
• Conversations with trip leaders and locals are helpful.
• Analysis: Gather information about risks, likelihood, potential impact and root causes.
• Evaluation: Determine risk acceptability and need for additional mitigation.
• Treatment: Establish mitigation measures and how to modify risks to make them acceptable (trainings, waivers).
• Avoidance: Eliminate unacceptable risks by changing plans.

Structuring a Risk Management Plan

• Identify leadership roles and responsibilities; create an internal workflow for accountability.
• Apply relevant policies and address gaps (e.g., approvals for trip leaders, spouses/kids, vehicle use, expenses).
• Secure necessary permissions, consents and disclosures (parent/guardian permission for minors medical and activity-related consents/disclosures, etc).
• Develop an effective incident response plan.

Implementing Best Practices

• Recognize that risks cannot always be eliminated, but risk reduction is possible.
• Develop policies/procedures that can and will be followed rather than adopting policies that will be difficult to adhere to.
• Consider traveler age and destination to balance learning objectives and risk.
• Avoid too heavily relying on legal counsel for decision-making, policy and procedure development. These should be created by and work for your institution.
• The most valuable work is done in advance. Provide training opportunities to educate trip personnel on certain risks and mitigation strategies.
• Establish clear expectations for trip leaders, chaperones and participants.

Navigating Legal Obligations

Negligence – A negligence claim requires a duty, breach, damages and causation. Focus on duty to each participant, prevention and avoidance, and mitigation.

Applicable Jurisdictions – Consider which laws apply in the country or area of your destination and your home (i.e. international vs. domestic). Determine which common frameworks apply.

Passcode: Schoolrisk25!

---