Personal security

Humanitarian work can involve a degree of insecurity. The security, good health and safety of staff are a prime responsibility of your organisation.

The following checklist covers some general issues you should think about and become knowledgeable of throughout your deployment.

TRAVEL

• Be aware when to wear seat belts(e.g. general travel) and when not to (e.g. in certain conflict zones)
• Slow down in vehicles; if have drivers, insist they maintain safe, but reasonable speeds.  Do NOT stop for roadside accidents, suspicious check points or carry armed passengers, e.g. police. soldiers. 
• Ensure someone has a copy of you travel plan:
  • routes to be driven
  • planned stops
  • points of contact at stops
  • timeframe for trip
• Get a briefing on road and security conditions  
• Take extra food, water, spares, etc.
• Regularly check in by radio/phone
• After each journey, debrief on the road and security conditions 

COMMUNICATIONS 

• Be familiar with team security plan
• Get briefing from person responsible for security in your team

Establish a communications plan:  

• Reporting or call-in procedures
• Radio procedures and frequencies 
• Contact and backup systems
•  Ensure everyone knows what to do at checkpoints, in event of an accident etc.
• Keep copies of plans and procedures in a safe but accessible place. 
• Share this plan with other teams
• Maintain a points-of-contact list (internal and external)

HAZARDS

• Be aware of and report potential hazards and threats
• Assess need for protective clothing  
• In lodgings, check fire exits and  smoke detectors  
• Be aware of potential health issues for you and other team members 
• Be aware of personal security issues and avoid areas of potential danger e.g. crowds, mined areas, factional borders, riots,increase in criminal activity, shelling 
• Use local people’s knowledge to assess the level  of threat
• Know location of secure areas or locations of team members

EVACUATION

• Establish an emergency evacuation plan e.g. 
  • coordination with embassies;
  • shutdown procedures;
  • assembly points;
  • survival equipment and supplies (amount, location, access);
  • transportation methods for evacuation (road, air, water);
  • evacuation points and routes (airport, border, specific road) marked on maps;
  • vehicles equipped and prepared for evacuation.  
• Discuss or rehearse evacuation plan and review or update as necessary 
• Check any medical emergency and medical evacuation plan
• List personal items to take/ leave in an emergency and location of those items