Your group’s health and safety is our number one priority. Read on to find out how we ensure your group stays safe.
For everyone involved in running a school trip, the most important thing has to be the safety of the students and staff on that trip.
For us, it really is our number one priority.
But how can you be sure that really is the case?
Well, we’re an Assured Member of the School Travel Forum. That means that we have to adhere to a rigorous Code of Practice and Safety Management Standards.
And these are externally verified every single year by Argent, who are the UK’s leading health and safety consultancy specialising in travel.
We also have our own Safety Management System in place, the application, monitoring and improvement of which is the responsibility of all of our staff (and they’re all fully committed to consistently meeting the objectives of this policy).
Health and Safety - Our commitments
We commit to:
- Facilitating and promoting a positive health and safety culture
- Assessing the risks associated with activities and maintaining appropriate control measures
- Providing safe transport and accommodation
- Providing adequate financial and human resources to implement health & safety policy
- Ensuring all staff are able to apply the Safety Management System
- Maintaining effective communications with clients
- Regularly reviewing and updating the Safety Management System as appropriate The application of the Safety Management System and the monitoring and improvement of safety standards is the responsibility of all Halsbury Travel staff who are committed to consistently meeting the objectives of this policy.
Safety Management of Accommodation
We only arrange accommodation that:
- Complies with local legislation with respect to fire and general safety
- Is contracted by trained Halsbury Travel staff or reputable agents
- Receives a Standard Audit and risk assessment prior to use by Halsbury Travel
- Receives a Supplementary Audit if it is used on five or more occasions in a year
And just a quick word on host family accommodation, which is a great option for many language groups.
We work closely with our colleagues at the language schools to ensure that the selection process for host families is thorough. And we make sure that students staying with host families are easily contactable and can be moved out of accommodation if necessary (i.e. if it’s unsuitable for them).
Safety Management of Transport
Coach
British coach travel is regulated by the Department for Transport and an Operator Licence is only granted if a national or international operation satisfies the requirement of professional competence. And we only work with coach operators who hold a valid Operator Licence.
We also only work with reputable coach suppliers. And all British coach suppliers we work with are subject to a Standard Coach Audit.
All foreign coaches used by us must conform to all local, national and international standards.
And, of course, we require our coach suppliers to ensure all vehicles are properly maintained.
Ferries and Eurotunnel
All ferries and the Eurotunnel are nationally regulated. We also hold regular meetings with all of the companies we use, where on-board safety and security are discussed.
Air Transport
The Civil Aviation Authority regulates all transport from the UK, operating to very strict safety criteria.
We hold a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority, allowing us to operate individual and group tours by air (ATOL 5079).
All the flight-inclusive school trips on our website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme.
This means that when you pay you’ll be provided with an ATOL certificate. Please do check it to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it – and let us know if you don’t receive it for any reason (it’s really important that you make sure you have it).
Making a start on your risk assessment?
Check out our guide to risk assessments. And if you have any questions about health and safety, please just get in touch.