PLH GROUP NEWS
Preparation and Planning are Necessary Safety Tools when Traveling
Date: July 16, 2019
Air2, LLC crews and pilots are expert travelers. This PLH Group subsidiary offers airborne utility services throughout USA, their crews are always on the move. Pictured here are the flight team, mechanic and crews recently dispatched to Alaska.
Is your next job at an unfamiliar location that involves nights away from home? Do you have summer travel plans? Will you be attending an out-of-country conference? Sometimes we get so caught up in the purpose of our trip, whether for pleasure or business, that we forget to consider safety hazards hiding in the details of our travels. Deter potential travel complications by familiarizing yourself with general travel safety considerations, as well as regional safety concerns.
Comprised of 11 entities positioned throughout North America, PLH Group is a leading, full service power line construction, pipeline construction and specialty contractor that serves the electric power line, pipeline, oil field electrical and industrial markets. Because of its large customer footprint, PLH Group employees may find themselves traveling to an office or project site in an area outside of their home region. Focused on employee safety throughout all aspects of the job, PLH Group believes that planning and preparation are just as important to personnel safety when traveling as wearing a hard hat is in certain work environments. Therefore, use this checklist to begin brainstorming safety considerations prior to embarking on your next trip. Talk with your supervisor, colleagues, family, or friends to discuss additional potential hazards specific to the details of your travel.
- Driving: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25% of all work-related fatalities in 2017 were caused by motor vehicle accidents. Minimize your chance of falling into this statistic with proper planning. Have you familiarized yourself with a clear route and driving plan to your destination, considering weather conditions and rest stops? Ensure to perform a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle. If renting a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the vehicle’s driving controls. If using a navigation system, ensure the device’s charger is easily accessible. Consider these additional driving tips from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.
- Flying: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has simplified the complexities associated with the air travel safety and security process in this simplified checklist. Be sure to follow all TSA regulations to prevent delays in your screening process. Additionally, whether this is your first time flying or air travel is a normal part for your job, always pay attention to the safety message given by the flight attendants prior to take-off. The message may seem routine, but you never know when it may save a life—possibly even your own.
- Hotel: Choose a hotel in a safe area. Finding the right hotel may require asking a travel agent, friend or colleague for advice. Park in a well-lit area of the parking lot, and always lock your hotel door. Never invite visitors to your hotel room. Instead, meet visitors in the hotel’s lobby. Utilize the in-room hotel safe for valuable items. Additionally, review the evacuation route out of your room in case of an emergency.
- Foreign Travel: If traveling in a foreign country, other safety and security considerations may apply. Be sure to check with local government agencies for security, health, or safety alerts for your destination. Also, ensure you bring proper identification, such as a passport or visa. Specific medical precautions may need to be taken, including pre-trip vaccinations and medications. Additionally, consider taking a small amount of local currency.
- Travel Assistance: Find out what travel benefits your company may provide— such as travel concierge or a help hotline— to assist you if you find yourself in an unanticipated situation. If a travel assistance program is available to you, be sure to record necessary contact information in your phone and other easily accessible places so it is readily available when you need it.
In addition to the tips above, always share your travel itinerary with a colleague or friend. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) provides a variety of additional travel health, safety and security suggestions, as well as tips for handling situations that have escalated to attack or robbery.
“Be prepared,” the CCOHS article suggests. “Try to imagine yourself responding successfully to different types of attacks. Practice your responses.”
The Annual PLH Group Management Meeting gathers company leaders to their Dallas headquarters from the US and Canada.
Travel does not have to be intimidating or dangerous if proper planning and preparation steps are taken. By alotting extra time to plan and prepare prior to your trip, you will likely find more ease, safety, and security during your travels.
