Health & Safety
A S2Si expedition or challenge is not a holiday with a timetable of events. Instead, it is real adventure with a purpose, set in some of the world’s most remote and difficult terrain.
Everyone who comes on an expedition must understand that they are voluntarily entering into a world vastly different from their normal way of life. S2Si can do this because we have a comprehensive safety support system. We are not adverse to risk, but for each activity we undertake an exhaustive risk assessment, which is fully briefed to the participants and which is continually reviewed during the expedition.
S2Si Safety Policy Statement
S2Si places the highest priority on the health and safety of all of its operations. Working within the practicalities and guidelines of adventurous and challenging activities, S2Si endeavors to minimise all the necessary risks and dangers that would not lead to any more than a reasonable level of physical, mental or emotional distress for its participants, staff and partners.
S2Si Staff
The quality of S2Si’s consultants and staff is what makes it so professional and unique. We have consultants who are extremely experienced in the areas of expedition planning, logistics and health and safety provision for Production companies and Corporate clients. We have combined 20 years of staff expertise, which allows us to look worldwide in terms of projects and expeditions. S2Si staff have experience of expeditions and travel to Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Far and Middle East, and the Arctic. The key is matching our clients’ requirements with one of our consultants, and with our bank of experienced expedition leaders and medics.
Backup, Support & Training
S2Si have a 24/7 support system for staff, volunteers and clients overseas. S2Si has its own leaders and local staff on the ground, with every expedition reporting back regularly to the UK via satellite and conventional communication channels. In addition, we liaise closely with the foreign and commonwealth office to ensure we get the very latest travel advice and security rating for every country we travel to.
We work closely with all our in-country partners and with such great contacts in every country we operate in we obtain the local input on events and the general safety on the ground itself, real-time.
Through our medical consultant we can deploy a 24/7 reach back service and have comprehensive emergency response plans and risk assessments for each destination and activity and expedition we undertake. Where appropriate, we continue to enjoy the active support of the British Army for evacuation assistance, as well as the national defence forces in the countries we operate in.
Casualty evacuation plans are drawn up for each expedition or project and we have the assistance of a bespoke medical assistance company, linked to the insurance policy for all
participants. In addition, and where possible, we put in place alternative evacuation plans using military and civilian aircraft. Every expedition will have an experienced and qualified medic (doctor, nurse or paramedic) and every expedition or project begins with a period of acclimatisation and training.
Communications
Every expedition or project team is equipped with a satellite phone and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). In some areas we also carry VHF radios. Expedition leaders are in constant contact with the S2Si support network, both in the UK and overseas. In the instances where we use in-country bases, the leaders report on the progress of their expedition to that base. In an emergency they can contact the base or UK support network at any time.
Worldwide network of Advisors and Associates
We have fantastic local contacts throughout the world, as well as up-to-the-minute specialist and detailed knowledge of many countries around the world, and as such are able to offer bespoke expeditions the likes of which you would be hard-pushed to find anywhere else. We have a permanent medical director as well as an outdoor education technical advisor proficient in a host of disciplines including climbing, rope access and river / sea skills. We work with some of the best, most saught-after expedition leaders and medics in the business. S2Si is quite simply able to bring together the very best of the expedition business to operate under a common ethos.
S2Si draws on over two decades of expertise in the expedition and health and safety industry. To complement this experience we have a panel of key advisors which provides our company with a pool of expertise to rival any in the industry. This panel contains health and safety experts and professionals - those that have worked in higher education for many years, outdoor technicians, expedition medics, insurance and legal consultants. Marrying knowledge and experience under one umbrella allows S2Si to draw on this wealth of expertise as and when the need arises at a moments notice. Thus ensuring the company stays ahead of the latest and relevant protocols and has an invaluable resource to refer to.
Government Agencies
S2Si maintains close relationships with the Government, Police, National Security organisations and the British High Commission.
Safety Policy
Our safety policy is based on six main pillars:
- A commitment to running safe expeditions and projects by the S2Si management.
- The use of experienced consultants, expedition leaders, medical staff and project managers.
- Comprehensive and current S2Si Operating Guidelines, issued to all members of staff.
- A commitment to comply with approved voluntary codes: the Young Explorers’ Trust “Guide to Safe and Responsible Expeditions”, “Guidelines for Youth Expeditions” and the YOG’s operating standards for expeditions. S2Si also have a strong ethical and responsible travel policy.
- Adherence to relevant guidelines laid down by UK governing bodies, including the UK Mountain Training Board, British Canoe Union and National Caving Association.
- A comprehensive insurance policy, back-up and advice network.
“At the end of the day you have to put your life in the hands of people like the S2Si team, exactly the same way as you would with surgeons who operate to save your life. If I hadn’t been able to trust everyone implicitly, I wouldn’t have been able to go onto achieve the things I have.”
“The best thing about the expedition was floating downstream in the jungle, in the sunshine, using our packs as buoyancy aids.”