ISO 31030:2021 – Managing Travel Risk in a Global Landscape

As businesses and not-for-profit organisations expand their reach across regions and continents, travel has become more than just a logistical necessity—it's a strategic enabler. However, with this increased mobility comes greater exposure to risk. ISO 31030:2021 offers vital guidance on how organisations can manage those risks and fulfil their duty of care to staff.

Why Travel Risk Management Matters

Whether it's for client meetings, fieldwork, audits, or technical inspections, travel is integral to modern operations. But it also brings a range of potential risks—some obvious, others less so. These can include:

• Personal safety threats (accidents, illness, crime, terrorism)

• Cyber and information security vulnerabilities

• Reputational and financial risks

• Impacts on productivity and business continuity

• Legal and compliance exposures

When travelling to unfamiliar environments—particularly where there's no local presence—these risks can multiply. Natural disasters, political unrest, health crises, and even cultural differences can all compromise the safety, wellbeing, and effectiveness of travelling personnel.

Yet, despite these challenges, travel risk management often lags behind other areas of organisational risk management.

Enter ISO 31030

To help organisations address this gap, ISO 31030:2021 – Travel Risk Management – Guidance for Organizations was developed. It offers a structured framework for identifying, assessing, treating, and reviewing travel-related risks, building on the risk management principles set out in ISO 31000:2018.

The standard encourages organisations to take a proactive, risk-based approach to travel—not just reacting when something goes wrong. It promotes planning, preparation, and policies that are embedded into wider risk and health & safety systems, including alignment with ISO 45001:2018.

Who Can Use It?

ISO 31030 is designed to be applicable across all sectors and sizes of organisation, including:

• Commercial companies

• Charities and non-profits

• Government departments

• NGOs

• Educational institutions

It's important to note, however, that ISO 31030 is not intended for tourism or leisure-related travel.

Benefits of Implementing ISO 31030

Organisations that adopt ISO 31030 stand to gain in several ways:

• Protecting people, assets, data, and IP

• Reducing exposure to legal and financial liabilities

• Enabling operations in higher-risk or remote areas

• Enhancing business continuity and resilience

• Demonstrating due diligence to stakeholders

• Boosting employee confidence in the organisation's travel protocols

• Supporting sustainability goals through improved social responsibility

• Improving competitiveness and lowering insurance premiums

In essence, ISO 31030 helps ensure that travel delivers value—not disruption.

The Story Behind the Standard

ISO 31030 was developed by Working Group 7 (WG7) of ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 262, with leadership from Convenor Kevin Myers and support from David Adamson (BSI, UK). The standard was in development from June 2018 and officially published in September 2021.

Final Thoughts from ITICP

At the Institute of Testing, Inspection and Certification Professionals, we recognise the importance of embedding strong risk management practices in every operational context—including travel. ISO 31030:2021 represents a vital tool for any organisation sending people into the field, whether it's down the road or across the world.

By adopting this standard, you don't just manage risk—you build trust, resilience, and professionalism into your organisation's DNA.