What Is Journey Management and Why Is It Important?
Table of Contents
What is journey management?
Journey management plan
Journey management safety hazards
Lone workers and journey management
Automated check-in system
Emergency safety kit
Prepare vehicle
Leverage technology
Plan route
Make the journey a good one
There are many industries and positions that require employees to travel for their work. This can include healthcare going out into the community to provide care in patients’ homes. Or it can be an oil and gas worker, driving out to a well site to perform an inspection during the winter.
The point is that there are many professions in which traveling is a part of the job. As a result, it is the employer’s responsibility to protect their employees en route to different locations for their work, aka journey management which makes sure that they make it safely to the next location and ultimately back home. In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
The first step to effective journey management is a detailed plan that outlines the potential safety hazards and risks the worker may face on their “journey.”
What is journey management?
Journey management implements plans and protocols to protect these people while traveling. Journey management can address the safety needs of employees who are not only driving for work but also the security needs of those traveling in other ways such as flying and public transit.
Journey management plan
The first step to effective journey management is a detailed plan that outlines the potential safety hazards and risks the worker may face on their “journey.” Like a job site, assess and document all of the safety hazards that could cause harm to the employee. Once the hazards are identified, develop safety strategies and protocols to mitigate these hazards.
Journey management safety hazards
What types of safety hazards can employees face during work travel? If driving, safety hazards can include:
Dangerous road conditions
Extreme weather
Motor vehicle accidents
Vehicular malfunction/damage
Wildlife accidents
Driving fatigue
However, other modes of transportation such as flying and commuting have their own unique hazards (travel fatigue, delays) depending on the circumstances and purpose of the travel.
Lone workers and journey management
Due to the nature of work travel, many of these workers are often driving alone, making themselves even more vulnerable to the safety hazards mentioned above. Lone workers who are traveling can be protected through several proactive occupational safety steps that employers can take now:
Automated check-in system
The primary goal of an automated check-in system is to simply confirm the safety of the employee traveling.
The primary goal of an automated check-in system is to simply confirm the safety of the employee traveling. Such a system requires employees to check in with an assigned monitor or coworker, verifying their well-being with the employer. In a journey management plan, traveling employees can check-in when they reach each destination. If they do not check-in, an emergency will be signaled, requesting immediate help.
Check-in systems can be employed manually, however, these systems are vulnerable to human error as well as large amounts of work time and energy to monitor the safety of these people.
Emergency safety kit
An emergency safety kit should be assembled for all regularly used work vehicles and modes of transportation, particularly during the winter. This kit should include warm clothing and blankets, non-perishable food, flashlight, matches, phone chargers, candles, and whatever items are deemed needed from the hazard assessment.
Regardless of the season and job, an appropriate emergency safety kit must be assembled for the work vehicle. Additionally, more compact emergency kits can be created for travel and commuting which will depend on the existing safety hazards.
Prepare vehicle
In cold and wet conditions, the work vehicle must be mechanically prepared and winterized for the change in seasons. This includes installing winter tires, a tune-up, and of course the emergency kit mentioned above. This even goes beyond winter driving. For hot weather driving, consider accommodations such as air conditioning, protection from sun glare in vehicles (sunglasses, window shades), and water stations at the travel destinations.
For cold and hot conditions, measure the tire pressure as, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “vehicles driving on tires underinflated by more than 25 percent are three times more likely to be involved in a crash related to tire problems than vehicles with proper inflation. And tires underinflated up to 25 percent run the risk of overheating, leading to failure, and at the very least adversely affecting handling and tread life.”
Leverage technology
Workers who may be traveling and driving in areas outside of cellular reception should be equipped with satellite devices that can maintain two-way communication while tracking their location in case of an emergency. Other safety technologies such as automated check-in reminders, fall, and no-motion detection, and panic buttons are also of great benefit to the worker’s safety and well-being.
Plan route
This type of safety technology can also track and plan routes, contributing to effective journey management for the lone worker. Back in the day, routes were planned with paper maps and routes, however, with the advent of safety technology and occupational safety devices, employers and employees can more effectively plan their travels throughout the workday.
Make the journey a good one
Travel, no matter how long or short, can be stressful for any employee. The primary objective of journey management should be to make sure the employee is safe and comfortable during their travel for work. Make the experience as pleasant as possible and the work – and of course, the employee – will benefit.
In conclusion, understanding journey management and its importance is just the beginning. Enhance your team's safety with our comprehensive Lone Worker Safety Solution App, and find a pricing plan that suits your organization's needs at our pricing page. For more insights into creating a safer work environment, explore our article on Workplace Hazards. Together, these resources can help you implement effective safety measures and foster a culture of well-being in your workplace.