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High Risk Guidance
High Risk Guidelines

Definition of High Risk
High Risk is defined as a significantly higher than normal risk of death or serious injury resulting from:
 
Hostile Environments - a country, region or specified area subject to war, insurrection, civil unrest, terrorism or extreme levels of crime, banditry, lawlessness or public disorder; or areas with extreme climate or terrain.
 
Travel Advisory Areas - Countries that have specific safety or security risks not amounting to a Hostile Environment. Staff who are unfamiliar with the environment should take advice from the High Risk team or local bureau.
 
High Risk Activities - investigations involving covert surveillance or filming and/or confrontation of terrorist, serious criminal, extremist or violent political groups.
 
High Risk Events - riots, civil disturbance or extreme public disorder, terrorist or armed criminal incidents such as hi-jacking or sieges, any event involving chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) substances, extreme climatic events and natural disasters such as hurricanes, severe floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. or outbreaks of serious diseases and pandemics.
 
Scope
The High Risk Guidelines apply to:
  • all BBC productions and independent productions commissioned by the BBC;
  • all divisions including commercial divisions, World Service, BBC Monitoring and the World Service Trust;
  • all contracted BBC staff and freelancers working on BBC projects, all sub-contractors and consultants engaged by the BBC;
  • Co-productions where the BBC is fully funding or funding the major share of investment in the production.
Right to Decline
There is no compulsion to undertake high risk work. Staff undertake high risk work on a completely voluntary basis and have the right to decline such work without penalty or any other detrimental consequence.
 
Information and Advice
All staff planning high risk work should first seek advice from the High Risk Team.
 
The High Risk Team maintain a schedule of hostile environments on the Country Pages  which is regularly updated in consultation with regional bureaux. Countries listed as 'Hostile Environment' require the special provisions in these guidelines to be applied. These Guidelines do not apply to places listed as 'Travel Advisory', but staffs who are unfamiliar with these places should contact the High Risk Team for advice.
 
The High Risk Team will assist with the Risk Assessment process and provide advice on how to minimise risks including:
  • Recommended methods of operating
  • Individual and team security measures
  • Protective equipment, first aid and trauma equipment
  • Preventative health measures
  • Safety communications
  • Contingency planning
Risk Assessment and Assignment Details
All high risk work must be covered by a specific Risk Assessment. Frequent deployments of a similar nature, for example by regional bureaux staff into a frequently visited hostile environment where there has been no significant change in the situation, may be covered by generic risk assessment, but normally a new and specific risk assessment should be completed. If in doubt, the High Risk Team can advise.
 
It is the responsibility of the producer in charge or senior staff member in the team to ensure the risk assessment is completed.
 
The risk assessment should identify all the potential hazards likely to be encountered and the measures to be taken to counter those and give details of all those exposed to those risks (including where appropriate contributors, members of the public or staff indirectly affected by the activity).
 
The Assignment Outline should provide full details of the deployment including:
  • Personal details of all those involved (including blood groups and next of kin contact details);
  • communication systems to be used and 24hr emergency contact numbers in the field and at base with communication schedules if necessary;
  • personal protective equipment to be taken (body armour, helmet etc.);
  • medical equipment to be taken (trauma pack, personal first aid kit, sterile needle kit);
  • confirmation that each individual to be assigned has received appropriate training;
  • confirmation that all those involved are up to date with required immunisations and have the necessary preventative medicines for the region;
  • contingency plans including medical emergency, becoming lost, losing communications or being detained or kidnapped;
The Assignment Outline and Risk Assessment details are combined in a single form (see Related Links).
 
Traumatic Stress
The Risk Assessment and arrangements for high risk work must address the psychological and emotional effect on those involved. It should also be remembered that it may not only be the staff in the field who are affected but also those editing and handling material back at base.