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Expatriate Safety
Abroad
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Expatriate Safety Abroad

 Provide expatriates with general training about traveling, living

abroad, and the place they’re going to, so they’re more oriented when
they get there.

 Tell them not to draw attention to the fact they’re Americans (for
instance) —by wearing flag emblems or T-shirts with American
names.

 Have travelers arrive at airports as close to departure time as

possible and wait in areas away from the main flow of traffic where
they’re not as easily observed.
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Safety and Fair Treatment

Abroad Contd'

 Equip the expatriate’s car and home with

adequate security systems.

 Tell employees to vary their departure and arrival

times and take different routes to and from work.
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Safety and Fair Treatment

Abroad Contd'

 Keep employees current on crime and other problems

by regularly checking. These provide up-to-date
information on possible threats in almost every
country of the world.

 Advise employees to remain confident at all times:

Body language can attract perpetrators, and those
who look like victims often become victimized.
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 When faced with accident, injury, sudden

illness, a disease outbreak or politically
unstable conditions in which personal
safety is at risk, expatriate employees
and their dependents may require
evacuation to the home country or to a
third location.
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 To be prepared, HR should have an

evacuation plan in place that the
expatriate can share with friends,
extended family and colleagues both at
home and abroad.
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 Health risks:
 infectious diseases (malaria, Ebola, hepatitis…),
 epidemics (cholera, meningitis…),
 low quality local medical facilities,
 low amount of local medical facilities,
 difficult access to medication,
 poor sanitary conditions.
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 Security risks

 criminality (attacks, fraud…)

 hostage-taking,
 terrorism,
 piracy on land and at sea,
 presence of landmines,
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 other risks related to the political and

social situation (coup d’état, civil war…).

In addition to these health and security risks,

there sometimes are natural risks such as
earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons or other
types of natural disasters.
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 What are the safety issues for expatriate

women?
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 Imitate local women’s dress codes. If you are

unsure about what kind of clothing to wear, err
on the side of caution and dress conservatively.
 Don’t walk alone at night.
 Don’t hitchhike, and don’t use unlicensed taxis.
 Know where you are going (carry a map, a
business card of your hotel with directions, etc.).
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 Refuse unwanted advances politely but firmly.

Repeated references to your husband or
fiancé might help – even if he’s fictional.
 Wearing a wedding ring might be a good idea,
too – including a fake one. Avoid ostentatious
and expensive jewellery, though.
 Don’t use recreational drugs.
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 When you go out, don’t leave your drink

unattended.
 Try to avoid leaving a venue with a
stranger you have only just met.
 Don’t give out personal details, e.g. your
address or the number of your hotel
room.
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 In your groups, come up with 10 important

safety tips for expatriates working in:

 Lagos State- Group One

 Jos, Plateau State- Group Two
 Warri, Delta State- Group Three

 You are expected to explain the importance

of each tip in your presentation.