SAFETY ISSUES

Those schools and clubs which organise their own tours put themselves much in the same position as supplier travel companies, responsible wholly for health and safety, and possibly subject to the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.  If they use a tour operator, then they are in effect the customer and entitled to all the protection afforded by the health and safety laws, contract law, trade description legislation and the package holiday regulations.

Using a tour operator means that a great deal of pressure is removed from the leader and the accompanying staff.  The leaders, and other adults, retain the overall pastoral care of the children, but this is something that teachers and team coaches do all day long!  For the school, the employing organisation (usually the LEA) will still have legal responsibility for the health and safety of the group, but will in effect share that responsibility with the Tour Operator.

As a tour operator, we have developed a Safety Management System, which will ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken to protect your tour monies and the well being of your group.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Your group’s safety is our first priority.  We are committed to providing our groups with the highest possible standards for safety and financial security.  Our focus on Safety Management, working with tour leaders to meet their own local risk assessments, is one of the main reasons we enjoy strong repeat business.  Although we cater for a diverse range of tours for adult, young adult school and children’s groups, all tour leaders can be assured of the following:

Financial

1) Team Sports International Travel Ltd trading as Breakaway Tours is a Member of ABTA – V6881, and holds an Air Travel Organisers Licence – 4033, from the CAA.  See our website for details of our Financial Protection.

2) Team Sports International Travel Ltd. trading as Breakaway Tours has Public Liability Insurance of £2,000,000.

3) Team Sports International Travel Ltd trading as Breakaway Tours has Professional Indemnity Insurance of £1,000,000.

Travel Insurance

Team Sports International Travel Ltd trading as Breakaway Tours offers Travel Insurance to all groups including cover for sports injuries where appropriate.

Suppliers

a)      Accommodation. 

• Accommodation that we use on a regular basis will have been visited by a representative of Breakaway Tours and inspected as to its suitability for School and Junior groups.  Where we are using accommodation for the first time, we will let you know.  However, we will confirm that all accommodation conforms to local and national fire, safety and hygiene standards.  We will also confirm that the accommodation has Public Liability Insurance.
• We will obtain a copy of the Fire Certificate, or, equivalent local documentation.
• We will obtain a copy of the current liability insurance policy.
• Where possible we will obtain a copy of the current hygiene certificate.

b)      UK Coaches. 

• We will obtain a copy of each coach company's Operating Licence, together with their Motor Vehicle Insurance and Public Liability Insurance. 
• We will endeavour to select coach operators who belong to recognised bodies such as the Confederation of Passenger Transport, Guild of British Coach Operators or are Coach Marque accredited operators.

c)      Non-UK Coaches. 

• We will confirm that Non-UK coach operators comply with all applicable national, local, trade or other laws, regulations, rules and codes of practice. 
• We will obtain a copy of each coach company's Operating Licence, together with their Motor Vehicle Insurance and Public Liability Insurance.

d)      Airlines.  Flights from Britain are regulated by the Department of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority.  Flights originating in other jurisdictions are governed by the laws and regulations of the country in question.  The European Union has established a Community List of Carriers banned by the European Community.

e)      Rail Transportation.  All rail transport is regulated nationally.

f)       Ferry and Eurotunnel.  All ferries (and Eurotunnel) are regulated nationally. 

g)      Public Transport.  All public transport is regulated nationally. 

h)      Services secured by Agents and Ground Handlers. 

• Accommodation.  We shall ensure that accommodation provided by an agent or ground handler has a current Fire Certificate or local equivalent, the appropriate insurance cover and we will endeavour to obtain a hygiene certificate.
• Transport.  We shall ensure that coach services provided by an agent of ground handler will comply with all applicable national, local, trade or other laws, regulations, rules and codes of practice. 

i)        Visits and Excursions.  We will use reasonable endeavours to obtain evidence from providers of visits and excursions that are included in our tours

• Evidence that health and safety has been evaluated.
• An outline of potential remaining risks which the provider wished to bring to the attention of school and youth groups.

j)        Activities. 

• We will ensure where possible that all activity providers, (ie. white water rafting) are licensed in their own country and hold the appropriate qualifications.  Where this is not possible, we will let you know.

k)     Sports Matches. 

• We will ensure that all match arrangements are with clubs or schools that are members of their local or national association.
• Where possible we will obtain a copy of the venue’s current liability insurance policy.
• We will attempt to ensure that fixtures are only arranged with a team or players of comparable age, standard and ability.  We will send you a Team List to fill in including the date of birth of each player.  A copy of this will be sent to the person responsible for the match at the opposition club or school.

l)        Pre-tour Safety Guide.  We will provide a Breakaway Tours comprehensive Pre-tour Safety Guide to all groups prior to travel.

m)    Group Leaders Inspection Visits.  We can arrange an Inspection Visit to your chosen destination.

Emergency Cover

We can be contacted at any time should you have an Emergency. 

Parental Consent Forms

It is worth considering in the Parental Consent Form a note explaining that it is not possible for anyone to guarantee 100% safety, but that the leader and colleagues will retain the overall pastoral responsibility that they have when teaching pupils or coaching players, and which is well established in law.  The law requires teachers to do everything reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of everyone in the party, and the leaders will use their skills and experience as adults and teachers to protect the health, safety and welfare of those in their care.