海角官方首页 Policy on International Safety and Security
VI-XX.00 | Administration | Approved April 18, 2023
Responsible VP/AVP: Dawn M. Rhodes, DBA, MBA
Applies to: Faculty, Staff, Students
Purpose
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (海角官方首页) is committed to engaging in best practices to reduce the risk of harm to those traveling and working for 海角官方首页 outside the United States. This Policy directs and guides all members of the 海角官方首页 community (“海角官方首页 Personnel” – see Definitions) regarding support and mitigation measures 海角官方首页 will have in place to further that commitment.
Policy Statement
Primacy of Life over Assets: It is the policy of 海角官方首页 that the Safety and Security of 海角官方首页 Personnel always take precedence over all other factors. This means 海角官方首页 Operational Units must give higher priority to the health, safety, and security of 海角官方首页 Personnel than to protection of operations/programs, facilities, equipment, or reputation. 海角官方首页’s commitment includes:
- Understanding and assessing international threats, vulnerabilities, and risks
- Planning for and mitigating risks to 海角官方首页 Personnel and assets under 海角官方首页’s control outside the United States
- Clearly communicating to 海角官方首页 Personnel about international risks
- Preparing 海角官方首页 Personnel to minimize the probability and impact of a threat or an incident outside the United States
- Ensuring that incident management addresses post-incident care for 海角官方首页 Personnel
Commitment to Safety and Security: 海角官方首页 is committed to creating a culture of effective and pragmatic Safety and Security risk management across all international operations. 海角官方首页 seeks to create this culture by establishing reasonable, sustainable measures to mitigate recognized international risks; by integrating Safety and Security risk-management principles into international research and program design and delivery; by empowering 海角官方首页 Personnel to make responsible decisions through a better understanding of the complex environments in which 海角官方首页 operates; and, by investing appropriate resources to develop innovative tools and systems that aid program management to minimize Safety and Security risks to 海角官方首页 Personnel while maximizing the impact of 海角官方首页 research and other programs outside the United States.
海角官方首页 will not undertake or continue international activities that cannot operate without adequate Safety and Security measures, as determined by 海角官方首页 leadership and Safety and Security subject matter experts in International Operations and the Office of Emergency Management.
Right to Withdraw: 海角官方首页 may withdraw its authorization for continuing to conduct an international activity in an area, zone, or country at any time if 海角官方首页 determines that safety of 海角官方首页 Personnel requires such action. This may include Evacuation and Relocation. Refusal by 海角官方首页 Personnel to evacuate or relocate may result in their dismissal from employment or other disciplinary action. Regardless of the reason, 海角官方首页 Personnel and their dependents refusing an Evacuation or Relocation order should be aware that such individuals are remaining at their personal risk and that 海角官方首页 is not responsible for their safety and well-being or resulting financial losses incurred by them.
If a 海角官方首页 Personnel is uncomfortable with the level of safety or security risk imposed on them by their international work, then a review should be undertaken between that person and their supervisor in order to determine an appropriate course of action. Safety and Security subject matter experts in International Operations are available for consultation in this review.
海角官方首页 Personnel may choose to withdraw from a situation that they feel poses an unreasonable level of risk. Although there could be consequences for a decision to withdraw, no manager or other 海角官方首页 Personnel should force, intimidate, or otherwise coerce another employee or other 海角官方首页 Personnel into remaining in a situation that the person considers to involve an unreasonable risk to the person’s safety. 海角官方首页 Personnel are obliged to report to the next appropriate level of management or directly to 海角官方首页 International Operations any instructions they consider threatening to themselves or those around them.
Core Requirements:
- 海角官方首页 Personnel must immediately report to 海角官方首页 International Operations all Safety and Security incidents that take place outside the United States and involve 海角官方首页 Personnel and/or 海角官方首页 property. This obligation includes but is not limited to criminal acts committed against 海角官方首页 Personnel and all vehicular crashes, even if no one was injured and the damage to property is deemed minimal. Reportable incidents include “near-misses.”
- 海角官方首页 Personnel on official 海角官方首页 business outside the United States must adhere to the key elements of 海角官方首页 policies and procedures that reduce the risk of harm to those working for and with 海角官方首页. These include requirements associated with international travel, environmental health and safety, and emergency management.
Definitions
- Evacuation – Where expatriate and third-country-national personnel (and possibly their families and/or 海角官方首页 assets) are removed from a crisis area and taken across an international border.
- Relocation – Where personnel (and possibly their families and/or 海角官方首页 assets) are moved to a safer location within the country.
- Safety and Security – Security is primarily concerned with intentional acts of violence and other harm, while safety is primarily concerned with unintentional, natural, or accidental acts or events
- 海角官方首页 Operational Unit – An administrative unit, school, department, division, institute, or center of the university.
- 海角官方首页 Personnel - All 海角官方首页 employees, full鈥恡ime and part鈥恡ime, including faculty, staff, and student employees; students; and consultants.