World Expedition - Index

World Expedition - booklet - Index

world expeditions & porter protection
Porters are an integral part of the World Expeditions
philosophy and style of travel. As we endeavour to take
people off the beaten track, avoiding the congested trails,
by using porters, trekkers are able to experience our
remote tent-based adventures. Porters are as important to
us as our travellers. Without them, we would not be able
to run our quality programs. When we trek, the entire
group _ travellers, guides and porters alike _ are a team
who share the same needs for safety in the mountain
environment.
For this reason, all World Expeditions porters are provided
with the following:
� A good working wage
� We provide all food for porters
� We provide life insurance cover
� We also provide emergency helicopter insurance
� The most visible sign of this porter protection is the
equipment we provide: wind and waterproof jacket and
over-trousers, 2 pairs of woolen socks, 2 pair of shoes,
woolen gloves, warm cap, crampons if required,
sunglasses, mattress and sleeping bag and tent as well
as cooking utensils, stove and kerosene fuel.
World Expeditions will stand by its commitments and
abide by its porter protection policies because it is the
responsible thing to do. We will continue to campaign to
ensure that all trekking companies adopt similar policies
because we strongly believe the welfare of the entire trek
crew, from porters to the most senior guide, is the
responsibility of the company that sends them out there.
World Expeditions supports the good work of two
international organisations that operate to ensure the health
and well being of porters, they are:
International Porter Protection Group
The International Porter Protect Group’s (IPPG) aim is to
improve health and safety for the trekking porter at work
in the mountains and reduce the incidence of avoidable
illness, injury and death. This is achieved by raising
awareness of the issues among the trekking community
and travel companies, leaders and sirdars.
The higher and the more remote your trek, the better
equipment and shelter you will have to provide. IPPG
(International Porter Protection Group) recommends the
following guidelines that:
� Adequate clothing is made available for protection in
bad weather and at altitude. This should include
adequate footwear, hat, gloves, windproof jacket and
trousers, sunglasses, and access to a blanket and pad
above the snowline.
� Leaders and trekkers provide the same standard of
medical care for porters they would expect themselves.
� Porters not be paid off because of illness without the
leader or trekkers being informed.
� Sick porters are never sent down alone, but rather with
someone who speaks their language.
� Sufficient funds are provided to sick porters to cover the
cost of their land rescue and treatment. Also, we select
strong and experienced porters!