BS 8848

BS 8848: A British Standard for Overseas Activities

2006 has seen the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), the British Standards Institute and a wide variety of schools, universities and industry experts drafting a new set of standards for the provision of overseas adventurous activities, expeditions, visits and fieldwork.

It is focused on educational, training or recreational trips outside the United Kingdom and is applicable to trips arranged by commercial companies, educational establishments or voluntary and charitable organisations. Rather than simply more red tape, British Standards are voluntary and this Standard should be seen as a "best practice" guideline in safety management systems that will enable these activities to flourish.

Having recently gone to public consultation, the proposed amendments are currently being considered by the technical panel with a view to launching the finalised Standard within the first quarter of this year. Details should be posted on the RGS Geography Outdoors website (formerly known as the Expedition Advisory Centre) at www.rgs.org/bsi