At Engineers Without Borders USA, the health, safety, and well-being of our community partners, volunteers, staff, and supporters is a primary organizational commitment and a core value that guides our work. We believe meaningful engineering service must be carried out responsibly. Safety is not an afterthought; it is embedded into how we design projects, prepare volunteers, evaluate risks, and engage with communities.
Our Commitment to Health, Safety, and Wellness
Our approach emphasizes prevention, preparedness, shared accountability, and continuous improvement. Every EWB-USA project, trip, and event is supported by structured safety planning, clear expectations for conduct, and established response protocols.
Have you experienced a health and safety incident that you would like to report? We have tools available for both those with registered volunteer accounts and those without:
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In 2025 Alone, EWB-USA Supported
854 Travelers
150 In-Person Trips
21 Countries
While travel, both international and domestic, as well as infrastructure work carry inherent risks, our structured systems, trained volunteers, and dedicated support network are designed to proactively manage and mitigate those risks.
Health and safety are shared responsibilities, and every member of our community plays a role.
Health & safetey is a core value
We Value Health, Safety, and Wellness.
We hold paramount the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community partners and volunteers in all we do. We value our organizational culture of safety, responsibility, and accountability that guides our path to high-quality work and achieving our mission.
This commitment underpins our Code of Conduct, governing policies, and project review processes.
EWB-USA’s Health & Safety Program is designed to identify, reduce, and manage risks associated with:
- International and domestic travel
- Engineering design and construction activities
- Community engagement
- Organizational events and operations
The program includes:
- Required pre-travel orientation and preparation
- Project-specific and trip-specific Safety Plans (reviewed prior to travel)
- Designated Health & Safety Officers on each trip
- Established incident reporting processes
- Crisis response protocols
- Partnerships with professional medical and security providers
We foster a culture where safety concerns can be raised without fear of retaliation, and where incidents and near-misses are used as opportunities for learning and improvement.
LEARN MORE
Strong systems matter, but safety ultimately depends on people.
EWB-USA volunteers are expected to prepare themselves physically, mentally, and culturally for the work they undertake. Participants cannot simply arrive on a project and rely solely on personal protective equipment to ensure safety.
Preparation includes:
- Understanding the local climate, culture, and working conditions
- Bringing appropriate clothing and gear
- Following guidance in the approved Project Safety Plan
- Respecting community partners, mentors, and Health & Safety Officers
- Preparing for the physical demands of project activities
- Ensuring that international travel is appropriate and that you are mentally, physically, and emotionally fit to travel
- Speaking up about hazards, concerns, or near-misses
Volunteers choosing to travel with EWB-USA must complete required preparation and due diligence. We know that travel is not appropriate or feasible for all volunteers. Every individual is required to evaluate their own personal risk threshold and obligations outside of travel to determine if it is appropriate for them. There are many meaningful ways to volunteer with EWB-USA that do not involve travel.
EWB-USA has steps in place to help our volunteers, partners, and staff collectively build a strong culture of safety and risk awareness.
If an incident occurs, EWB-USA follows a structured response framework.
Before travel, all participants complete required orientation covering:
- Common risks
- Emergency procedures
- Insurance coverage
- Roles and responsibilities
- Reporting protocols
During travel, designated Health & Safety Officers serve as the first point of contact for any medical, security, or mental health issues. They assess situations and activate appropriate response procedures.
When medical or security assistance is required, services are coordinated through International SOS. EWB-USA staff remain engaged throughout the process to support affected individuals and guide follow-up actions.
Incidents are reviewed internally to strengthen future prevention efforts.
EWB-USA maintains a coordinated support system designed for preparedness and response.
EWB-USA partners with International SOS, a global health and security risk management provider. ISOS supports our volunteers with:
- Pre-travel briefings
- Country-specific medical and security guidance
- Real-time risk monitoring
- 24/7 emergency assistance for medical, security, and mental health support including evacuation during approved trips
- Post-trip support is available for medical or mental health consultation
The HSSC serves as a collaborative, advisory body that provides organizational guidance and subject-matter expertise on safety, security, health, and wellness. The committee supports volunteers and staff in fostering a proactive safety-conscious culture. The HSSC is a resource for both staff and volunteers by providing practical guidance, technical expertise, and peer support related to safety, security, wellness, and organizational risk management. The committee:
- Provides recommendations and technical input to strengthen safety, security, and wellness practices across EWB-USA programs and projects.
- Offer practical and adaptable guidance that can be implemented by staff, professional, and student chapters.
- Support chapters in identifying, assessing, and mitigating health and safety risks during all phases of project work - assessment, implementation, and monitoring and evaluations - for international and domestic projects.
- Upon request, assist in reviewing the project safety and technical plans for the intended scope of work, and provide general travel guidance considering local cultural and environmental factors affecting health and safety.
- Promote integration of safety and wellness considerations into EWB-USA policies, procedures, requirements, and operations.
- Support cultural awareness and contextual understanding as it relates to health, safety, and security.
- Review incidents to identify root causes and recommend corrective measures.
- Develop or review health and safety resources, such as procedures, checklists, and training materials.
- Contribute to training, education, communication initiatives to enhance awareness and preparedness.
- Assist with the preparation of Job Safety Analysis.
Contact: healthandsafety@committees-ewb-usa.org
EWB-USA’s internal Crisis Response Team is prepared to respond to incidents affecting volunteers or partners. The team evaluates emerging risks, coordinates with legal counsel, and ensures coordinated communication and support during incidents. The Crisis Response Team goes through rigorous training and the team conducts tabletop exercises at least 3 times a year. Our volunteers, communities, clients, employees, management, financial supporters, academic institutions, industry peers, and others should be confident that EWB-USA has the capacity to handle any crisis quickly and professionally.
EWB-USA maintains appropriate insurance coverage, including general liability and travel-related policies. Additional information is available to volunteers through Volunteer Village.
If an incident occurs, EWB-USA follows a structured response framework.
Before travel, all participants complete required orientation covering:
- Common risks
- Emergency procedures
- Insurance coverage
- Roles and responsibilities
- Reporting protocols
During travel, designated Health & Safety Officers serve as the first point of contact for any medical, security, or mental health issues. They assess situations and activate appropriate response procedures.
When medical or security assistance is required, services are coordinated through International SOS. EWB-USA staff remain engaged throughout the process to support affected individuals and guide follow-up actions.
Incidents are reviewed internally to strengthen future prevention efforts.
EWB-USA travel is purposeful and impact-driven. Trips support activities such as:
- Community engagement
- Data collection and technical assessment
- Assessment, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation
Teams typically consist of 3–8 volunteers traveling 4–21 days, aligned with approved technical plans
While this list is not exhaustive, depending on factors such as location and program, travel approval may include the following:
- Background checks
- Two Travel Mentors
- Approved technical and safety plans
- Designated Health & Safety Officers
- Required orientation completion
- Cultural and contextual preparation
If you are not currently affiliated with a chapter, explore volunteer opportunities to get involved.
How to Report and Incident
Incident Reporting and Accountability
EWB-USA encourages timely reporting of all incidents and near-misses. Reporting strengthens our organization by helping us identify trends, reduce recurring risks, and reevaluate policies, procedures, and protocols in an effort to continuously improve our systems.
Incidents may include:
- Medical issues (e.g., dehydration, gastrointestinal illness, allergic reactions)
- Environmental exposure (heat, cold, altitude)
- Construction-related injuries (sprains, lacerations, falls)
- Mental health concerns
- Security incidents (e.g., petty crime)
- Conduct-related concerns
Most reported incidents are minor and manageable; however, all reports are reviewed seriously to improve prevention efforts
Harassment, Misconduct, and Safeguarding
EWB-USA is committed to providing an environment free from harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct.
Our governing policies include:
- Anti-Harassment Policy
- Anti-Retaliation (Whistleblower) Policy
- Non-Discrimination Policy
- Child and Vulnerable Person Safeguarding Policy
- Anti-Human Trafficking Policy
- Cyberbullying Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commitment
Harassment is defined as unwelcome verbal, physical, or visual conduct based on a protected characteristic. Misconduct includes behavior that substantially disregards EWB-USA’s interests or violates our Code of Conduct.
All reports are handled confidentially and investigated according to established procedures.
ARE YOU A COMMUNITY
We accept applications form community-based organizations that have demostrated need in one or more of our six project types.
