chapter 13 Managing Risk in Leisure Programs Russell & Jamieson

Risk Management Minimizing the threat of accidents, and therefore the risk of lawsuits, is part of the everyday life of programmers. The secret is the management of risk. Risk is the possibility of receiving harm from a hazard. Financial loss to organization Injury to participants, users, visitors, volunteers, and employees (Kaiser & Robinson, 1999)

Risk Management Plan The process of managing risk is called risk management. It involves anticipating what might go wrong, planning ways to avoid something going wrong, and developing ways to respond appropriately when something does go wrong (Riddick & Russell, 1999). This is a proactive approach to safety.

The Risk Management Process Anticipating Planning Responding

Anticipating This step involves risk identification and assessment. Various types of hazards are identified and categorized. A hazard is considered an activity, event, or condition that poses a possibility of harm to the participant.

Five Types of Hazards Environmental Infrastructure Programmatic Natural conditions Infrastructure All facilities, buildings, fields, roads, and trails used Programmatic Occur when activities are not organized and conducted properly Emergency care Transportation Hazards associated with moving participants around

Planning Plan for contingencies and emergencies. Establish rules and regulations. Adopt methods for safety inspections. Conduct in-service training. What should be included in your plan?

Guidelines for Risk Management Plans Adopt a philosophy statement. Pay attention to requirements. Relevant ordinances, professional standards, and regulations Put it in writing. In the form of a risk management manual Conduct regular reviews. An ongoing process

Typical Contents Philosophical statement Policies related to contracts Conduct of programs and services Human resources policies Supervisory functions Emergency response plan Protections against criminal acts Transportation Developed areas and facilities

Responding If the plan is thoroughly prepared, the responding phase usually means simply following through on the emergency and contingency plans. The response protocol outlines the approach taken by program staff in case of an accident or other emergency. (continued)

Responding (continued) The response phase includes reporting. Accident reporting forms are integral to any risk management plan. Accident forms Treatment forms Statistical forms Insurance forms Accident reports should be kept the number of years specified by your governing statute.

Accident Report Form The following information is needed on an accident report: Identification information Location of accident Action of injured Program context Procedures followed in rendering first aid

Conducting Programs With Care In addition to sound risk management procedures, recreation program planners minimize the threat of accidents by ensuring that all programs are conducted with care and consistency. It is the legal responsibility of programmers to understand the participants and to conduct activities in accordance (van der Smissen & Gregg, 1999).

Considerations for Program Conduct Maturity and condition of participants Participants’ physical, mental, emotional, and social capabilities Experience in the activity Format of the program Knowledge of the nature of the program

Supervising Participant Behavior General supervision Overseeing a broad area of activity Maintaining visual and voice contact Maintaining crowd control Specific supervision When skill instruction is involved When participants are young or have little skill When the activity has inherent risk

Supervisory Plan A supervisory plan is a written statement of supervision goals. It includes procedures for managing crowds, demonstrations, traffic, and other public safety matters. Both participant and nonparticipant behaviors should be covered.