SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT! by Tom Harp, Risk Manager and Immediate Past Governor
This June will be the 30th Anniversary of the National Safety Council’s observation of National Safety Month. The month is dedicated to eliminating preventable injuries and deaths in workplaces and everyday life. We as Kiwanians should practice good safety practices and risk management in everything that we do – meetings, fundraisers, and especially service projects. Throughout the month, the NSC offers weekly safety topics and resources. Visit www.nsc.org. One of the topics is “Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls,” the most common cause of personal injuries. And, they are #1 in insurance claims by Kiwanis members under our General Liability policy through Hylant. Kiwanis is fortunate that Hylant processes only 18-24 claims a year. We must be doing something right, yes? Or maybe we have just been fortunate. We are now in a season of increased outdoor activities. With that comes greater risk for the health and safety of Kiwanis members, and those who we serve.
Think about potential injury risks at Kiwanis picnics:
Faulty picnic table stability – has caused injuries especially when youngsters sit on the table, not the benches
Holes in sidewalks or lawns – cause trips and falls, ankle injuries
Riding in motorized equipment – i.e. falling off the back of John Deere Gators
Bounce Houses – not properly staked in, or by allowing more than the recommended children in the house at the same time
Rotten tree branches overhead – could break during heavy winds causing injury to those underneath
Improper handling of food and poor monitoring of safe food temperatures
The list goes on and on. It is important that each club consider appointing a Safety Coordinator. That could be a member in the insurance field or legal services. Or someone that has served as a risk manager or safety officer at some point in his or her career. KI has abundant resources in the area of Risk Management, Just visit https://www.kiwanis.org/members/risk-management/.
The Safety Coordinator is a resource to the club on how to file insurance claims, how to obtain Certificates of Insurance, Hold Harmless Agreements, waivers, and other related matters. Safety Coordinators will work with members of the club to ensure that events are hazard-free. They should be part of the planning process for special events like parades, festivals, and sporting events. Especially events where children are heavily involved.
During the month of June, as District Risk Manager, I will be providing additional articles on best safety practices in this Bi-Weekly Newsletter. At this time, please consider appointing a club Safety Coordinator and forwarding that person’s contact information to Tom Harp, Risk Manager via the Contact Us form and select Risk Manager from the drop down to send a secure message. I would like to build a network of District Club Safety Coordinators to communicate with on a regular basis. Safety is no accident. Accidents are preventable. Good safety practices reduce insurance costs, but more importantly prevents injuries, pain and suffering to our members and those who we serve.
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Risk Management – National Safety Month
SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT!
by Tom Harp, Risk Manager and Immediate Past Governor
This June will be the 30th Anniversary of the National Safety Council’s observation of National Safety Month. The month is dedicated to eliminating preventable injuries and deaths in workplaces and everyday life. We as Kiwanians should practice good safety practices and risk management in everything that we do – meetings, fundraisers, and especially service projects. Throughout the month, the NSC offers weekly safety topics and resources. Visit www.nsc.org. One of the topics is “Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls,” the most common cause of personal injuries. And, they are #1 in insurance claims by Kiwanis members under our General Liability policy through Hylant. Kiwanis is fortunate that Hylant processes only 18-24 claims a year. We must be doing something right, yes? Or maybe we have just been fortunate. We are now in a season of increased outdoor activities. With that comes greater risk for the health and safety of Kiwanis members, and those who we serve.
Think about potential injury risks at Kiwanis picnics:
The list goes on and on. It is important that each club consider appointing a Safety Coordinator. That could be a member in the insurance field or legal services. Or someone that has served as a risk manager or safety officer at some point in his or her career. KI has abundant resources in the area of Risk Management, Just visit https://www.kiwanis.org/members/risk-management/.
The Safety Coordinator is a resource to the club on how to file insurance claims, how to obtain Certificates of Insurance, Hold Harmless Agreements, waivers, and other related matters. Safety Coordinators will work with members of the club to ensure that events are hazard-free. They should be part of the planning process for special events like parades, festivals, and sporting events. Especially events where children are heavily involved.
During the month of June, as District Risk Manager, I will be providing additional articles on best safety practices in this Bi-Weekly Newsletter. At this time, please consider appointing a club Safety Coordinator and forwarding that person’s contact information to Tom Harp, Risk Manager via the Contact Us form and select Risk Manager from the drop down to send a secure message. I would like to build a network of District Club Safety Coordinators to communicate with on a regular basis. Safety is no accident. Accidents are preventable. Good safety practices reduce insurance costs, but more importantly prevents injuries, pain and suffering to our members and those who we serve.
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