Risk Management It’s Our Business

1. Risk ManagementIt’s Our Business District Workshops 4-H Youth Development 2006

2. What is Risk Management? • The process used to protect assets by minimizing the potential for negative outcomes. • “Risk” is the uncertainty about a future event that threatens your organization’s ability to accomplish its mission. • The unexpected things that can happen to the participants, spectators, the properties and reputation of Cooperative Extension.

3. When We Pay Attention to Risk Management Issues… • It becomes an important educational component of our work, focusing on safety and prevention. • Participants can focus on learning in a safe, comfortable environment.

4. Practicing good risk management allows us to focus on achieving our mission.

5. Important Risk Management Terms

6. Terms • Liability: Legally bound or responsible. Something for which one is liable; an obligation, a responsibility, or a debt.

7. Forms of Liability • Negligence Failure to use that degree of care which an ordinary person of reasonable prudence would use under the given or similar circumstances. • Assault and battery The threat to use force upon another and the carrying out of the threat. • False arrest and imprisonment False arrest is an arrest not justifiable under law. Imprisonment is to put in or as if in prison; confine. • Invasion of privacy To encroach or intrude upon personal information or space of an individual that is not open to public life; violate.

8. Forms of Liability • Defamation Defamation is a legal action based on an intentional or reckless public false statement that injures another person's reputation. • Libel A written statement about someone which is personally injurious to that individual. • Slander A spoken statement about someone which is personally injurious to the individual. • Violation of constitutional rights To break, intentionally or unintentionally, the rights guaranteed to individuals by the United States constitution.

9. Risk Management Process

10. Terms – Risk Management Strategies • Reduce: To lessen in extent, amount, number, degree, or price. To gain control of. • Avoid: Taking steps to remove a hazard, engage in an alternative activity, or otherwise end a specific exposure.

11. Terms – Risk Management Strategies • Transfer: Shifting all or part of a risk to another party. Insurance is the most common method of risk transfer, but there are other means, i.e. hold harmless agreements. • Assume: To take upon oneself; undertake

12. Liability Coverage - Staff • Employees have liability coverage, providing: • The duties fall within the scope of your position • Office weekly schedules/calendars need to be completed • Supervisors are notified within a reasonable length of time of a pending action

13. Liability Coverage - Volunteers • In most situations, the volunteer’s personal home owner’s insurance and automobile insurance is considered primary liability insurance

14. Liability Coverage - Volunteers • A majority of Wisconsin counties are insured through one of two mutual insurance companies: • Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation • Wisconsin Mutual Municipal Insurance Corporation • Both companies provide secondary volunteer liability coverage at no additional charge, provided procedures are followed.

15. Volunteer and Member Accident Coverage • Primary accident insurance is highly recommended. • It can be purchased reasonably for individual 4-H events or for a full 4-H year: • American Income Life Insurance is an example. • Note: this is accident insurance, not liability insurance

16. What is My Role?

17. Staff Role • It is up to staff and volunteers planning the program or event to develop a risk management plan • When concerns arise, this might include getting assistance from the county or university who have people in place to provide it.

18. County Government • Usually a person is identified as the risk manager • Ask your Department Head to identify this person • Protocol will vary from county to county

19. UW-Extension • Contact District Liaison or Assistant State Program Leader with questions • Dan Malacara serves as Cooperative Extension’s contact for risk management questions • daniel.malacara@ces.uwex.edu • 608-263-7941

20. Resources • University of WI System Office of Safety and Loss Prevention/Risk Management – http://www.uwsa/edu/oslp/rm/ • Field Trip Waiver • Consent for Medical Administration and Treatment/Health History Questionnaire • General Incident Reporting Form

21. Resources • Non - Profit Risk Management Center – http://nonprofitrisk.org and tools at http://nonprofitrisk.org/tools/tools.htm • Publications, tools, resources, professional development opportunities, advice

22. Resources • UW Extension 4-H Youth Development – http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/resources/mgt/risk.cfm • Risk Management Guidelines • Links to State Statutes • Q & A regarding risk management and insurance • Streaming audio of recent risk management and insurance Wislines • Links to other resources