Recreation Risk Management - NHRPA Staff Season… · •Play Surfaces: –Bare or uneven surfaces –Ruts and holes –Signs of animals-holes, mounds, etc… –Trash, rocks and

NH Public Risk Management Exchange

Recreation Risk Management


Risk Management

• Risk

– Probability of Harm

– Possibility of Loss

• Management

– Identification

– Analysis

– Mitigation

– Control


Risky Business?


Manage Your Risks!


SUPERVISION



Supervision• Supervision is an integral part of keeping kids safe

– Be alert and attentive

– Be appropriately dressed

– Have a clear line of sight without visual barriers

– Have knowledge of age appropriateness

– Have hazard recognition skills

– Know procedure for reporting hazards and be prepared to respond to

injuries

– Intervene when inappropriate behavior occurs

– Ensure safe children’s clothing

– Develop and enforce rules


EMPLOYEES


Know your employees

• Background checks

• Driving records

• Licensure


Remember, this is a job,

not an extension of school

and social life!

So...


ORIENTATION

• Vision/Values – You represent the City!

• Job Description

• Benefits and Privileges

• Safety Issues

• Time Keeping Procedures

• Personnel Policies & Procedures


SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYEES

MUST ADHERE TO POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES

• There is a reason for policies and procedures

• Violations will be handled accordingly

• Remember - DOL requirements for age-related

work restrictions


TRANSPORTATION


Transportation

• 15 Passenger Vans

• Personal Vehicles

• Busses

• Contract Transportation


Vans - The Problem…

• Tires are often underinflated leading to higher tire temperatures,

faster tire deterioration, and diminished driving stability.

• More passengers and cargo causes the center of gravity to move

upward and rearward, increasing a vehicle’s tendency to roll over

and increasing the potential for the driver to lose control in

emergency maneuvers.

• Fifteen-passenger vans are 3 times more likely to roll over when

loaded with more than 10 passenger vans.


What can you do?• Carry fewer than 10 occupants

• Load occupants from front to back

• Require seatbelt use for each occupant

• Do not load anything on the roof

• inspect tires monthly to check for wear and proper inflation to reduce the risk

of blowout

• Only use drivers that have had specific training on the use of 15-passenger

vans

• Drive at or below the posted speed limit

• Bring another adult to supervise younger passengers so the driver doesn’t

have to


PLAYGROUNDS


Playground Standards and Guidelines

U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission

(CPSC)

“Handbook for Public Playground Safety”

American Society for Testing and Materials

(ASTM)

“Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for

Public Use”


This was then…


This is now…


Why All These Rules?

Playground Injuries-General Findings:

– 70% In Public Locations

– 35-40% In Schools and Public Parks

– 5% each in Apartment Complexes, Commercial (Fast-food Restaurants), Daycare Centers and Preschools.


Playground Injuries and Fatalities

Injuries

• 75% Falls to the Surface from Equipment

• 20% Impact with Equipment (moving and stationary)

• Other: Protruding hardware, entrapment, sharp edges and thermal burns

9 out of 10 “serious” injuries were the result of falls to the surface

Fatalities

• Falls

• Entanglement of Clothing or other items on equipment such as slides

• Head Entrapment

• Impact from Equipment Tip over or Structural Failure

• Impact with Moving Swings


FIELDS & FACILITIES


Just how dangerous are your

Fields and facilities?

• 30% of interscholastic athletes experience an injury resulting in time lost from play each year

• 80 % of these injuries are considered minor

• 20% considered major (more than 3 weeks of lost time from play)

• 49 athletes sustain fatal or catastrophic injuries each year

• Source: National Council of Athletic Training, 1999


General Inspection Guidelines

• Play Surfaces:– Bare or uneven surfaces

– Ruts and holes

– Signs of animals-holes,

mounds, etc…

– Trash, rocks and other

debris

– Exposed sprinkler heads

– Poorly drained areas

– Fencing


Bleachers


Bleacher Standards and Guidelines

U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC)

“Guidelines for Retrofitting Bleachers”

Publication No. 330


Bleacher Guidelines

• Guardrails:

– Present on the backs and portions of the open ends of bleachers where the footboard, seat board or aisle is 30 inches of more above the floor or ground below.

– Top surface of guardrail 42 inches

– Any opening between components of the guardrail or under the guardrail should prevent passage of 4” sphere

– To discourage climbing


Bleachers

-The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

recommends that all bleachers be thoroughly inspected at least

quarterly to identify any structural damage or degradation that could

compromise safety. All problems should be corrected immediately.

Inspections and maintenance should be carried out in a systematic

manner by trained personnel.

-Documentation of these actions, including the date and signature of

the person performing them, should be retained.

-A licensed professional engineer, registered architect, or company

that is qualified to provide bleacher products and services should

inspect the bleachers at least every two years and provide a written

certification at such time that the bleachers are fit for use.


Movable Soccer GoalsCPSC Safety Tips for Movable Soccer Goals:

– Securely anchor or counterweight all moveable soccer goals at ALL times

– Anchor or chain one goal to another, to itself in a folded down position, or to nearby fence posts, dugouts, or any other similar sturdy fixture when not in use

– Remove nets when goals are not in use

– NEVER allow anyone to climb on the

net or goal framework

– Movable soccer goals should only be

used on LEVEL (flat) fields


AQUATICS


Water Safety

Beach and Pool Areas Have Added

Risks:

• Look for physical hazards

• Environmental conditions

• Stay Alert

• Maintain warning signs

• Know the emergency response plan!


Warning Signs

• Minimum Heading: Text size 3".

• Minimum Body: Text size 2".

• Larger text and body size should be

considered to increase readability based on

environmental conditions and sign locations.

• This sign should be placed at park/beach

entrances, changing facilities, and on beach

lifeguard chairs.


For Pools and Beaches:

• While this is a “local policy decision”, the use of well-

trained, certified lifeguards is highly recommended.

• Vigilance, water scanning zones and the ability of

lifeguards to identify and react to emergencies.

• Status signs for example, can indicate whether or

not a lifeguard is on duty and identify other special

considerations such as docks, boating areas, inlets,

underwater obstructions and other hazards etc.


For Pools and Beaches:

• Consider having an AED (automated external defibrillator) available for emergency use.

• Posted rules indicating hours of operation and patron conduct, should also include permitted and non-permitted activities. Emphasize zero tolerance…

• Swimming area boundary and/or depth delineation markers, floating lines or buoys should be in place.

• Emergency notification system to alert bathers… weather conditions, person in distress etc. horns/PA


For Pools:• Diving Boards, springboards and platforms require

sufficient clearances to achieve minimum safe standards. Adequate depth and minimum distances to pool sides from diving boards are paramount to maintain safety.

For Beaches:• Consider all safety concerns for parking areas.

Use well lighted and properly marked walking paths.

• Structures such as lifeguard stations, docks and floating platforms should be checked for splinters, loose boards, nails or other hazards above and below the water surface.


Emergency

Response Plan1) Emergency phone numbers:

• Police

• Fire

• Primex3

• Agency personnel phone/beeper

2) First Aid Kit w/ Rubber Gloves

3) AED and CPR Mask

4) Life Rings, Hooks, Air Horn, Whistles

5) Accident report forms that should include witness info.


Other risk management concerns…• Splashpads

• Ice Arenas / Skating Areas & Ponds

• Skateboard Parks

• Dog Parks

• Bicycle Parks

• Cross Country Ski Areas

• Sledding Hills

• “Special Events / Fundraisers”

**Anything that any of you have dealt with yet…


Weather

Lightning:

• If you can hear it or see it…

Take Cover!

• Minimum of 30 minutes!


COVERAGE


What more can be done?

• Coverage Agreement

• Contracts

• Facilities

• Employees

• Reporting


Familiarize yourself with

the Coverage Agreement

• Avoid activities that are too risky

and/or use proper techniques to

reduce risk

– Inflatables (bounce houses) are not

covered!

• Check with Primex3 when in doubt


Use of Contractors

• Require certificates of coverage:

• General Liability and/or Auto Liability as

appropriate – ask to be named as an

Additional Insured under the contractor’s

policy

• Workers’ Compensation


Contracts

Prior to signing make sure that you:

• Read the contract

• Have your legal counsel and Primex3

review the contract

• Know who has the authority to sign contracts

• Don’t assume another party’s liability before checking with Primex3


Use of Facilities

• Use of facilities procedures are helpful

• Sign a Use of Facilities Agreement with

the party using your facilities

• Request a Certificate of Coverage naming

the town as an additional Insured

• If the third party does not carry insurance

coverage consider TULIP coverage

available through Primex3


Prompt Reporting

• If a loss occurs

report to Primex3

as soon as

practicable!

1-800-698-2364


Primex3

Risk Management Services

• Can Assist you with:

• Loss Analysis- Identifying trends and developing plans for corrective action

• Employee Training- Providing training in skills needed to help employees work safely

• Facility Audits- Identifying physical conditions and work practices that could result in loss


Thank you!

Documents

Recreation Risk Management - NHRPA Staff Season… · •Play Surfaces: –Bare or uneven surfaces –Ruts and holes –Signs of animals-holes, mounds, etc… –Trash, rocks and