Risk management
Risk management is a five step process for controlling exposure to health and safety risks associated with hazards in the environment.
In many cases risk management is nothing more than a careful examination of what could cause harm to people at your function/project and:
- weighing up whether you have taken enough precautions or
- should do more to prevent harm, and
- controlling exposure to prevent harm.
The aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill – that everyone returns home in the same condition that they left it. (p.10 Risk Management manual).
Demonstrating Due Dilligence
The due diligence criteria are shown below, with suggestions on how to meet them.
1. Acquiring knowledge of health and safety issues
This can be met by:
- acquiring up-to-date knowledge of the regulations and codes of practice
- investigating current industry issues through conferences, seminars, information and awareness sessions, industry groups, newsletters
- acquiring up-to-date knowledge of work health and safety management principles and practices
- ensuring that work health and safety matters are considered and documented at each corporation, club or association board meeting
2. Understanding operations and associated hazards and risks
This can be met by:
- developing a plan of the operation that identifies hazards in core activities
- ensuring that information is readily available to other Coordinators and workers about procedures to ensure the safety of specific operations that pose health and safety risks.
- continuously improving the Risk Management system.
3. Ensuring that appropriate resources and processes are used to eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety
This can be met by:
- establishing/maintaining safe methods of work
- implementing a risk management system
- recruiting personnel with appropriate skills, including safety personnel
- ensuring staffing levels are adequate for safety in operations
- giving safety personnel access to decision makers for urgent issues
- maintaining/upgrading infrastructure.
4. Implementing processes for receiving and responding to information about incidents, hazards and risks
This can be met by:
- employing a risk management process
- having efficient, timely reporting systems
- empowering workers to cease unsafe work and request better resources
- establishing processes for considering/ responding to information about incidents, hazards and risks in a timely fashion
- measuring against positive performance indicators to identify deficiencies (e.g. percentage of issues actioned within agreed timeframe).
5. Establishing and maintaining compliance processes
This can be met by:
- undertaking a legal compliance audit of policies, procedures and practices
- testing policies, procedures and practices to verify compliance with safety management planning.
6. Verifying the provision and use of the resources mentioned in 1-5.
Club Officers will need to ensure there is a system in place that records and provides evidence of the matters mentioned in 1-5.
Accessing up to date safety information
As part of due diligence requirements, Club Officers need up-to-date knowledge about safety issues. They must also ensure that their employer and workers have ready access to information that will help them to avoid risks and hazards in the workplace. (p.7 Risk Management manual).
Club Safety Coordinators
Why does my Club need a Safety Coordinator?
To answer this question, we need to look at it both from the viewpoint of the Club and the Lions Insurers. There can be little doubt that when the vast majority of Lions Clubs discuss carrying out a Project or Activity, these discussions centre on responsibilities and who will do what. Little, if any, time is spent discussing the safety aspects of the Project or Activity - this is basically why Clubs need to have a Safety Coordinator, to ensure the safety aspects from the Club's point of view are considered and acted upon.
From the Insurers point of view, if some simple safety checks can be performed prior to and during Projects and Activities, this has the potential to dramatically reduce the number of claims made. It also follows that a reduction in claims and therefore, payouts by the Lions' Insurers will help to keep that portion of our Dues needed to pay the Insurance Premiums at, or close to, the current levels.
Also, if some simple safety checks can prevent unnecessary pain and suffering to Lions members, or claims of negligence, surely, we have a genuine responsibility to consider the appointment of Club Safety Coordinators.
What are the consequences of my Club not having a Safety Coordinator, should there be an incident?
It must, at this point be noted, that it is not compulsory for a Club to appoint a Safety Coordinator. However, it is strongly recommended that all Clubs do so, and it has been reinforced by an Action in South Australia, where an injured Member issued an Action against his Club for NOT appointing a Safety Coordinator as recommended.
Common sense dictates that a Club with a Safety Coordinator who carries out and documents simple safety checks must be in a better position to ensure that no-one is injured on a Club Project or Activity. (P.4 Risk Managment manual).