Tip of the Month - October 2003

TAKE A WALK-ABOUT FOR SAFETY

Special events differ from normal operations of your nonprofit and require that special attention be paid on the “day of.” Your safety committee can go on “walk-abouts” before, during and after the event to increase safety for staff, volunteers, participants and spectators. The “walk-abouts” allow a thorough double-checking of the premises to make certain as many hazards as possible have been modified or eliminated. 

The first walk-about starts just before the doors open—when everything is set up and there’s still time to make corrections—but before the participants arrive. One method is to start in the middle of the site and work outward in concentric circles, looking for anything that could cause an accident. The committee members need to mentally don the shoes of the participants: fearless toddlers, high-energy teens, the exhausted sandwich generation, cautious senior citizens, and the physically or mentally challenged. Have committee members look high and low and in-between. If they spot an accident-waiting-to-happen, they should remedy the situation.

During the event, your committee members should conduct continuous walk-abouts to spot and correct any hazards or deficiencies that develop as the event is in progress. There might be spilled foods or beverages, loose carpets, cords that have come loose, people who’ve gone over their alcohol limit, or dangerously crowded areas to name a few. The committee’s vigilance may remedy potential embarrassments or lawsuits before they occur.

After the event, the committee should monitor the participants and spectators as they leave, and the tear down and clean up of the site. They should also do a final review and report whether or not there are any changes to the site that could be invoiced as damages, and the extent of those damages.

Read more about this topic in Managing Special Event Risks, 10 Steps to Safety, published by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, www.nonprofitrisk.org.

View Past Tips of the Month

May 2004 - One Million Minnesotans Can See Your Form 990
April 2004 - Avoid Unexpected Cost of Directors, Officers, and Organizational Liability
March 2004 - Strategies for Reducing Operating Costs
February 2004 - What Can Nonprofits Due During an Election Cycle
January 2004 - Celebrate Your Nonprofit
November 2003 -Get Your Board on Board
October 2003- Take a Walk-About for Safety
September 2003- Exit Interviews-Learn from those who Leave
August 2003 - Participant Waivers: The Good the Bad and the Ugly
July 2003 - Practical Tips for Reference Checking
June 2003 - Evaluating Your Insurance Professional 
May 2003 - Supervising Volunteers
April 2003 - Protect Your Assets with Sound Internal Controls
March 2003 - Teaching Computer Users to Surf Safely
February 2003 - Involve Clients in Protecting Their Own Safety
January 2003- Managing the Risk of Board Discontent

Learn how to manage your organization's risk.
More about the Nonprofit Risk Management Center
View the Top 10 Signs Your Nonprofit Needs to Start Doing Something about Risk Management