Newsletter Articles
April 08, 2011
Cary Primeau
Recreation Coordinator
University of Saskatchewan
As recreation professionals, we all have risk management on our radar – among other duties that our busy jobs entail. Unfortunately, we cannot be all things to all people and often important risk management issues or initiatives fall by the wayside. Rather than lose sight of these important initiatives and day-to-day tasks, effective delegation becomes the key.
Like most Campus Recreation programs, the majority of programming occurs at times when our office is closed, i.e. after the regular office day. Hence at the University of Saskatchewan, a ‘Student Risk Manager’ position has been created which essentially acts as the liaison between what happens in the regular operation of programs, games and other events and the managers of those programs in the office. The Student Risk Manager reports directly to the Facility Manager (who is also the chair of the department’s Risk Management Committee) completing the loop of information-sharing among all programs.
Read more
April 08, 2011
Five Elements for Successful Red Manikin Drill Implementation
Lori K. Miller, Ed.D., J.D.
Sport Law Professor
Sport Management Department
Wichita State University
Shelley C. Rich, M. Ed.
Associate Director of Programs
Aquatics and Risk Management
Wichita State University
Introduction
Recreation literature contains abundant publications addressing risk management and related topics, e.g., risk management plan design, training, implementation, evaluation, and refinement. Similarly, risk management topics often dominate recreational personnel discussions, e.g., meeting agendas, security considerations. However, the actual implementation, staff training, evaluation, and resultant policy modifications often present challenging dilemmas for recreational administrators confronted with risk management responsibilities. This article illustrates an effective risk management practice, i.e., the Red Manikin Drill, that can be adopted and implemented by campus recreation departments desiring to enhance their staff’s response and rescue effectiveness. Five areas important to the Drill’s short- and long-term success are identified below.
Read more
April 08, 2011
An Important Part of Daily Operations
Roger Heimerman
Assistant Director-Facilities/Membership Services
Recreation Services
University of Kansas
It is 10:15pm on a Friday night. The recreation facility closed at 10pm. The Facility Supervisor on duty last checked the locker rooms at approximately 9:45pm. All seemed normal on this Friday night. The facility staff is in a hurry and ready to start their planned Friday night activities. They neglect to check the locker rooms after closing, adopting the attitude that there is little reason to walk downstairs to check this area. The Facility Supervisor and Facility Assistants sign out and exit the facility. Little to their knowledge, a participant had walked into the men’s locker at 9:55pm, placed paper towels over the drains and turned on all ten showers. As you can imagine, water damage to the facility would be quite extensive by the time facility staff arrive next morning!
Read more
April 07, 2011
Katharine M. Nohr, Esq.
Nohr Sports Risk Management, LLC
Sports and recreation facilities are challenged not only with making sure that their sports and activities are operated safely, but also that all public areas, including parking lots, pathways and stairs are free of hazards. This is not an easy task when weather and foliage combine to litter the ground with leaves, pine cones, seeds, branches (and snow!) that patrons can slip or trip on.
Read more
April 07, 2011
Katharine M. Nohr, Esq.
Nohr Sports Risk Management, LLC
Considering the growing trend of obesity, even amongst young people, sports and recreation programs will continue to be faced with training and offering services to the out-of-shape individual. To what extent is a duty owed to protect someone who has not worked out for a long time against the risks inherent in starting up a physical fitness program? Very recently, a California appellate court addressed this issue in Rostai v. Neste Enterprises, 138 Cal.App.4th 326 (2006)
What is the duty owed to protect someone who has not worked out for a long time?
Read more
April 07, 2011
Katharine M. Nohr, Esq.
Nohr Sports Risk Management LLC
Below are summaries from court cases across the nation that are hot off the press, decided in August and September of 2007. As always, when reading summaries of court decisions, it is important to note that this is no substitute for reading the entire decision which includes details of the relevant facts, case law and state and federal statutes that are applicable as well as analysis of the court’s decision. Simply because a court decides something in one case does not mean that it will apply to your situation and so it is important to talk to an attorney licensed in your state if you have any questions.
Read more