Risk Management
The Importance of
Risk Management
“All activities have risk…
safe does not mean the
absence of risk.”
- US Supreme Court
Safeguard your students from harm
Safeguarding Your Students?
List 5 examples
of negligence in
this situation
To avoid being found negligent

Provide duty of care

Manage risks

Reduce the likelihood of accidents
What is Risk Management?

Acknowledging the possibility that future
events may cause harm, injury or damage

Indentifying what
those risks are

Eliminating or
minimizing those
risks
Goals of Risk Management

Recognize potentially problematic situations

Reduce the number of accidents

Be prepared for
contingencies

Monitor and adjust
as situations
change
4 Steps for Managing Risks
Step 1: Risk Identification
Step 2: Risk Evaluation
 Prioritize
 Eliminate
/ reduce
Step 3: Risk Resolution
Step 4: Risk Control
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
Emergency Action Plan
Know:

whom to call

the phone numbers to call

the address of the facility

the docks and marina

students’ medical information
3 terms to be familiar with
Duty of Care
Negligence
Liability
Duty of Care
To do something a reasonably careful
person would do in a similar situation
OR
To not do what a reasonably careful
person would not do
Duty of Care

Instructors have a Duty of Care to
their students

Your students are your #1 priority
Duty of Care
Don’t Exceed your Training
A Few Thoughts on
“Duty of Care”
You are the leader,
the decision maker for
the entire group
Sir Ernest Shackleton
You will never regret an error
on the side of caution. You will
forever regret an error of omission.
Only push your students, equipment,
the environment, and yourself as far
as you know they can go
Plan and Practice for Crises
Plan
Practice
BoatUS photo
Negligence
Failure to do something a reasonably
careful person would do
OR
Not doing something a reasonably careful
person would do
To the Left or to the Right?
Negligence

Failure in “duty of care”

The negligence of the person in charge
must be cause of the injury
Liability
=
Failure in “Duty of Care”
Negligence
Liability
There are Many Types of
Harassment
Harassment
Sexual
 Sexual orientation
 Gender
 Ethnic origin
 Disability
 Age
 Environmental

As an instructor, you are
vulnerable to charges
of harassment
or abuse
Instructors Must

Be aware of what is appropriate
interaction with a student

Learn how to safely and responsibly
interact with students

Learn to protect themselves against
misinterpretations
Inappropriate Touch
Appropriate Touch
Appropriate Touch

Avoid isolated situations

Don’t initiate physical contact

Play it safe

Use good judgment
Protecting Yourself

Have an established action plan

Good record keeping

Employer insurance - ask to see it

Personal insurance

US SAILING Instructor insurance
US SAILING Instructor Insurance

$10,000,000 limit per occurrence

Your employer must have primary coverage

Instructor certification must be current –
renew every three years

Current membership, First Aid and CPR

Valid USCG license (if required)
Conclusion
Despite our precautions accidents can still
happen.
Even though you performed as well as
anyone could have, it is possible for a
judge to award damages against you.
Confidence & satisfaction come from
knowing that you have done everything
you could have.
Risk Management in boating is
essentially common sense.
Good Luck!