CHAPTER 11
RISK MANAGEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PURPOSE ..........................................................................................................................2
RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY ....................................................................................2
SAFETY COMMITTEE ...................................................................................................2
RESPONSIBILITIES OF RISK MANAGER.................................................................2
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING AND DISPOSING
OF CLAIMS & LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY .............................................3
EMPLOYEE SAFETY ......................................................................................................3
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) .......................................................3
OFFICE SAFETY ..............................................................................................................3
HOUSEKEEPING .............................................................................................................3
VEHICLE SAFETY ..........................................................................................................4
ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CITY VEHICLES .............................................................4
PARKS MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................4
SIDEWALKS .....................................................................................................................4
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES (TCD) PROGRAM..................................................4
SEWER UTILITY .............................................................................................................4
WATER UTILITY MAINTENANCE PROGRAM .......................................................5
HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM ................................................................5
RESPIRATOR PROGRAM .............................................................................................5
CONFINED SPACES ........................................................................................................5
FORKLIFT OPERATION ...............................................................................................5
SCHOOL PROPERTY .....................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 11
RISK MANAGEMENT
1. PURPOSE
Safety is the exercise of good judgment. Using safe habits at work will protect you, your fellow
workers and your family from needless suffering and financial loss. Accidents will happen even
in the safest work environments, but the guidelines contained herein should help to minimize
accidents and/or their impacts on people if allowed. The guidelines contained herein should not be
considered all-inclusive. Departments have additional rules and procedures which cover hazardous
operations that employees should inquire of their supervisors.
2. RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY
It is the policy of the city to minimize the long term cost to the city of accidental losses and their
consequences by providing for the identification, measurement, prevention and control of risks.
City goals include providing municipal services and a place of employment free from hazards and
to help protect the community from sustaining losses. In fulfilling this goal, the city has established
a Risk Management Program under the direction of a Safety Committee or a Risk Management
Committee.
All city operations will be conducted to avoid, eliminate, reduce, transfer and manage the risks
associated with them. The Risk Management Program consists of three steps: First, potentially
hazardous situations are identified; Second, the risk is evaluated and corrective action is identified;
Third, the corrective action is later evaluated for effectiveness. All Risk Management policies must
be in compliance with Utah Administrative Code / Risk Management, Title 63A-4-101, 102, 103,
104 and 63A-4-201, 202, 203, 204.5, 205.5, 206, 207.
3. SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Safety Committee or Risk Management Committee shall implement and coordinate the city’s
Risk Management and Safety Program. The committee will meet regularly to review and make
recommendations regarding claims against the city; accidents involving city owned, operated or
leased vehicles; programs, policies or other activities that assist employees in reducing the city’s
exposure and liability claims. The committee should include Department Heads or Directors,
Supervisors and/or Superintendents, and any other personnel assigned by management.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF A RISK MANAGER
The Risk Manager will be a resource and assist the Safety Committee or Risk Management
Committee, Department Heads or Directors, Division Managers and employees in the
implementation
Chapter 11 - Risk Management
Page 2
of risk management and safety programs in their area. The Risk Manager will organize risk
management activities and training for departments, as well as the follow up and follow through
with assignments given and/or recommended by the Safety Committee.
5. PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING AND DISPOSING OF CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS
AGAINST THE CITY
It is the policy of the city that claims and lawsuits against the city or its employees be handled in
an expedient manner and through proper claims and lawsuit procedures. All claims presented to
the city should be filed on a city claim form with all written documents and pictures submitted to
the Risk Claims Manager. Claims should be filed immediately after the incident occurs. All claims
against the city must be filed within one (1) year from the time the claim arose. All lawsuits filed
against the city must follow correct legal procedures. Lawsuits against the city are filed with the
City Recorder and notification given to the City Attorney’s office, the Risk Manager and the city’s
insurance company.
6. EMPLOYEE SAFETY
All employees are responsible for compliance with safety procedures, standards and rules outlined
in the Safety Manual provided by their Department Head or other applicable directives that are
established by the city Risk Manager or the employees Department Director to prevent injury to
themselves and others or damage to equipment and property. Employees are also responsible for
promptly reporting to their Supervisor any hazardous conditions or procedures that affect them,
their fellow employees or the public.
7. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Personal protection and safety equipment is provided to employees to protect them against
personal injury. Employees issued safety equipment are expected to use that equipment. If the
equipment is not adequate, employee is to report this to their Supervisor before work can be
performed.
8. OFFICE SAFETY
Office work is more dangerous than is commonly supposed and many accidents occur during
ordinary office routines. Procedures are identified to help reduce office related accidents, please
refer to the Safety Manual and/or policies and procedures.
9. HOUSEKEEPING
Many painful and sometimes disabling injuries are caused when employees are struck by falling
Chapter 11 - Risk Management
Page 3
objects or striking against or tripping over objects they did not see, which can lead to physical
injury or property damage. Please follow the safety procedures that are outlined and/or identified
in the Safety Manual to help reduce housekeeping related accidents and losses.
10. VEHICLE SAFETY
To reduce vehicle accidents involving city vehicles, a Vehicle Safety Program has been developed.
This program shall include a vehicle maintenance program, defensive driving training, a vehicle
operation program, driver license review and mandatory seat belt use.
11. ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CITY VEHICLES
Vehicle accidents must be reported, regardless of the severity, immediately upon occurrence. A
written report will be completed by the driver of the city vehicle and reviewed by the employee’s
supervisor within one business day of the occurrence.
12. PARKS MAINTENANCE
All city parks, their landscaping and equipment inclusive, will be inspected regularly and
maintained in a safe manner. Please refer to the Parks Department Director for inspection and
maintenance schedule.
13. SIDEWALKS
A written inventory of all sidewalks in the city shall be maintained by the Public Works
Department. The sidewalks in the city should be inspected at least twice a year.
14. TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES (TCD) PROGRAM
The Traffic Control Devices Program provides a procedure for the proper use, installation,
maintenance, inspection and replacement of regulatory traffic control devices to avoid personal
injury to drivers, passengers and pedestrians and damage to personal property. Traffic Control
Devices are to be inspected for visibility and retro-reflectivity, two times per year, once at night,
and once during daytime conditions.
15. SEWER UTILITY
A written inventory of the sewer lines in the city shall be maintained by the Public Works
Department and/or Development Services Department. Sewers are inspected and maintained
annually. Some city collection systems (sewers) may be maintained by regional Special Service
Districts.
Chapter 11 - Risk Management
Page 4
16. WATER UTILITY MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
A written inventory of the water system in the city shall be maintained by the Public Works
Department. All necessary repairs and problems are to be reported to the Public Works Department
and/or the city’s utility billing function.
17. HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM
The Hazard Communication Program exists to inform employees of the possible negative
outcomes from chemicals used in the workplace. A key component of this program is the Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which outlines the hazards, handling procedures, first aid, etc. for each
of the chemicals being used. Each department is responsible for the safe se/training, storage,
disposal and MSDS of each chemical being used.
18. RESPIRATOR PROGRAM
Before a person is assigned to a task that requires the use of a respirator, the person must be trained
in the use, maintenance and storage of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). It is the
responsibility of each department to provide SCBA training.
19. CONFINED SPACES
The Public Works Department shall establish a written Confined Space Program that establishes
policies and methods for city employees in accessing, or the rescue of people from contained
spaces that comply with federal and state laws and regulations.
20. FORKLIFT OPERATION
All employees that operate a forklift are required to be trained and certified to operate a forklift. A
written inventory of all individuals that are trained and certified to operate a forklift will be
maintained by the Public Works Department.
21. SCHOOL PROPERTY
Sometimes Cities engage in activities on school property (i.e. recreational soccer, Town Hall
meetings, etc.). The use of that school property qualifies the city for standard governmental
immunity protection.
Chapter 11 - Risk Management
Page 5