Risk Management
It’s Our Business
District Workshops
4-H Youth Development
2006
What is Risk
Management?
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The process used to protect assets by
minimizing the potential for negative
outcomes.
“Risk” is the uncertainty about a future event
that threatens your organization’s ability to
accomplish its mission.
The unexpected things that can happen to
the participants, spectators, the properties
and reputation of Cooperative Extension.
When We Pay Attention to
Risk Management Issues…
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It becomes an important educational
component of our work, focusing on
safety and prevention.
Participants can focus on learning in a
safe, comfortable environment.
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Practicing good risk
management allows us to
focus on achieving our
mission.
Important Risk
Management Terms
Terms
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Liability: Legally bound or responsible.
Something for which one is liable; an
obligation, a responsibility, or a debt.
Forms of Liability
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Negligence
Failure to use that degree of care which an ordinary person
of reasonable prudence would use under the given or similar
circumstances.
Assault and battery
The threat to use force upon another and the carrying out of
the threat.
False arrest and imprisonment
False arrest is an arrest not justifiable under law.
Imprisonment is to put in or as if in prison; confine.
Invasion of privacy
To encroach or intrude upon personal information or space
of an individual that is not open to public life; violate.
Forms of Liability
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Defamation
Defamation is a legal action based on an intentional
or reckless public false statement that injures
another person's reputation.
 Libel
A written statement about someone which is
personally injurious to that individual.
 Slander
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A spoken statement about someone which is
personally injurious to the individual.
Violation of constitutional rights
To break, intentionally or unintentionally, the rights
guaranteed to individuals by the United States
constitution.
Risk Management Process
Phase 3:
Risk Review
Monitor and
Evaluate Risk
Plans
Phase 1:
Risk Analysis
Risk Identification
Evaluation &
Measurement
Phase 2:
Risk Response
Risk Control
Financing &
Communication
Terms – Risk Management
Strategies
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Reduce: To lessen in extent, amount,
number, degree, or price. To gain
control of.
Avoid: Taking steps to remove a
hazard, engage in an alternative
activity, or otherwise end a specific
exposure.
Terms – Risk Management
Strategies
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Transfer: Shifting all or part of a risk to
another party. Insurance is the most
common method of risk transfer, but
there are other means, i.e. hold
harmless agreements.
Assume: To take upon oneself;
undertake
Liability Coverage - Staff
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Employees have liability coverage,
providing:
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The duties fall within the scope of your
position
Office weekly schedules/calendars need to
be completed
Supervisors are notified within a
reasonable length of time of a pending
action
Liability Coverage Volunteers
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In most situations,
the volunteer’s
personal home
owner’s insurance
and automobile
insurance is
considered primary
liability insurance
Liability Coverage Volunteers
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A majority of Wisconsin counties are insured
through one of two mutual insurance
companies:
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Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation
Wisconsin Mutual Municipal Insurance
Corporation
Both companies provide secondary volunteer
liability coverage at no additional charge,
provided procedures are followed.
Volunteer and Member
Accident Coverage
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Primary accident insurance is highly
recommended.
It can be purchased reasonably for
individual 4-H events or for a full 4-H
year:
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American Income Life Insurance is an
example.
Note: this is accident insurance, not liability
insurance
What is My Role?
Staff Role
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It is up to staff and volunteers planning
the program or event to develop a risk
management plan
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When concerns arise, this might
include getting assistance from the
county or university who have people in
place to provide it.
County Government
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Usually a person is identified as the
risk manager
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Ask your Department Head to identify
this person
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Protocol will vary from county to county
UW-Extension
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Contact District Liaison or Assistant
State Program Leader with questions
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Dan Malacara serves as Cooperative
Extension’s contact for risk
management questions
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daniel.malacara@ces.uwex.edu
608-263-7941
Resources
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University of WI System Office of
Safety and Loss Prevention/Risk
Management –
http://www.uwsa/edu/oslp/rm/
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Field Trip Waiver
Consent for Medical Administration and
Treatment/Health History Questionnaire
General Incident Reporting Form
Resources
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Non - Profit Risk Management Center –
http://nonprofitrisk.org and tools at
http://nonprofitrisk.org/tools/tools.htm
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Publications, tools, resources,
professional development opportunities,
advice
Resources
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UW Extension 4-H Youth Development –
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/resources/mgt/ri
sk.cfm
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Risk Management Guidelines
Links to State Statutes
Q & A regarding risk management and insurance
Streaming audio of recent risk management and
insurance Wislines
Links to other resources