Risk Management for Recreation Professionals: Course Outline

This course is split into two parts. Weeks 1&2: ‘Negligence Liability’; Weeks 3&4: ‘Risk Management’.

Week 1: What is Negligence and why is it such a big deal?

• Introduction (course format; use of Webinars; guest lecturers etc.)
• Distinguishing the Areas of Law
  • Contract law, Criminal law, Human Rights Law, Tort Law
• Defining Negligence and legal liability in the recreation and sport setting
• Establishing Negligence
  • duty of care, standard of care, proximate cause, damage
• Establishing Liability for Negligence
  • personal and vicarious liability, products liability, premises/occupiers’ liability
• Defenses against Negligence
  • contributory, negligence, assumption of risk, waivers
• Reviewing some classic case studies
• Identifying your ‘sweaty palm’ issues

Week 2: Standard of Care

• The 5 Key Risk Areas
  • Supervision & Instruction
  • Training
  • Facilities & Equipment
  • Documentation
  • Emergency Response Plan
• Reviewing some classic case studies
• Conducting a ‘virtual’ Trial

Week 3: Risk Management Planning Process

• Defining risk management
• The role of insurance
• Keeping it simple — adopting a ‘high-risk’ approach to risk management
• What is high risk?
  • The Risk Matrix
• Risk Assessment (the audit)
• Developing a simple audit tool
• Networking re. your ‘sweaty palm’ issues

Week 4: Developing a Risk Management Plan

• Identifying a risk management project/major issue at your jobsite (a program or facility)
• Risk management plan implementation
  • Developing and conducing an audit on your project
  • Drafting a risk management plan based on audit
  • Setting realistic goals and timelines
  • Strategies to ensuring success
• Risk Management Committee
  • The need for a department Risk Management Committee
  • Role; composition; training
• Risk Management Resources