Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

CHAPTER 2: Negligence

1. Why is Negligence such a Big Deal?

  • Our Litigious Society
  • Impact of Increased Litigation on Sport/Recreation

2. Negligence

  • Tort Law
  • What is Negligence?

3. Establishing Liability for Negligence

Step 1: Has there been Negligence?

  • Duty of Care
  • Standard of Care
  • Actual Harm
  • Proximate Cause

Step 2: Liability for Negligence

  • Personal Liability
  • Vicarious Liability
  • Products and Premises/Occupiers Liability

Step 3: Defences against Negligence

  • Contributory Negligence
  • Voluntary Assumption of Risk
  • Waivers

4. Negligence and the Courts

  • The Legal Process
  • What to do in the Event of a Lawsuit

CHAPTER 3: The 5 Key Risk Areas

1. Supervision & Instruction

  • Qualifications & Certifications
  • Supervision Ratios
  • Lesson Plans & Progressions
  • Other Issues worth noting for Supervision and Instruction

2. Training

  • Step 1: Identify types of Training
  • Step 2: Determine Who Needs Training
  • Step 3: Develop Training Grids
  • Step 4: Develop ‘Department Training Grid’

3. Facilities & Equipment

  • Inspection of Facilities and Equipment
  • Maintenance of Facilities and Equipment
  • Inspection and Maintenance Checklists
  • Signage
  • Other issues worth noting for Facilities and Equipment
  • Note on New Facilities
  • New Facility Safety Design Issues

4. Documentation

  • Risk Management Manual
  • Waivers
  • Medical Screening
  • Risk Information

5. Emergency Response Plan

  • Emergency Planning Process:
    Step 1: What needs to be done?
    Step 2: Who is responsible for what?
  • Training
  • Rehearsals/ Drills
  • Equipment
  • Communication

CHAPTER 4: Risk Management Planning

1. Risk Management: What’s it all about?

  • What’s all the Fuss?
  • Defining Risk Management

2. Keeping it Simple

  • Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

3. Determining Risk Profile

  • Risk Matrix approach
  • Risk Rating approach
  • Risk Grid
  • Risk Map
  • Risk Controls and Residual Risk

4. Risk Management Planning

Risk Management Planning: A Three Step Process:

Step 1: Prioritize High Risk Areas

Step 2: Conduct an Audit/ Risk Assessment

Step 3: Develop Action Plans

5. Organizing for Risk Management

  • The Risk Management Committee

6. The Role of Insurance

CHAPTER 5: Special Policy Areas

1. Transportation

  • Four Key Areas (Vehicles; Drivers; Passengers; Emergency Response)

2. Sport Clubs

Key risk management issues for Sport Clubs:

  • Reporting Structure
  • Advisors
  • Sport Club Officers
  • Safety Officers
  • Coaches
  • Travel
  • Hazing
  • Concussion Management
  • Sport Club Council
  • Other

3. Youth Camps

Key risk management issues for Camps:

  • Staffing
  • Supervision & Training
  • Training
  • Emergency Response
  • Documentation e.g. medical information, parental consent
  • Facilities & Equipment
  • Residence Camps
  • Other

4. Disease Control

  • Bloodborne pathogens
  • Infectious Diseases

5. Alcohol & Drugs

  • Policies
  • Facility Rentals involving alcohol

6. Event Management

  • Five Key Areas
  • Event Management Checklist

7. Contracts

  • Facility Rental contracts
  • Personal Services contracts

CHAPTER 6: Appendices

Audit checklists; event management checklist; and more

CHAPTER 7: Resources

Comprehensive list of practical resources

Our department profited greatly by having multiple staff go through the online course. We have long felt that risk management best practices are so pervasively important to all our programs and facilities that it only made sense that our staff members with unique oversight and management of these areas take part in the course. The take-away from this approach has been a unified understanding of the nature of risk management of campus recreation on a macro level with a much more refined appreciation of application within their areas of specialization.

George M. Brown

Assistant Vice Provost, Director University Recreation and Wellness
The University of Minnesota

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