What Do the Best Sport and Recreation Facilities Do to Provide Safe Facilities?

Sports and recreation facilities benefit by maintaining safe facilities. By doing so, there are less injuries, insurance claims and lawsuits. Athletes and participants that use safe facilities enjoy fewer injuries and are able to play and compete season after season. Those who use safe facilities grow to trust that management/directors are taking steps to ensure the safety of all patrons. This increases membership, attendees, clients, participants and clientele. It also boosts reputation and lowers insurance premiums.

What do the best sports and recreation facilities do in order to provide safe facilities? My research shows that the following are common practices:

1. A risk management committee or an individual is charged with safety and risk management issues.
2. A risk management plan has been developed and is updated on a regular basis.
3. A risk management consultant and/or attorney are used for advice and counsel.
4. Regular risk assessments are done, either by the committee or by a risk management consultant.
5. Risk control techniques are utilized in order to prevent accidents.
6. Waivers drafted by counsel are signed by participants.
7. Incident reports are promptly prepared whenever an incident occurs.
8. Staff and management have a “safety first attitude”.
9. Funds are allocated to risk management.
10. Risk Finance planning is done so that the organization is well prepared should a claim, lawsuit or loss occur.
11. Disaster/emergency preparedness planning is done on a regular basis and practice drills are regularly done.
12. Management and committees constantly evaluate risk management plans.

If your organization doesn’t engage in the practices listed above, your facility will benefit significantly by gradually introducing risk management planning and practices. Developing a comprehensive risk management plan and implementing it cannot be done overnight. This is a long process that will require commitment on the part of all involved. Making a commitment to sound risk management practices will serve you organization well. You will likely find that with the good safety record that you establish, your insurance premiums will be lower and this will favorably impact your bottom line.