2. Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter, you will know the
following:
• The foundation of risk management and key
elements of the decision-making process
• The essential components of an emergency
action plan and a crisis management plan
• The key elements of a lightning safety plan
• Management issues for sport facilities and
those with disabilities
3. Risk Management
The process of reducing or eliminating the
risk of injury and liability associated with
recreational facilities or services
– Loss prevention: What is the loss of most concern to
the organization, to the insurance company, to
society, to the plaintiff’s lawyer, and so on?
(continued)
4. Risk Management (continued)
• Think like a manager.
• Think like a risk manager.
• Think like an insurance company.
• Think like a lawyer.
• Think like a jury.
6. Recognition
• Categories of risk
– Health
– Safety
– Crowd control
• Specific types of hazards
– Improperly prepared food (health)
– Domestic and international terrorism (safety)
– Seating, ticketing, exiting (crowd control)
7. Analysis: Risk Identification
• Identify the hazard and type of potential
liability:
– Slippery floor: Personal injuries
– Uneven turf: Personal injuries
– Blocked exits: Personal injuries
(continued)
8. Analysis: Risk Identification
(continued)
• How do we accomplish this?
– Common sense?
– Objective sources?
• Standard of care
• Industry standards
– Overriding legal concepts?
• Negligence, strict liability
• Do these complement or supplant industry
standards?
9. Analysis: Risk Evaluation
• Seriousness of the potential injury:
Importance from a legal perspective?
• Probability of an injury occurring
• Causation or foreseeability
10. Action
• Retention is the response to an evaluation of risks
where no action is taken. The situation is kept as is.
• Treatment is the response to an evaluation of risks
where some action is taken to reduce the risk.
• Transfer is the response to an evaluation of risks where
methods are devised to place the risk of liability on
another (e.g., through contractual agreements).
• Avoidance is the response to an evaluation of risks
where action is taken to eliminate the risk (e.g.,
eliminating a program, facility, or service).
11. Action: Reducing the Probability of
Risk
• Legal devices
• Insurance
• Transfer of risk
• What would a lawyer recommend?
• What should the manager do?
12. Action: Developing Policies
and Procedures
• Development
– Dissemination to every employee or volunteer
involved
– Impact of the Internet: Online versions of the
rules (do you disseminate to the whole world
or do you limit access?)
• Problem of gathering dust
– Communication
– Updates
(continued)
13. Action: Developing Policies
and Procedures (continued)
• Standard of care
– Development of a standard
– Use of court precedents, statutes, industry
rules
• Audits and inspections
• Schedules and timeliness
14. Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
• A comprehensive, proactive plan that
addresses potential medical emergencies
occurring in a sport setting
• Legal and ethical duty in preparation of
such plan: Court rulings, statutes,
regulations, industry standards
15. EAP Issues
• Communication
• Emergency training
• Location of EMS
• Role of first responder
• When to dial 911
• Documentation
• Education and training
16. Crisis Management Plan (CMP)
A comprehensive, proactive plan designed to
lessen the negative impact on an
organization in the event of a crisis.
17. Elements of a Crisis
Management Plan
• Planning
– Planning team
– Development of an action plan
• Communication
• Postcrisis communication and response
18. Lightning Safety Issues
• NATA standards: Six essential components
of a lightning safety
1. Organizations designate a person with the authority
to remove participants.
2. Weather watcher should be appointed who notifies
person with authority to cancel or suspend activity if
severe weather becomes dangerous.
3. Monitor lightning.
(continued)
19. Lightning Safety Issues (continued)
4. Structures for seeking shelter from lightning should
be built, properly identified, and placed in areas
where they can be quickly accessed if needed.
5. Specific criteria for suspending and resuming sport
and recreational activities should be implemented,
such as flash-to-bang count.
6. Knowledge of CPR and first aid.
20. Facilities and the ADA
Title III bars discrimination against disabled
individuals in the full and equal enjoyment
of the goods, services, facilities, privileges,
advantages, or accommodations of any
place of public accommodation by any
person who owns, leases (or leases to), or
operates a place of public accommodation.
21. Title III of the ADA: Facility Design
• Reasonable modifications
• Facilities designed and constructed for first
occupancy after January 26, 1993, are
viewed as new construction and must
comply with the ADA's more strict
accessibility standards
• Specific percentage of disabled seating in
various areas of the stadium
• Line of sight: Disabled must be able to see
