Hallmark #3: Guided By Reality, In Addition To Scary Headlines

Tools

To ensure that the nonprofit’s risk management efforts are guided by reality and not led astray by scary headlines, consider using these tools:

For an online tutorial that is helpful to teach employees and volunteers about workplace safety, click here.
Click here to review template policy language requiring employees and volunteers to report unsafe conditions.
Savvy nonprofits use a "dashboard" to give boards a dash of reality in a dose they can wrap their arms around. Take a look at this sample dashboard, and customize one for your dashing board members.
To purchase an affordable online tool that can be used by one or more employees or volunteers at your organization to develop a customized risk management plan for your nonprofit, click here.
For a Staff Safety Checklist, click here.
Click here for a self-audit "check up" tool from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners that will help your organization better appreciate and prepare for the risk of fraud/embezzlement.
Include a component about safety at the workplace and unsafe conditions in new employee and new volunteer orientation programs.
Include a section in personnel policies/volunteer handbook that addresses “safety at work” to foster a culture of responsibility. Some suggestions:

If you observe an unsafe condition, such as water on the floor, or ice in the entryway, let the facilities manager know immediately, or take action to address the issue and notify the facilities manager of the action taken.
To ensure your safety and that of your coworkers, please observe and obey the following rules and guidelines:

Observe and practice the safety procedures established for your job.
In case of sickness or injury, no matter how slight, report at once to your supervisor. In no case should an employee treat his own or someone else's injuries or attempt to remove foreign particles from the eye.
In case of injury resulting in possible fracture to legs, back, or neck, or any accident resulting in an unconscious condition, or a severe head injury, the injured employee or volunteer should not be moved until medical attention has been given by authorized personnel.

Rebuilding Together has developed an excellent document, “Safety Tool Box Talk” for use as a training tool for volunteers. Click here to see this tool. Consider adopting the Tool Box to make it suitable for your nonprofit.
Sometimes we expect clients or program participants or volunteers to engage in activities that are inherently risky. Even with proper training and supervision, 'stuff happens.' Consequently, we have to be guided by the reality that clients and volunteers may bring a lawsuit against a nonprofit if they suffer injuries. Click here for information about how waivers and hold harmless clauses can serve as prudent risk management tools. Be aware that in some states, such as Virginia, waivers are less effective than in other states.
Click here for a sample waiver/hold harmless release form and photo release to use with volunteers.
To view sample safety checklists suitable for use in areas such as kitchens, bathrooms vehicles and common areas, click here.

Contact the Nonprofit Risk Management Center to inquire about the process of engaging a Center staff member to conduct a risk assessment.