Risk Management Advisory High Risk Activities

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Christian Baldwin
5 years ago
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D I O C E S E O F O R A N G E Office of Risk Management & Insurance Services Diocesan Pastoral Offices 13280 Chapman Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92840 714-282-3092 RiskMgmt@rcbo.

1 D I O C E S E O F O R A N G E Office of Risk Management & Insurance Services Diocesan Pastoral Offices Chapman Avenue Garden Grove, CA RiskMgmt@rcbo.org Risk Management Advisory High Risk Activities Purpose The purpose of this Advisory is to reinforce the need to identify and evaluate the risks presented by Diocesan, parish or school activities and, when necessary, to avoid certain activities that present undue risk. High Risk Activities All diocesan, parish and school activities present some degree of risk, and liability coverage is designed to respond to most normal diocesan risks. Therefore it is important for each parish, school, and Catholic Charities organization be aware of what activities are considered high risk, aware of the need to seek assistance if there is any question in this regard, and to have the willingness to avoid certain risks. Generally, activities are considered to be high risk when: There is a substantial risk of bodily injury or property damage OR The activity is not typical to the location s operations. It is not possible to list every activity that is potentially high risk. Please contact the Risk Management Office to discuss any concerns you have regarding an activity or event. HIGH RISK ADVISORY - RCBO PAGE 1 OF 5 JUL 2017

2 The Risk Management Department must be consulted on all risks listed below. Some risks may not be permitted. Candles Unsafe use of candles and open flames. The use of or events involving candles or open flames other than well controlled situations (such as votives in racks designed for the purpose, etc.) are potentially high risk. Placement of candles on the ground, on stands below waist-level, or at temporary shrines is extremely high risk and should be avoided in all situations. Candlelight services, prayer services, youth ministry events, Taize services, and the like must be carefully assessed and controlled. Please request specific assistance for these events from the Office of Risk Management. Vehicles for Transportation or Sport Use of any watercraft other than public transit such as ferry boats. The Venturing program explained in p. 4 Use of any motor vehicle other than a personal passenger vehicle, including ATVs Use of any aircraft other than scheduled, commercial flights. Hay rides NOTE: Use of passenger vans is strictly prohibited in the Diocese of Orange. Sports/Adventure Extreme Sports e.g. bungee jumping There are coverage limitations Scuba diving, Ropes or Cope course events. The Camping with children under the age of 14 years old. Boxing and martial arts Rock climbing or mountaineering. The Activities related to Vehicles above, e.g. water skiing, river rafting, etc. The Camping with children ages 14 and older. The exception to this is through the Venturing program explained on P. 4 HIGH RISK ADVISORY - RCBO PAGE 2 OF 5 JUL 2017

3 Community Service Medical and nursing services Legal services Construction operations (any building or construction related projects provided by parish groups, school groups or other Diocesan groups). Please see Work release programs (labor provided to the Diocese, parish or school by the courts.) Managing the Risk, p. 5. Foreign travel * Transportation services *Please contact the Office of Risk Management for all foreign travel plans, as there is some foreign travel coverage available for specific travel events by diocesan groups. Carnival Operations Sumo Wrestling, human fly, and similar contact/impact events Carnival rides, dunk tanks, moon bounces, mechanical bulls. Carnival rides and moon bounces are only allowed when used under the operation and supervision of a carnival company having supplied correct certificates of insurance. Other Fireworks sales or displays Use of Trampolines - Excluded from liability coverage Events involving livestock including rodeos, bullfights and parades Pool Parties and Beach Trips: Elementary school students under the age of 14 should not be involved with or participate in pool parties. High school Youth Ministry programs may have pool parties with at least two certified Life Guards on duty during the pool party. Beach parties are allowed only for adults 18 years of age and older. Basic Risk Management Strategies 1. Parishes, Schools and Diocesan Programs Should Seek Guidance Early in the Planning Process If a parish, school or other program is contemplating any activity that may be considered high risk, the director / coordinator of the program must contact the Office of Risk Management at (714) early on in the planning process for counsel and assistance. Early contact will allow for a determination if the event is, in fact, too high of a risk and, if so, provide time to assess options or cancel function. HIGH RISK ADVISORY - RCBO PAGE 3 OF 5 JUL 2017

4 2. Avoid non-diocesan Risks In some cases, a parish, school or other program may be asked to collaborate or cosponsor an activity with another organization. Any endorsements of a non-diocesan program or lending of the name of a parish, school, etc. to an outside entities program must be approved by the Office of Risk Management. If participants of diocesan, parish or school programs learn of a non-diocesan activity (especially if done so as a group), it is important that the location clearly communicates to the participants, as well as parents/guardians, that the activity is not related to the diocese or parish. 3. Always obtain Informed Consent and Follow Safe Environment Protocol: Irrespective of the degree of risk presented by a parish, school or other program activity, the location needs to ensure that all program participants and parents/guardians of participants under the age of 18 are fully aware of the proposed activity, including mode of transportation. Parents/guardians must sign standard permission slips and medical releases for all participants under the age of 18. No exceptions are to be made. In addition, diocesan fingerprinting and Safe Environment Programs must be in place. (Contact the Office of Child & Youth Protection for information.) 4. Use Qualified, Insured Contractors with Caution The use of a contractor to provide services can reduce the risk of an activity to the Diocese, parish or school by transferring some of the liability and insurance responsibility on to the contractor. The Venturing Program, sponsored and provided by the Boy Scouts of America, allows parish youth ministry programs to be involved in activities that the Diocese would not normally allow to take place. Because of the excellent training and supervision that is supplied by Venturing and the Boy Scouts of America as well as their facilities, these activities are now available to all youth ministers and their teams who participate and qualify in the Venturing Programs. Please note, in planning a Venturing Program, Boy Scouts of America facilities must be used. Contracted carnival operations are also a good example. Please refer to the diocesan vendor list on ComplianceDepot for approved vendors (Refer to your parish or school business office for assistance with access to the vendor list.) Contractors should not be used, however, as a justification to engage high risk activities. HIGH RISK ADVISORY - RCBO PAGE 4 OF 5 JUL 2017

5 5. Have an Emergency Plan Develop written plans for: Emergency reporting and evacuation; Emergency medical aid; First aid; What to do in case an individual (participant or team member) is missing. Post or circulate emergency plans and telephone numbers. Make sure your team is qualified to administer first aid; Make sure you have diocesan accident reporting forms. These plans need to be responsive to reasonably foreseeable emergencies. Managing the Risk of Youth Construction Projects The spiritual objective should always be inserted into the Parent Permission Slip. Adult chaperones and youth participants should be chosen based on their emotional and physical fitness for these projects. Specific codes of conduct should always be used and signed by participants and parents. An Orientation Meeting must be held with the parents, chaperones, and participants and written expectations distributed at this time.. The appropriate number of chaperones must be present during the project and trip. All paper work should be in place for Travel / Student Accident Coverage / proof of insurance at least 3 weeks before the trip. Minor Permission Slip forms must be filled out and signed prior to any trip, as well as the Adult Wavier & Release Forms for chaperones and adult (over 18) participants. Designated chaperones should not sleep while minor participants are asleep. Participants and Adults should never be on ladders, working with power tools, or working with heavy machinery. HIGH RISK ADVISORY - RCBO PAGE 5 OF 5 July 2017

MEDICINE HAT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 76 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

MEDICINE HAT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 76 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES TITLE: Off Campus Field Trips, Tours and Projects PROCEDURE CODE: 770 P 001 POLICY REFERENCE: 770 Off Campus Trips, Tours and Projects EXHIBITS: