“I was hoping to enhance my personal safety-related skills and knowledge, and I wanted a better understanding of what PDRMA’s expectations of an effective Safety Coordinator are,” recalls Dave Figgins, Superintendent of Recreation and Parks — and a PDRMA Safety Coordinator — at Prospect Heights Park District.

Figgins had those goals in mind when he started PDRMA’s Safety Coordinator Curriculum — and it met and exceeded his expectations. In a Safety Coordinator role since 2003, Figgins found the curriculum’s combination of live classes, exercises, evaluations and self-checks provided him with a better understanding of best practices for minimizing loss exposure.

“The Supervisor’s Role in Claims Reporting (one of the required instructor-led classes) had the most impact on me,” says Figgins. “I brought back a number of good risk management best practices and shared them with agency staff. The curriculum is well presented, and there are many consistencies among the courses, making it easy to understand what PDRMA’s expectations are.”

“Forty-eight Safety Coordinators have now completed the program, earning their Level One Certification,” says Bill Hooker, PDRMA Training Program Supervisor, “and we encourage all Safety Coordinators to set a goal of achieving certification this year.”

As an added incentive, PDRMA is offering a chance to win a complimentary registration — valued at more than $500 — to attend the 2013 National Safety Council Congress and Exposition in Chicago, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. To qualify for the prize raffle, you must have completed the Safety Coordinator Curriculum and sent your tracking sheet to PDRMA by July 1.

“We have enhanced our Safety Committee’s performance in terms of including more actionable items on our monthly agendas and are providing more staff training on the different aspects of risk management,” Figgins explains. “I definitely recommend PDRMA’s Safety Coordinator Curriculum. It provides a broader view of what it means to be a successful Safety Coordinator, and it’s beneficial to both those who are new and veterans in the role.”

Best Practices to Manage Property Risks

To help members minimize their loss exposures, PDRMA continues to develop and update resources to promote best practices. Two new resources — Fire Detection Systems – LRN #1606 and Flood and Water Intrusion Prevention — LRN #1607 — address a variety of property conservation issues.

Fire Detection Systems discusses the different types of detectors and in which environments they work best. Flood and Water Intrusion provides an overview of the types of flooding (proximity to floodplain or surface water runoff) and suggestions on minimizing damage by developing a water intrusion plan.