Welcome back to #TuesdayTips for leaders of volunteers! This week, talking about Risk Management and Risk Assessment for volunteer roles, responsibilities, and tasks.
Risk management starts with understanding real levels of risk and reward with a Risk Assessment to forecast risks in advance and take proactive steps to deal with identified risks. All volunteer positions do not have the same level of risk and will have differing risk management strategies associated with them for Low, Medium, and High-risk roles and tasks.
Most NPOs I’ve worked with have either one of 2 extremes; heavy-handed umbrella, “everything-counts the same and it's BAD” type of policy and practice, or no policy at all for risk management with paid staff or volunteers with the attitude of “Nothing bad has ever happened so it probably never will". Then there are the very highly regulated sectors, like healthcare, where any slip out of legal compliance causes serious problems for the organization.
What really works is the Goldilocks Zone (just right) of customized policies for the ACTUAL (including insurance) possibilities of harm to or by volunteers, staff, and clients, based on facts and data relevant to the work.
Outside, in nature? Using power tools? Driving vehicles? Working closely with kids or elders? Hospital? Working with animals (pets or wildlife)? All of those have higher levels of risk, than say, purely Low-risk remote research work (from home), office/admin, or not having any programs or services with minors or other vulnerable groups.
The 4 basics of Risk Management are:
Plans, Processes, Policies, and Practices.
The basics for Risk Assessment are understanding how a volunteer or paid staff role, task, or responsibility impacts:
People, Property, and then the Reputation, Income, and Liability of the organization or individuals.
A standard volunteer “Release of Liability” form might not be enough, or enforceable, if a serious incident happens. Make sure any legal release forms or waivers are reviewed by an attorney!
Resources on Risk Management
Sterling Volunteers Risk Assessment and Management (long white paper):
www.sterlingvolunteers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Risk-Management-For-Your-Volunteer-Program-Whitepaper-2.pdf
Workplace Safety Checklist from Better Impact Blog:
blog.betterimpact.com/en/managing-volunteer-risks
Contact me for consulting, coaching, webinars/workshops, or keynote presentations, or if you have ideas for #TuesdayTips topics and Priceless Advice guests:
dana@danalitwin.com www.danalitwinconsulting.com