If it’s November, that means the members of the Association’s two insurance pools held their joint annual meeting. This week, more than 150 people representing cities that are members the South Carolina Municipal Insurance Trust (workers comp program) and the South Carolina Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund (property and liability program) met in Columbia.
Members received plenty of good news from the Association’s Risk Management Services staff including reduced premium rates for several employee class codes, no increases in reinsurance expenses and increased grant funds for fire services equipment. They also got a reminder about the return of surplus of $2 million for SCMIT members and $3 million for SCMIRF members in 2015.
The RMS staff also announced plans to hire a public safety loss control consultant to support member efforts by training and advising their law enforcement and fire service departments.
RMS Loss Control Manager Venyke Harley moderated a panel discussion that addressed a variety of common risk management challenges. John Potter, director of finance with the City of North Augusta, reinforced the focus on safety in his remarks on the panel. "In North Augusta, rates are much more stable now, and as long as we continue to emphasize safety, should continue."
He also stressed safety needs to be a priority from the top. "If your chief executive is in the field, employees will work harder, smarter and safer."
Also during the panel discussion, Cindi Howard, the human resource director for the City of Conway, shared from the audience her city’s recent success with a city-wide refresher safety orientation process. This was completed with every employee as part of their open enrollment period and provided an opportunity for existing employees to revisit or learn about their benefits and city safety policies.
Thirty graduates of the inaugural class of the Risk Management Institute were recognized at the meeting for completing a total of eight classes over two years. Risk Management Services established the RMI in 2013 to educate member staff on the basics of safety and risk management principals. Course topics include Risk Management 101, OSHA, defensive driving, and law enforcement personnel best practices.
Also during the panel discussion, Cindi Howard, the human resource director for the City of Conway, shared from the audience her city’s recent success with a city-wide refresher safety orientation process. This was completed with every employee as part of their open enrollment period and provided an opportunity for existing employees to revisit or learn about their benefits and city safety policies.
Thirty graduates of the inaugural class of the Risk Management Institute were recognized at the meeting for completing a total of eight classes over two years. Risk Management Services established the RMI in 2013 to educate member staff on the basics of safety and risk management principals. Course topics include Risk Management 101, OSHA, defensive driving, and law enforcement personnel best practices.
For several photos of the meeting, visit Scott Slatton's Twitter feed. Scott is the Association's legislative and public policy analyst.