There are certain tools that are required for every risk management plan. Whether you work in construction or manage a busy office, there will be many factors that are the same. Every risk management plan requires safety equipment, training, and insurance.
The most important common factor, however, is information. The more you know about a particular risk or how a task is completed, the easier they are to manage. Of all the steps to prepare your business and your staff for risk, the sharing of risk management information may be the most important.
There are a variety of forums through which you can share that information, each with its own unique value.
Training
Training is a huge part of risk management. Most risks can be reduced with the simple implementation of effective training. The risk management information shared during these sessions will be vital in developing your employees’ understanding of their day-today risks.
Staff training sessions also provide a valuable opportunity for gathering risk information. No one knows the day-to-day running of your business better than your employees. You should provide them with the opportunity to share their experience during every training session. The information they provide you with will help you to develop your long-term risk management plan.
Internal Communications
You don’t have to wait for staff training to share risk management information. Internal communications like weekly newsletters or group emails allow you to push out key risk management messages to the entire organization. You should also offer employees the opportunity to provide feedback on their personal risk experience. You may have some employees who are reluctant to provide feedback during training but make a valuable contribution anonymously or via email.
Insurance Advisor Meetings
Your best source of risk management information will be your insurance advisor. Whenever you speak to your advisor you should ensure that you discuss your risks and find out about any potential emerging risks in your industry. Meetings with your advisor can become too focused on insurance premiums, make sure you take advantage of their risk management expertise.
Conferences
Industry conferences provide another hugely valuable risk management information resource. Conferences that bring together industry leaders and risk experts can provide huge insight into your own risk management process. They provide a great opportunity for information sharing with peers as well as organized discussions on risk topics.
Here at Gibson, we believe strongly in information sharing and we host events each year on topics of risk management, health care, and more.
