Good ideas that promote injury prevention, improve job-task efficiency and safety, or create effective training are ideas worth sharing. And PDRMA’s Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program is a great way to help spread the word about programs at your agency that do just that.

Redefined in 2013 to include recognition of programs already in place — in addition to new ideas — and to allow submissions throughout the year, PDRMA members submitted 26 applications for consideration last year. The Risk Management Committee selected eight of those to receive grant funding.

 “I’d like to have even more than 26 applications by the Sept. 12 deadline for 2014,” says Tim Lenac, PDRMA Risk Management Consultant. “I encourage members to submit innovative safety practices, tell us how they’ve improved job-task training — or modified job tasks — to reduce risk and/or improve efficiency, or tell us how they’re using a common item in a new way with great results.”

A 2013 Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program winner discovered that using Kangaroo Desks alleviated ergonomic stressors from daily computer use by elevating the monitor and keyboard to allow people to stand and work on their computers. “These solutions don’t have to be complicated or expensive — just innovative,” Lenac explains. Being able to switch positions throughout the day helps reduce back and neck stress and encourages movement, all of which helps reduce stress on the body.

The grant and recognition program helps members fund and implement projects or programs they may not otherwise be able to pursue and recognizes the ingenuity and effectiveness of ideas already in place. PDRMA’s Risk Management Committee reviews submissions and may choose to award multiple grants in increments of $500 with a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $2,500. The program's maximum amount awarded per year is $7,500. 

Loss and exposure-based cost drivers should be the foundation of grant submissions, including the following:

• Injury prevention — ergonomics, stretching, slip/trip/fall, lifting, material handling.
• Property conservation — fire protection, vandalism, water intrusion/flood.
• Other exposures — fleet exposures, employment practices, pollution.
• Plans of Action — exposures identified through individual agency Plans of Action.

How to Submit

Use LRN #1610 — Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program Submission Form to submit your proposals to Tim Lenac at tlenac@pdrma.org by Sept. 12, 2014. The proposed project/program must either already be operational or scheduled to become operational within six months of being awarded the funds.

PDRMA Resources:

• LRN #768 — Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program.
• LRN #971 — Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program Current Winners.
• LRN #1556 — Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program Past Winners.
• LRN #1610 — Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program Submission Form.