Changes to LCR Focus on Mowing, Aquatic SafetyEach year, PDRMA Risk Management staff reviews the Loss Control Review to determine what changes, if any, should be made for the next year. While there are not a large number of changes for 2016, there is a renewed focus on managing risks associated with mower and aquatic safety — especially related to outside-group use of aquatic facilities.
Over the past few summers, PDRMA members have experienced both an increased number of aquatic incidents specifically related to effective group management as well as more occurrences of mower rollovers and related incidents.
“We want members to be aware of our best-practice recommendations in both areas,” explains Jenny Porrevecchio, PDRMA Risk Management Consultant, “so we’ve added LCR questions to the Recreation, Special Recreation and Aquatic forms (for aquatics) and the Parks Maintenance and Golf forms (mowers) to call attention to those areas.”
 Reducing Mowing Risks
Identifying mowing hazards as outlined in LRN #1633 — Mower/Tractor Rollover Prevention — and equipping mowers with inclinometers to avoid rollovers — are the most effective ways to manage mowing risks in parks and golf course settings.
“It’s especially important to identify mowing hazards and ensure you train all employees to recognize those hazards — including your seasonal staff,” Porrevecchio adds.
Outside-group Aquatic Risks
During the height of aquatic season, daily crowds can push facility capacities to the limit, and outside groups are often a large percentage of those crowds. One of the most significant risks associated with hosting outside groups is the issue of adequate supervision.
“We encourage members to use written agreements with outside groups, and while many do, the LCR now stresses their importance and will hopefully encourage all members to adopt them,” she adds.
“We’ve always required a written agreement for outside rentals,” says Mike Eschenbach, Aquatic Supervisor, Dundee Township Park District. “The key areas addressed are supervisory ratios, our facility-specific rules, and having emergency cards for all the campers.”
In 1998, Wheeling Park District began requiring a written agreement — which covers 18 separate points — with outside groups, and Scott Anthony, Aquatics Manager, appreciates its value. “A written agreement can help lay the foundation of expectations and removes assumptions. It’s equally important to communicate with those groups before, during and after each visit.”
“Communication is key in reducing risks,” agrees Sarah Lagesse, Manager of Aquatics Services, Glenview Park District. “We tell them why the rules are in place, the risks involved and make sure they understand that when they come to our facility, we will hold them accountable for following the agreement they signed.”
At Glenview, Wheeling and Dundee Township the process is very similar when the outside group arrives. A member of the aquatic staff greets the group before anyone gets off the bus, reviews the agreement and determines whether or not there is adequate supervision. Until supervision is available, the group is not allowed inside the facility.
 “Pool staff and outside groups need to work together to ensure the safety of all participants each and every time they visit the pool,” Lagesse explains. At Glenview and Wheeling, not only does the aquatics staff undergo rigorous training with a focus on outside groups, but the agencies also train their day camp employees to know not only what their own agency’s aquatic-facility expectations are but also what they need to do when taking campers to other facilities.
It all boils down to effective communication and accountability. Whether you reach out to visiting groups via email or phone, reminding them of your expectations helps them be better prepared for their visit. “It’s vitally important to communicate with them throughout the visit about any rule infractions or safety concerns that arise,” Anthony says. “After the visit, we also reach out to the camp leader who booked the event to discuss how it went, so the group can correct any problem areas before visiting our agency or any other PDRMA agency again.”
“Being able to go back to the agreement and show groups that you talked about expectations — and that they signed off on each one — is a big benefit,” says Eschenbach. “My suggestion is to talk to your groups as often as possible, and then talk to them again before they ever get off their buses.”
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