What are the basics of a safety policy?
Awareness, reporting and prompt action! Employees and volunteers, and even clients/customers, should be trained so that they are alert to safety concerns and know where to report unsafe conditions or other concerns. After the nonprofit has been alerted to a safety issue, prompt remedial action, and documentation of all of the above, is essential. Training should include everyone—even board members, who may be on-site and in the position to report an unsafe condition. Finally, if there is a safety issue that results in harm or injury, there should be a policy to determine who at the nonprofit is the appropriate spokesperson, and a “lessons learned” evaluation to devise procedures and policies that will help avoid similar occurrences in the future. • The web site of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center has a free online Workplace Safety Tutorial that can be completed 24/7. • The web site of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center has a free online Workplace Safety Toolkit for employees and
