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Risk Management & Community Groups

What are the main risks involving community and not for profit organisations?

It is impossible to identify each an every potential risk faced by community and NFPO's. These risks will depend upon the type of organisation, the nature of the activities being undertaken and the staff involved in the running of the organisation. It is helpful however to look in a broad fashion at the types of risks facing community and NFPO's - in this way, consideration can be given to developing appropriate risk management strategies.

Risks can be...

Physical risks

• Professional risks
• Environmental risks
• Employee risks
• Financial risks
• Risks of criminal activity
• Ensuring that the organisation works within the appropriate laws or regulations governing the particular activity of activities being undertaken.

Examples of each of these can be:

• Physical risks
  • Animals
    • Can they escape?
    • Can anyone get in?
    • Are they likely to be ridden, patted or otherwise touched?
    • Are they dangerous?
    • Can they be harmed?
  • Festivals/events
    • Are dangerous activities likely to be undertaken eg fireworks, swimming etc
    • Is crowd/traffic control required?
    • Are appropriate emergency procedures in place?
    • Should emergency services be involved?
    • Is special equipment being used/required and if so has it been inspected etc
  • Fire
    • Is fire a potential hazard and if so are appropriate precautions in place i.e. fire extinguishers etc
    • Are there emergency procedures in place eg evacuation and who is in charge, is there appropriate training etc
    • If the venue burns down is there a plan for continuation of services
  • Food and drink
    • Are there appropriate procedures in place to avoid contamination/deterioration of foodstuffs/beverages etc?
    • Are all food handling regulations being complied with and are all staff aware of such regulationsAre foods labelled properly to accommodate food allergies etc?
    • If alcohol is being served are systems in place to avoid/deal with intoxication
    • Are medicines being handled and are there appropriate records and authorities
  • Machines and machinery
    • Is machinery safe and tested?
    • Are there appropriate work safety procedures
    • Is staff properly trained in such procedures?
    • Are staff trained in the use of machinery?
    • Can the public gain access to machinery
    • Is the machinery properly registered?
    • Are maintenance records properly kept?
  • Vehicles
    • Are vehicles properly maintained and serviced
    • Are drivers properly trained and licensed
    • Are the vehicles properly registered?
    • Is access to vehicles restricted?
    • Are driving records maintained etc?
• Professional risks
  • Are staff properly screened particularly those working with eg children
  • Do you properly train staff as to acceptable/unacceptable behaviour?
  • Do you staff interact with the public and if so to what extent
  • Is there adequate supervision of staff/volunteers?
  • Is there is prospect of your staff defaming someone
  • Do you have an adequate complaints procedure in place?
• Environmental risks
  • Are any buildings likely to catch fire, fall down etc?
  • Are paths, stairs etc non slippery, obstacle free etc and suitable for persons with disabilities
  • Are there hazards at the premises?
  • Is smoking permitted?
  • Is there water at the premises eg lakes ponds pools etc
  • Are there unshielded drops, falls etc?
  • Are there any potentially hazardous objects etc at the premises
  • Are any trees on the premises safe?
  • Are any dangerous substances kept at the premises and are they stored safely with appropriate warnings etc
  • Is there a first aid area, access for emergency vehicles etc?
• Employee risks
  • Are your staff adequately protected from other persons?
  • Are appropriate harassment and/or discrimination policies and procedures in place?
  • Are there systems in place to deal with potential problems?
  • Have you considered the implications of unfair dismissal?
• Financial risks
  • Do you have procedures to prevent or expose fraud, unauthorised activities?
  • Are there appropriate financial limits known and acknowledged by staff
  • Are all employee entitlements etc properly budgeted for?
  • Do you have effective budget systems in place?
  • Is the board properly informed as to the financial affairs of the organisation?
  • Is there an audit system in place?
• Criminal activities
  • Do you have protection against theft?
  • Are there adequate fences, barriers, alarms etc?
  • Are staff, entrants etc properly protected?
  • Is there adequate lighting and monitoring
• Regulations
  • Do you have unregistered vehicles driven by staff?
  • Does your board have any conflicts of interest?
  • Are you acting within the powers conferred upon the organisation by the constitution?