Risk Management

Contact:   Andrew Huige at andrew.huige@gmail.com

Let’s face it – without the proper precautions, hockey can be dangerous. Risk management attempts to reduce the likelihood of the incidents and accidents that can ruin hockey seasons, and lives. Risk Management is also very much about ensuring that we keep control over events that might result in insurance claims. Without insurance, minor hockey cannot happen – it’s important to make sure we can afford proper insurance.

Here is some basic information about risk management:

I took the HCSP course a while back. When do I need to re-certify?
a) Members qualified in the HCSP (Hockey Canada Safety Program) on or before August
1, 2007, will receive three (3) years of valid HCSP qualification.
b) Members qualified in the Hockey Canada Safety Program after August 1, 2007, will
receive six (6) years of valid HCSP qualification.

What are the duties of the Safety Person?
The certification course describes this in detail, but generally, you are responsible for making sure that potentially dangerous situations are noted and handled properly. This includes everything from situations that may cause physical harm to situations such as referee abuse and bullying. A safety person MUST be on the premises every time your team steps on the ice for a practice or game and they should have a safety plan devised to handle emergencies. More on that later in this document. The Safety Person is also responsible for ensuring injuries get reported to the league for insurance purposes. This, in particular, is a very important duty.

Does every team need a Safety Person?
Every team requires at least one Safety Person (or Risk Manager). This person must be included on the roster, just like coaches and managers. You can have more than one safety person and share duties.

Is certification is required?
The Safety Person MUST be certified by Hockey Canada. This requires completing a day-long workshop. Semiahmoo Minor Hockey offers this course on Nov 8, 2009. Click here to register: http://www.bchockey.net/Clinics/clinics.aspx. You can ask your team manager to submit a reimbursement claim to Semiahmoo. The certificate is good for three years. Every team official – including the Safety Manager – needs to have the Respect in Sport certification (formerly known as Speak Out) too…it can be done on-line (http://www.bchockey.net/Clinics/clinics.aspx)

Do I need first aid training?
No. You are not required to provide first aid. Your responsibility to is to monitor activities to ensure a safe environment. If someone is hurt, your only responsibility is to make sure help arrives.

What is an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and where do I get one?
An EAP outlines the actions that will be taken during an emergency. This includes assigning responsibility for certain actions to various people. For example, if a player is injured on the ice, a safety plan will describe such things as who cares for the player, the location of phones in a rink and whose responsibility it is to call 911. They do not have to be fancy or detailed! Here is a sample EAP: http://www.bchockey.net/Files/Emergency%20Action%20Plan.pdf

Someone on my team was injured. What do I do?
If anyone (including players, team officials or even spectators) is injured during an SMHA game (or even en-route to or from a sanctioned SMHA event), you must:
-Ensure that the injured person seeks medical assistance
-fill out a Hockey Canada injury report form and submit it to your team manager, who will forward a copy to the SMHA Risk Manager.
-(available at: http://www.bchockey.net/Files/Hockey%20Canada%20Injury%20Report.pdf)
-If the injured person is a player, ensure they do not return to play without a doctor’s note confirming they are OK.

Can a coach (or manager) also be the Safety Person?
Yes. But you have to make sure that you do not create conflicting responsibilities. If you are too busy coaching to adequately monitor safety, then you should recruit help.

Do I need to have a criminal record check?
Yes. Every team official is required to have a criminal record check by November 30 every season. You must attend the RCMP detachment in the community in which you live. You must bring:
-A cover letter from the league stating you are a SMHA volunteer (or a $50 fee will apply). This letter is available by contacting the league Risk Manager at andrew.huige@gmail.com.
-Photo ID
-Criminal Record Check Consent Form 3584 (you can download it here: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/form/3584-eng.pdf )

Who do I contact for more information?
There is a wealth of Risk Management information on the BC Hockey website: http://www.bchockey.net/Files/Menu%20-%20SRM%20Manual%202009.pdf
It includes BC Hockey positions on the following common subjects, and many others:
-Stickers on helmets
-Co-ed dressing rooms
-H1N1 Flu
-Helmets for Coaches