In our last issue, we covered tips on creating an indemnification and writing an accident report.

Now to discuss ways to build the all important wall of defense, by adding strong credibility for your company, when dealing with a plaintiff’s attorney in a litigation situation. To do this you need to show to court that you operate a legitimate business with care and concern for safety as a principal focus.

Within your operation, you must have a main “go to” person that handles various duties within the company dealing with your amusement products. This person should be a “hands-on” person that has actually worked with the inflatable devices on a regular basis. Make this person the “Safety Officer” or “Risk Manager” within the organization.

This person is in charge of gathering up all instruction manuals, safety bulletins, etc. for all of your inflatable devices. This information should be made into copies and placed in waterproof packets that accompany each and ever rental of that device.

Your new Safety Officer should organize safety meetings at least once a month with notes being taken of the topic and who attended. Each meeting can focus on a different product or address issues relating to problems or concerns with regard to the amusement products. Hands on training for each device should also be scheduled with proper instruction using the safety supplements so that each employee is versed in the safe set up and use of the device. Again, document what went on during these training sessions and who attended. This is a must! Documentation on a consistent basis will show that your company does actually have a planned out Risk Management Strategy to prevent injury and safe guard the public.

Suggested topics for safety meetings are:
A. Instructional Supplement review and discussion for a specific amusement device.
B. Hands on training of a particular device.
C. How to write an accident report including how to fill out a prepared form you created and to remember detail, detail, detail...
D. How to deal with customers in various situations.
E. Industry trends and how they affect your business. Updates from the ASTM or the USCPSC (United States Consumer Product Safety Commission) are released periodically. Your Safety Officer should keep abreast of these updates.

Another thing that will give you the credibility your company needs to help defend against litigation and potentially reduce your insurance costs, is to get your employees trained in CPR. Fire Departments have classes on this type of training and it can go along way to add to your already growing Risk Management plan.