Making Safety Par for the Course

The Kraft Nabisco Championship’s Safety Plan Pays Off in Reduced Losses

The day of the national golf tournament arrives – the weather balmy, the greens inviting, and the crowds respectfully attentive. Every golf facility manager knows, however, that beneath the smooth exterior of a successful tournament or any other day at the course – bumps, glitches and mishaps await, possibly turning the special occasion into a sand trap of injuries and accidents.

All too often, insurance claims are one of the aftermaths of a big event, but it does not have to be that way. When The Kraft Nabisco Championship recently completed its fourth year of implementing a special safety plan developed with the assistance of the risk control advisors from Travelers, the payoff was as good as a winner’s trophy. Since then, the tournament has seen a reduction in losses equating to fewer administrative headaches, an increase in available charitable funds and cost savings.

The Championship Experience

Tournaments bring big-name players to a golf course, along with excited fans. However, many attendees may not be familiar with the etiquette and protocols that surround golf tournaments, intended to keep both players and observers safe. They may not be well versed in the layout or terrain of the course or recognize their own limitations for walking long distances and standing in the heat for hours. Even those who know these golf-related customs may not be prepared for a golf tournament experience because of the huge turnout and crowd-control procedures that are often put in place at these big events.

An LPGA staple, organizers of The Kraft Nabisco Championship in the early 2000s were experiencing increased costs because of slips, trips and falls, as well as transportation-related loss issues. As a result, the tournament sought ways to improve its safety record for fans, volunteers, employees and of course to reduce their exposure costs. Travelers, as the insurer for the LPGA Tour, worked with The Kraft Nabisco Championship and discussed possible ways in which to improve the safety record of the tournament.

The resulting program developed by Travelers, called the Travelers’ Tournament Safety Advocacy Program was first introduced in 2007 at The Kraft Nabisco Championship, and has been followed rigorously ever since, including at this past April’s event. The dramatic reduction in losses has benefited The Kraft Nabisco Championship’s operation and incorporated a stronger safety culture at the tournament.

Keys to Safety

A linchpin of the Tournament Safety Advocacy Program is the creation of a safety director position – a job where the primary responsibilities are developing and implementing a specific plan for the tournament, bringing visibility to safety issues, and ensuring that leadership promotes a culture of safety for both the facility and the event.

A safety director is not only someone well trained in safety procedures, but a person who has a solid background in the golf industry or understanding of other major spectator events. This role is dedicated to identifying potential dangers, which allows the safety director to explore all aspects of the tournament from a risk management angle, something that may not come naturally to others on the event team.

Once a safety director is appointed, in the months leading up to the tournament, he or she should meet with vendors, volunteers and staff to develop a plan of action to address different risks and scenarios. Following the development of that plan, implementation requires a constant flow of communication between the key stakeholders. The plan should evolve throughout the process leading up to the tournament, but with the constant free flow of communication that has been established, minor tweaks and changes shouldn’t disrupt workflow.

Tournament volunteers are among the most important audience to implement a strong safety program. An emphasis must be placed on educating and engaging them. As the backbone of any large tournament, volunteers need to be turned into safety advocates who are educated about the goals of the safety plan. They need to know that non-compliance with rules and safety violations will not be tolerated. They also need to be empowered to take proactive steps during the tournament, helping the safety director and other staff make the protection of the players and audience part of everyone’s safety culture.

Additionally, making sure that vendors share the tournament’s commitment to safety is critically important. They need to be properly insured and vetted in advance of hiring for tournament week. Those who erect grandstands and tents for the event should have their own safety plans, risk management protocols and liability coverage to demonstrate that they are assuming responsibility for their role in creating a safe environment for the tournament.

Putting a safety flyer in the volunteer’s packet or announcing the goal of having a safe tournament at the volunteer orientation meeting may not be enough. Newsletters, a Web site, videos, live demonstrations – are all part of effectively communicating the plan, which utilizes a variety of channels to deliver the safety plan’s message multiple times so that messages sink in and become an acknowledged priority.

Many of the elements of a safety plan are simply common sense. Mark paths well, encourage people to watch their footing and separate pedestrians from vehicles whenever possible. Remind spectators to drink liquids, wear sunscreen and seek shade. Rules have been established for the protection of the audience and for the benefit of the professional players and everyone on site.

Safety Year-Round

While the crowds and special circumstances surrounding tournaments make the need for safety precautions evident, golf facilities face year-round challenges in addressing risks. They are often several businesses rolled into one: restaurant, retail shop, landscaping service and recreational center, (especially with swimming pools). Each of these components has unique exposures to risk, often including potential liability that may not be covered by standard business policies.

To improve their ability to prevent accidents and costly claims, golf facilities can take their tournament experience and apply it year-round. Brokers and agents should advocate that their golf facility customers make safety a priority throughout the year. In addition to engaging employees in safe practices, brokers and agents should also encourage their customers to tap into the vast resources that insurers provide through their risk control services to help golf facilities minimize risk, prevent loss and maintain a strong culture of safety.

Topics Risk Management