Risk Management

“Risk is any uncertainty about a future event that threatens your organization’s ability to accomplish its mission.”

“Risk is everywhere. From the moment we get out of bed each morning until the moment we head off to sleep each night, we encounter risks of various types and magnitudes. We make risk management –related decisions all the time but they drift by on the edge of our consciousness: Is the water the right temperature? Is the shower mat in place to prevent slips? What’s the weather report for the day: snow, sleet, storm? Should the kids be driven to school, or will they be safe walking on their own?

Life is full of risks. The mere presence of risk should not scare us. Indeed, if we needed a guarantee of zero risk, most would never get out of bed. The point is not that risks surround us. Rather, the is that we must manage the risks that surround us. They need to be identified and controlled. The more attention we pay to risk at a conscious level, the more likely we will identify the risks that exist in our environment and the greater the likelihood we will manage them appropriately and navigate our way safely through our days.”

Taken from the book Better Safe
by Linda L. Graff

Risk Management at WIN

Westlock Independence Network developed The Risk Management Committee in May 2005. Our goal is to establish a personalized risk management plan for every individual receiving service from WIN. These plans include the following four components:
  1. Identify potential risks and prioritize.
  2. Evaluate risks and prioritize into one of the four categories.
    • 1st priority – urgent requiring immediate attention
    • 2nd priority – need to be dealt with as soon as possible
    • 3rd priority – work through when time permits
    • 4th priority – not urgent (these may get dropped from the list
  3. Control Risks
    • development of strategies to bring risks within WIN's risk tolerance zone
    • Stop
    • Reduce likelihood
    • Minimize harm
    • Transfer liability
    • This step identifies procedures, policies, and personal responsibilities.
  4. Review
    • All risks are reviewed on an annual basis
Westlock Independence Network recognizes both our legal and moral responsibility for the safety and well being of the individuals we support, the staff who are employed by us, and community members we come into contact with

The Risk Management Committee meets on monthly basis. It’s purpose is to
  • Review/monitor individual’s risks
  • Review/monitor staff risks
  • Provide information/policy around risks and potential risks
  • Review and provide recommendations with incident reports and near miss reports
All programs are encouraged to have
  • Fire plan
  • Tornado plan
  • 72 hour emergency plan
  • Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers
  • First aid kits
  • Universal precautions kit
  • Fire blankets