Report a Risk
DEQ Risk Committee Committed to Workplace Safety

 

Accidents are a fact of life but the Department of Environmental Quality’s Risk Management Committee is working to make them a whole lot less common.

In the ten years since the Risk Management Committee has been in existence, the improvements have resulted in an annual 15 percent rebate – the highest possible – on the Department’s property and liability insurance.

“This has been achieved by maintaining the Risk Management Committee, performing self-inspections and attending Risk Management training,” said Daryl Cramer, facilities coordinator for DEQ. “Through annual self-inspections the Department has identified safety issues commonly found in the office environment and worked to correct them. Through Driver Education Training and the Committee’s efforts, along with those of the Office of Human Resource Management, has kept preventable accidents at a record low.”

For instance, during routine inspections the Risk Management Committee found some extension cords posing possible fire hazards, Cramer said. “Carpet snags were fixed to prevent people from tripping and other fire hazards were removed.”

Human Resources Manager Brooke Baker said it’s important to make sure employees are aware of the Committee’s roles and responsibilities to help minimize risks in the workplace.

“The basic task of the Risk Management Committee is to create and maintain a safe environment for all employees,” she said. “If an employee discovers an unsafe condition or practice, we encourage that person to report it to the Committee. We want to make sure DEQ is an accident-free environment.”

The Risk Management Committee meets quarterly, or as needed, to address the Department’s risk management issues.

Members of the committee are:

More information on Risk Management can be found at the Division of Risk Management’s website at: www.risk.state.ut.us.

Please report any potential hazards to Lynn Menlove at lmenlove@utah.gov or 536-4185.