Risk Management Report for 2008/2009

As the Risk Manager for RMMHA it is my responsibility to be the "Conscience" of our Association.  My goal is to remind people to make decisions and take actions that reflect good common sense and to recognize the necessity to provide a safe environment for the participants within the rules and regulations (authority) of the O.D.H.A and Hockey Canada. I want to ensure that our Association provides fairness, responsibility, and safety in the operation of hockey within our community.

Risk management is the process by which an organization identifies, assesses controls and minimizes the risk of bodily injury or financial loss arising from its activities. In organized hockey, risk management is the process by which an Association reviews its activities, programs and operating procedures (including buildings and staff) to identify, understand and insure against the everyday risks confronted in operating an organized hockey program. Risk management consists of four (4) basic steps, performed in a logical sequence:

• Step 1: Identify the risks connected with an activity (e.g. game, locker room, arena parking lot, travel).
• Step 2: Assess the relative significance of all on-ice and off-ice risks.
• Step 3: Eliminate or minimise identified risks.
• Step 4: Provide protection against unavoidable risks. This can include insurance coverage.

Ice hockey is one of the most popular team sports in many parts of our country. It is a fast-paced game that combines players of many sizes together on the rink with high skating speeds and fast, furious action. Hockey is known as a hard-hitting, collision sport. Players risk injury from high-impact collisions with each other, the rigid boards and the goal posts.

What causes most injuries?

Studies show that most hockey injuries occur during games rather than practices. It is estimated that direct trauma (a sudden forceful injury) accounts for 80% of all injuries. Most of these injuries are caused by player contact (checking and collision), falls, and contact with a puck, high stick, and occasionally, a skate blade.

Accident/Injury Reports

This report MUST be completed when:

1. A player required the assistance of a trainer due to an injury which resulting from the course of a hockey event.

2. A player is taken by ambulance to hospital.

3. If the injury will not allow the player to return to active duty based on a physician’s diagnosis.

4. If the possibility exists that there could be any expenses related directly to the injury of if a possible claim/suit could result from the injury against the Hockey Canada insurance program.

It is the team management’s responsibility to file injury reports to RMMHA – Risk Manager. Parents are to assist the team management in the completion of the report as well as providing doctors notes in order for the player to be permitted back on the ice. RMMHA requires that injury reports be submitted as soon as possible to RMMHA – Risk Management but not more than 30 days following the incident.A doctor’s release note is required along with a completed injury report before the team management is permitted to allow the player back on the ice. A parent’s verbal or written consent is not adequate.

A trainer can refuse to allow any player from continuing to play in a game or practice if they have just cause. The trainer may not be overruled by any player, parent or team official. This includes the head coach.

This year the injury reports were returned as follows:

Novice – 0 Atom - 1

Peewee- 2 Bantam-2

Midget-0 Juvenile-0

Clinics

This season the RMMHA hosted four (4) clinics. All clinics were very well received and provided very good instruction for on or off ice volunteers.

The clinics were as follows:

Speak out – 46 participants Coach Stream – 28 participants

Trainer’s 1 – 18 participants Off Ice (score sheet and time clock) - 13

In total we had 105 people attend our courses and out of that there were 32 RMMHA members.

Next season we plan to host the same clinics as well as the IP (for hockey development coaches and on ice volunteers) and the development 1 (for competitive coaching)

If you are interested in any of the above mentioned clinics please watch the web site in the fall for dates. All members of the RMMHA who participate in these or any other hockey clinics provided by the ODHA will be reimbursed in full by our association.

As this is my last year as the Risk and Safety Manager, I would like to thank all members of the executive for their help, dedication and time that they put into these volunteer positions, without them this association wouldn’t function as well as it does. I would also like thank all parents, bench staff and especially all trainers for their hard work this season. Without their co-operation and commitment my job would be impossible to do. So on behalf of all parents (myself included) and the RMMHA - thanks again.

Have a safe and fun summer and look I forward to seeing everyone in and around the rinks next year.

Tim Giles

Risk and Safety Manager