News

What Pool Directors Say About Transferring Their Knowledge

Transferring executive knowledge — whether to one likely successor or a management team — is about laying the long-term groundwork for future leaders to take charge. In recent small group conversations with pool executives, we’ve been exploring just what laying that groundwork means.  Here are four preliminary best practice ideas about knowledge transfer stemming from these discussions: 1. Give future pool leaders a variety of responsibilities. One pool executive said he’s successful in his position today because he’s played a role in all areas of his pool’s operations over the course of 30 years. He worked in claims, underwriting and risk management ...
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Pooling Community Resources (September 16, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the September 16, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 COVID-19 isolation/quarantine decision tree  (GSRMA) Article on  insurance-related consequences of school district public health policies  (Education Week)   Access more COVID-19 pooling resources  via our website   RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Summary of recent  Open Records Act case relating to public business being done on private phones  (KLC) Pool newsletter with guidance on  workplace harassment, crosswalk safety, credit card usage online and firefighter gear ...
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Service Provider Interest May Signal Economic Recovery

AGRiP has for many years offered membership for corporate entities, businesses and sole practitioners supporting public entity pools. Pools recognize the incredible value private organizations bring to the industry, and it’s our goal to have service provider perspectives at the table alongside member pools.  In the last few months, we’ve vetted nearly as many inquiries from service providers about membership in AGRiP as in the five or so years prior. Although the corresponding financial commitment is notable for some, service providers are nevertheless eager to join. So what does this level of interest mean? Companies are prepared to invest ...
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Pooling Community Resources (August 26, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the August 26, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 Refresher on   COVID-19 considerations for member entity operations in California   (GSRMA) Podcast episode about   first responders and COVID-19 vaccines   (TMLIRP) Access more COVID-19 pooling resources   via our website .    RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Poster with   tips on parking lot personal safety   (CIRSA)   MEMBER-ORIENTED COMMUNICATIONS AND SERVICES Pool data scientist’s   award-winning workers’ compensation cost prediction model   will inform member dashboard ...
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Find Information From Other Pools About New Risk Areas

Pools provide effective coverage and risk management for “typical” public entity risks as well as new and emerging risk areas. Providing space to compare experiences between and among pools is one of the most important roles AGRiP serves, allowing members to share important lessons and best practices that make us all better. Sharing perspective about the changing nature of school risks is just one example. Historically, services provided by school districts have been fairly focused: delivering in-person education, overseeing extracurricular activities, and (occasionally) providing space for other community events. School facilities and services have always ...
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Pooling Community Resources (August 5, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the August 5, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 Explanation to members of how liability coverage will respond to COVID-related suits (ICRMT)   Access more COVID-19 pooling resources via our website .     RISK MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Article on how AI tech may impact analysis of workers’ compensation claims, CAT claims and claims fraud (CSD Pool) List of issues relating to special district social media usage (CSD Pool) Recommendations to minimize the severity of a cyber breach (MCIT) Pool-curated lists ...
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Pooling Community Resources (July 15, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the July 15, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. RISK MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Tips for   public entities interacting with “First Amendment auditors”   (CIRSA) Takeaways from recent cyberattacks and   tips for protecting public entity networks   (NJ MEL) Recommendations to   protect workers from being struck by vehicular traffic   while in the right of way (PRM) List of   hidden hazards often overlooked during playground inspections   (OMAG) Article on   developments in virtual claims training   (Legacy-level QEI Patron Sedgwick) Article warning of   the ...
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Pooling Community Resources (June 17, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the June 17, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. RISK MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Tools to increase public awareness of move over laws and first responder roadside safety (LMCIT) Tips to avoid heat illness among public entity employees (from PRM and GSRMA ) Considerations for custodial, maintenance and grounds personnel performing summer maintenance on school property (MSGIA) MEMBER-ORIENTED COMMUNICATIONS AND SERVICES Abuse risk management seminar series for member entity employees participating in programs for young people and seniors (CIRSA) ...
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Workers’ Compensation for Out-of-State Public Entity Employees

With some public entities planning to retain their remote work policies even after the pandemic, one previously rare working arrangement is being considered more often: public entity employees working from an entirely different state. This situation can generate some unique issues for both public entities and pools — particularly when it comes to workers’ compensation coverage. Most pools offering workers’ compensation coverage do so only in their own state, both as a matter of historical need and because of regulatory or statutory restrictions. Each state also has its own statutory workers’ compensation benefits and requirements, including in some cases ...
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Pooling Community Resources (May 27, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the May 27, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 List of ventilation tips to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools (ESD 112 / SWRMIC) Public entity guidance relating to workplace vaccinations from CIRMA , MCIT and NDIRF Access more COVID-19 pooling resources via our website . RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Steps to enhance employee safety and minimize property losses from wildfires and related emergencies (California JPIA) Podcast series on key legal issues important to member entities and pool-provided services ...
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Ten Pools Receive AGRiP Recognition in First Half of 2021

AGRiP Recognition honors pools adhering to a recommended level of professional standards and industry best practices. Approximately a quarter of AGRiP member pools have achieved AGRiP Recognition.  Whether applying for Recognition or not, all member pools can use the AGRiP Advisory Standards for Recognition to improve their governance, policies and procedures.  We congratulate the 10 member pools granted Recognition in 2021 so far: The Delaware Valley Trusts (DVT) offer comprehensive liability coverages as well as Heart and Lung Act liability coverage for participants with police departments. This year, the Trusts also offer “active shooter ...
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The Real Questions About the Future of Work

As pools increasingly bring their teams back to the office, they're considering how their experiences with remote work might impact them over the long term. This new article from  2016–17 Resident Futurist Rebecca Ryan includes a terrific diagram highlighting the importance of  mission clarity and appropriate structure  with respect to your return-to-work plans. One key thought pertaining to pools: By definition, pools have phenomenal mission clarity — although it’s an area of opportunity for continuous improvement in internal communications. This means you can really  focus on the top half of Rebecca’s diagram to ask which structure is most fitting ...
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Pooling Community Resources (April 8, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the April 8, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 Illinois’s COVID-19 presumption will now apply to certain essential workers only until June 30 , not Dec. 31 (see pages 6, 12–14, 16–17). Virginia has established a new COVID-19 workers’ compensation presumption for health care workers . Article about whether COVID-19 can be classified as an occupational disease (written by Safety National, VP-level QEI Patron) Access more COVID-19 pooling resources via our website . RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Guidance on preparing ...
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Pooling Community Resources (March 18, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the March 18, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 List of COVID-19 employee leave considerations (VLCT) Article about work comp coverage for employees suffering an adverse vaccine reaction (PRISM) Webinar on issues related to COVID-19 vaccination programs in the workplace (California JPIA) Perspective on the COVID-19 environment and its effects on the workers’ compensation industry (Sedgwick, Legacy-level QEI Patron) Blog post on the lingering cognitive effects of COVID-19 (Sedgwick, Legacy-level QEI Patron) Access more COVID-19 ...
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Supreme Court Expands Definition of ‘Seizure’ in Torres v. Madrid

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court held that  a person may be considered “seized” under the Fourth Amendment   even if the individual escapes . This case may be of interest to pools covering law enforcement risks. Writing for the majority in  Torres v. Madrid , Chief Justice John Roberts said the “application of physical force to the body of a person with intent to restrain is a seizure, even if the force does not succeed in subduing the person.” Because this ruling expands what constitutes a Fourth Amendment seizure, it may open up police departments to additional police liability exposures — especially when suspects are injured trying to flee ...
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Important Training for Pool Governing Bodies

Before the pandemic, it was hard for pool governing body members to carve out time for training. Layer on pandemic-related travel restrictions and other hurdles, and it’s even more difficult for them to find space on their schedules for governance education — no matter how valuable or necessary it is. Pools are facing serious challenges: COVID-19, societal shifts, a hard reinsurance market and more. Many pools are also experiencing higher-than-usual turnover on their governing bodies, so there’s increased demand for onboarding education.  No matter how you manage it, introductory training for a governing body member should include at a minimum: ...
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Key Insights From Our Succession Readiness Assessment

A few weeks ago, we distributed our Succession Readiness Assessment to pool executives.  This survey — the first engagement of the year in our ongoing residency — was designed to help each top pool executive self-assess their pool’s readiness for their own planned or unplanned departures. Respondents were asked to (a) tell us about their existing succession plans, (b) share their expectations for the future, and (c) report on their staff team’s preparedness to take on executive duties across core pool functions. The responses we’ve gotten so far have shed valuable light on pools’ readiness for executive succession. Here are some selected ...
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Assessing Impacts of New Cancer Presumptions

In 2019 and early in 2020, a number of states passed or considered legislation to create workers’ compensation presumptions for PTSD in first responders. When COVID-19 hit, legislative focus shifted and things quieted a bit on presumptions.  Today, the issue of presumptions is again gaining momentum. Although we’re hearing continued talk about presumptions for PTSD for public safety workers, focus now seems to be mostly about legislation expanding cancer presumptions for firefighters.   Naturally, pools are seeking to evaluate the effects of new presumptions on workers’ compensation claims. Projections might be used as the basis to quantify potential ...
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Pooling Community Resources (Feb. 25, 2021)

The resources below were featured in the Feb. 25, 2021, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. COVID-19 Vermont’s newly extended  workers’ compensation presumption  for front-line workers, now lasting until the 30th day following the eventual termination of the COVID-related state of emergency Highlights from a  recent pool-facilitated discussion on COVID-19’s impact on liability  (WCRP) Overview of  COVID-19 liability waivers shared by SDRMA with member public entities RISK MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES Tips to  prevent pipes from freezing (LARM) Best practices for  snow emergencies ...
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Methods to Improve Your Meetings

Late last year, we brought together pool leaders for Executive Think Tank, an event in which participants used collaborative conversation methods to discuss important pooling issues in 2021 and beyond. After the event, we were surprised by how frequently participants inquired about how we developed the conversation methodologies. Executives told us the conversation prompts, supportive technology and facilitation methods were instrumental in producing useful outcomes they could bring back to their pools. Because of this feedback, our Executive Think Tank Report presents not just the insights that came out of conversations but also the methodologies ...
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