INSIDE GOLF received this article from a person who makes a living from giving advice in the area of risk management to golf clubs. So, we agree he has a vested interest. Even so, it could serve as a warning to some clubs who do not have their houses in order – Michael Davis.
What is the biggest risk facing golf general managers?
This is a particularly vexing question in these times of increased vigilance by the authorities with significantly increased fines for breaches of the various state and territory OHS/WHS Acts.
Recent surveys have resulted in learning that in this day and age most clubs are very aware of their statutory obligations and are at least attempting to address them, firstly to ensure their biggest asset, their staff, are safe and secondly, that they are compliant with the law.
The diversity of operations within a club, from the maintenance facility including machinery and chemicals, to the kitchen including gas and electrical appliances, to the food and beverage areas including manual handling and the responsible service of alcohol, to the pro shop including working alone possibilities and working with children, all present significant exposure to risks.
The best ASX listed companies are very aware of their exposures by both severity and likelihood and have documented processes, procedures and training to minimise incidents/accidents causing harm to their staff, ensuring a robust audit trail in the event of a random visit by the authorities or more, a court appearance following an incident/accident.
The vast number of industry associations assisting these business’s is significant and industry specific trade shows focus heavily on this topic.
Not so in our golf industry!
Apparently for our trade show organisers, the topic of risk is not sexy enough to invite highly experienced and trained OHS/WHS experts to address our events, so we are yet to see one in attendance at any trade show.
Significantly worrying, given the recent introduction in most states and territories of Industrial Manslaughter legislation, which carries up to $20 million in fines and up to 20 years in jail for a death determined to be the result of gross negligence.
The club’s general manager is exposed to this potential liability, as the label for them by the authorities under the applicable Acts, is the Person Conducting the Business or Undertaking (PCBU)-if you have never heard this terminology before, your exposure to the mandatory legal obligations you and your club have is significantly high!
Before you stress unnecessarily, there is help, but it is essential you employ the correct help, as maintaining currency with OHS/WHS Acts very much requires the services of a highly specialised company or consultant to assist or appropriate formal training if you are confident of managing the responsibility in-house.
Doing so above eliminates your first exposure to risk as the GM … ignorance.
As we all know, ignorance of any law is no defence and none more so than OHS/WHS.
Your next to risk is to identify your club’s exposure by severity and likelihood and eliminate or manage those risks, once identified, ‘as far as reasonably practicable’ (The exact words in the Acts).
To ensure you are doing this, your engaged experts must have appropriate formal qualifications, must attend regularly onsite and must use appropriate software that complies with published Australian and/or International Safety Standards.
Using generic software that is not golf specific, consultants who manage your responsibilities remotely online, consultants unqualified in OHS/WHS Law, companies who regularly change consultants, so never reach a deep understanding of your club and its risks, consultants who do not attend onsite at your club, is way too high a risk exposure for you the GM and your club.
Before you engage a company or consultant, ask the questions above and seek validation of the answers-look for referrals from within the industry and follow them up.
And lastly, ensure that whoever you engage is offering value for money for their services and if you are being asked to sign a contract, do so for no longer than 12 months initially.
Over charging and under-performing is not an acceptable risk you would wish to have to explain to your board.
One time, insurance companies would settle fines and legal fees involving breaches of OHS/WHS Acts-this is no longer the case, making your need to ensure you and your club are compliant with the law even mere essential.
Risk management is very possible with the correct people and tools-applied professionally it will change the culture within your club and you will see in due course productivity gains.
An expert consultant will prove this without doubt.
Good luck!
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