When group self-insurance pools were authorized through the Code of Virginia § 15.2- 2703, it was done “for the purpose of providing to the participating political subdivisions risk management services as well as insurance coverage…”
As such, VRSA encourages member entities to take steps to prevent and reduce losses. One way we do that is by providing education and training that matters, such as in-person and online training, virtual engagements, local workshops, and more.
Another way is through the Risk Management Assessment (RMA).
The RMA consists of 18 yes-or-no questions, each designed to measure your entity’s progress in specific areas of risk management best practices. One example of an RMA question is: In the previous 12 months, has your entity completed training on reinforcing safety and risk management policies and procedures?
Members demonstrating a 100 percent commitment to implementing these practices are eligible for a discount.
The RMA can be completed any time each year and is available on the VRSA website under Policy Admin. As users progress throughout the assessment, the score automatically updates.
“It’s good practice to review your policies and procedures regularly as environments and circumstances change, people change, operations change, and the needs of your community change,” says VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock.
Annual risk assessments assist with:
- Identifying new risks
- Evaluating existing controls
- Ensuring compliance with regulations
- Allocating resources to manage the most significant risks
- Business continuity, and more.
It is important for the top manager of each entity to review the completed RMA to ensure they are aware of risks and best practices at the highest level.
For those completing the form with a 100 percent commitment, a five percent premium credit is applied annually to member premiums.
“Completing this assessment signals that you are managing risks effectively,” said Bullock. “This not only saves your community taxpayer dollars by reducing losses, but also by receiving a premium credit.”
For more information on the RMA, contact your risk services consultant.