CIRMA Recognizes the Town of Berlin for its Risk Management

The Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) awarded the Town of Berlin its Risk Management Achievement Award for 2013.

The Town is recognized for making workplace safety and risk management a priority within the Town’s operations.

Under the direction of the Town’s executive leadership, Town Manager Denise McNair engaged all operating departments in employee health and safety reviews. They updated job descriptions, implemented pre-employment human performance reviews for positions with a high-risk of injury, and implemented an aggressive Return-to-Work initiative across all departments.

The Town also implemented risk transfer and best practices for all departments. As a direct result, the cost of Workers’ Compensation losses has been reduced by 40 percent over the past fiscal year--savings that will benefit the community.

Bruce A. Wollschlager, CIRMA Chief Executive Officer, said, “This year’s award recipients demonstrate that our members have taken ownership of their risk management programs; they’ve assumed accountability, and thereby were able to achieve significant results. They are the best of the best.”

CIRMA’s mission is to reduce losses and their costs by improving its members’ understanding of risk and the ways to control and manage it. CIRMA is a member-owned and governed organization that is the state’s leading municipal insurer.

CIRMA’s Risk Management Achievement Awards program was begun in 1981 to recognize the risk management and safety initiatives that prevent accidents and make positive improvements in Connecticut communities. The program has expanded over the years, recognizing achievements in such areas as property management and sustained results. The program provides CIRMA members a forum in which they can share ideas and learn new methods to reduce losses.