Risk Managment
SAFEY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY
When planning projects and activities for Extension volunteers, project leaders and Extension staff strive to reduce risks. This is done to help keep you, other volunteers, and all program participants safe.
Since all risks cannot be eliminated, it is important that volunteers contribute to program safety. Actions you can take include, but are not limited to, picking up tools left on the ground, so others do not trip, washing your hands, cleaning up spills, and reporting concerns. It is important that everyone is proactive when it comes to safety!
Responding to an Accident
You may never encounter an accident or witness an injury during your time as an Extension volunteer. However, if you do, you should respond in the following manner.
- Call 911 if the situation is life threatening, serious, or needs police attention. If you’re not sure, err on the side of caution – and, make the call.
- If you are able, administer care until first responders arrive. Extension volunteers are covered by Wisconsin’s Good Samaritan statute. This protects members of the public who attempt to help.
- Call your Extension contact or local Extension office about the situation as soon as possible. If it is outside of normal business hours, consider sending an email in addition to leaving a voicemail. Staff in your local Extension office will help you complete an incident report form, which must be done within 24 to 48 hours.
Liability Coverage
UW-Madison protects volunteers through liability coverage. If injuries or property damage result from your negligence, the state can pay claims or defend you against allegations that result from your actions. The university does not pay claims or defend volunteers who engage in acts of gross negligence.
See Definitions Below for More Details and Supporting Examples:
Scope of Responsibilities: Actions that fall within the expectations and roles listed in the position descriptions for volunteers.
Negligence: Failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person.
EXAMPLE: As part of your volunteer role, you are carrying a jug of water to a meeting. In your hurry to get to the meeting, water spills on the tile floor in the hallway outside the meeting room. You are rushing to get to the meeting, so you don’t clean it up or ask someone else to clean it for you, and one of the participants slips and falls.
Although you were not trying to hurt anyone, this is an example of negligence because it was possible to foresee that an accident could happen. In this case, if an injury resulted from the slip and fall, the University may pay claims resulting from the accident or defend you, as a volunteer, if needed.
Gross Negligence: Behavior that is intentionally reckless or indifferent to the safety of others.
EXAMPLE: You are a volunteer who is scheduled to lead a hike with a group. When you get to the park where the hike was planned, you see signs that say DANGER-KEEP OUT. Despite objections, you decide to ignore the signs and encourage all of the participants to continue with the hike. Some of the participants who go with you get hurt.
This would be an example of gross negligence. You could be held PERSONALLY liable for any injuries to participants who got hurt, because you intentionally made a decision that you knew was highly likely to result in injuries to others. Your actions showed that you were indifferent to their safety. In this scenario, the University would not have volunteer protections for you.
What about Driving?
Driving is not part of most volunteer positions. Transportation to and from program activities is the responsibility of participants.
In rare situations where volunteers are asked to drive as part of their volunteer role, the university’s driver authorization process must be completed. Extension staff will help you fill out paperwork and gain necessary approvals. As the approval process may take a few weeks, it is important to plan ahead.
There is very little auto liability coverage and no collision coverage available for volunteers who are approved to drive as part of their roles. Interested in more details about coverage of personally owned vehicles when used for university business? Read the box below.
Additional Automobile Insurance Coverage Details
- Damages to a volunteer’s personal vehicle are covered by the volunteer’s own auto insurance, and the volunteer is responsible for the insurance deductible. Under no circumstances will the University’s property program pay for the volunteer’s vehicle repairs.
- In the event of a loss, the Authorized driver’s personal auto liability insurance will provide the primary insurance coverage for the loss. The University will only provide excess liability coverage to authorized drivers while using their personally owned vehicles on University business.