Risk Management & Safety - 1997 Benchmarking Report

Risk Management & Safety participated in an industry benchmarking project for fiscal year 1996. This project, administered through the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) and assisted by Barbara S. Shafer and Associates, included over 100 institutions. These institutions were further divided into cohorts based upon factors such as student headcount, building gross square feet, research expenditures and presence of a medical school or teaching hospital.

Industry benchmarking by nature identifies an organization's relative standing within a group of like institutions. Relative efficiencies or inefficiencies of similar operations are identifiable. This process allows for the internalization of the best process within the higher education environment.

For all benchmarks developed, Risk Management & Safety presents a brief review of the University's relative standing to cohort results.

In most areas the University results appear to be in line with other institutions. One area of success appears to be the Workers Compensation program that is in the University. Management of hazardous waste program also showed efficiencies beyond the cohort numbers. The efforts by Risk Management & Safety over the last several years to take a more active role in these processes appears to have generated these positive results.

Areas the Risk Management will focus upon in the upcoming year include costs of environmental health/sanitation per faculty/staff/student, reducing injuries and illnesses across campus and liability risk. Investigation may show economies are possible or that the University has taken a more conservative approach to risk (higher coverages and increased emphasis) on these areas.

Of note, the University's Director of Risk Management & Safety, Bob Zerr, coordinated the 1996 CSHEMA benchmarking study.

For additional information, please contact:

Robert M. Zerr
Director of Risk Management & Safety
University of Notre Dame
122 Security Building
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556-5675

Voice: 219-631-5037
E-mail: Zerr.1@nd.edu
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