RISK CONTROL INSTITUTE

Course Descriptions | Course Schedule | How to Apply

The Department of Human Resource Management's Office of Workers' Compensation, in partnership with the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Business and the Department of the Treasury's Division of Risk Management, is pleased to present the Virginia Risk-Control Institute (VRCI). The VRCI consists of a series of four, 3 semester credit undergraduate courses designed to assist state agencies to better control workplace accidents, injuries, and occupational health. The Office of Workers' Compensation or the Division of Risk Management will pay course tuition fees and textbook costs for those who successfully complete each course, and whose agencies approve their participation as part of a focused agency loss-reduction effort. However, meals and lodging will be at agency expense as allowed by State Travel Regulations. Classes are held in state facilities here in the greater Richmond area. Participants who successfully complete all four classes will receive a certificate of completion from the Virginia Risk Control Institute.

A three semester hour **graduate course is also offered for agency administrators who already hold an earned baccalaureate degree and who wish to learn more about reducing injuries and illnesses and controlling other sources of agency losses.

The four courses in the Virginia Risk-Control Track are:

1. BUS 330: Regulatory Aspects of Safety & Risk-Control
2. BUS 332: System Safety
3. BUS 334: Incident Investigation & Analysis
4. BUS 491: Topics in Business (Ergonomics)

The four courses in the Risk Management Certificate track are:

1. BUS 424: Property and Liability Insurance
2. BUS 432: Insurance Law
3. BUS 491: Topic Seminar - Benchmarking Best Practices
4. MGMT 427: Labor and Employment Relations Law

Graduate Course:

A 3 semester hour BUS 691 is also offered for agency administrators who already hold an earned baccalaureate degree and who wish to learn more about reducing injuries and illnesses and controlling other sources of agency losses.

1. ** BUS 691: Management of the Risk Control Function

Why Build a Cadre of Informed Agency Safety Managers and Decision-Makers?

Workers' Compensation losses, liability claims, citations for non-compliance with growing numbers of federal and state HSE (Health, Safety and Environmental) mandates, they all present real and present challenges to Virginia agency risk managers, safety specialists, and other decision-makers. Recently, Governor Gilmore's "Executive Order 52: Workplace Safety & Health" recognized the seriousness of the Commonwealth's risk-control problem by directing Virginia state agencies and operational programs to better focus and direct their loss-control efforts. The VRCI supports EO 52 by helping agencies to develop the internal expertise to build and maintain effective risk-control programs, not only now but also in the future.

Many risk managers and safety officers now working in state government have had no formal training in risk-control (loss-prevention and loss-control). They have had to rely on personal development efforts and trial-and-error.

The Virginia Risk-Control Institute responds to this situation in two important ways: 1) it provides short-term training in key HSE program areas; and 2) it serves to develop, over time, a cadre of trained state HSE program managers.

• Short-Term Training in Key HSE Program Areas: VRCI participants complete a rigorous program of study that requires mastery of a number of key HSE program topics and issues. Participants complete focused project assignments in which they apply course content to real-world agency problems. Students are tested and evaluated in such content areas as: HSE laws, regulations, and regulatory processes; accident/injury causation; the design and operation of accident/incident data reporting and collection systems; analyzing complex processes and systems; identifying and prioritizing risks; "designing out" significant loss producing hazards and threats; and, a variety of additional specialized programmatic topics, such as ergonomics and accident cost-accounting.
   
• Long-Term Development: A Cadre of Trained HSE Program Managers. VRCI courses emphasize theory into practice; that is, each course provides a thorough academic treatment of the subject, but with emphasis on practical, real-world application. Since VRCI coursework requires participants to personally adapt, test, and evaluate what they learn through practical case-applications within their own job settings, graduates report finding themselves much better equipped to effectively respond to the complex HSE problems now confronting their agencies.

How the VRCI can help with the Governor's Executive Order 52: Workplace Safety & Health?

Need information on how this program can assist you and your agency to comply with the Governor's Executive Order 52: Workplace Safety and Health and with other federal and state safety mandates?   For information or help, contact Sue Keener at 804-786-0362 or E-mail skeener@dhrm.state.va.us

VRCI Faculty?

VRCI courses are taught and coordinated by Dr. R. Michael McDonald, Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business. Questions about course content may be directed to Dr. McDonald at his office (804) 828-7116, or E-mail rmmcdona@vcu.edu

Tuition?

The Department of Human Resource Management's Office of Workers' Compensation will pay course tuition fees and textbook costs for employees of agencies who carry their Workers' Compensation insurance through DHRM. The Department of the Treasury's Division of Risk Management will pay state agency, local government and constitutional officer employees' costs if they are insured in VA RISK or VA RISK II. However, meals and lodging will be at agency expense, as allowed by State Travel Regulations.

Scheduling & Location?

Two courses are offered each semester (spring, summer, fall) (see schedule). Classes are held in state facilities in the greater Richmond area and are scheduled so that state employees are away from work only two to four days in any given month. Each individual course consists of four two-day class sessions. Classes meet from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Who Is Eligible?

The VRCI is open to Virginia state and local government employees currently responsible for human resources, risk management, and/or developing, implementing, and monitoring employee health and safety programs. Agencies whose personnel participate in the VRCI must currently be insured through the Commonwealth's Workers' Compensation Program or insured by the Division of Risk Management. Applicants for VRCI courses must hold an earned high school diploma or GED. A special application process is required for admission into the graduate level course. Please contact the Virginia Labor Studies Center (see below) for details.

Acceptance into this Class:

Acceptance will be based upon not only experience, but also safety/health background and the percentage of time spent in direct support of agency safety and health goals. Class size is limited to 30 participants.

How To Apply?

Step 1: Click on the application form you wish to print. After you click on the chosen form, you will need to print a copy (or copies) on your printer.

• Risk Control Institute (undergraduate course) Application Form
• Graduate Course Application Form

Step 2: Complete the application. (BE SURE TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY SIGNATURES)

Step 3: FAX the completed form to: 804-786-8840 or mail to:

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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Graduate Training in Health, Safety & Environmental Management.

The following 3 semester credit graduate course in Health, Safety & Environmental Management is also offered.

BUS 691: Management of the Risk Control Function

This 3-semester hour graduate course evaluates methods for assessing, building, and maintaining a positive and proactive safety culture within an agency or organization. Topics include: perception surveys, methods for assessing needs, benchmarking, maximizing safety committee performance and effectiveness, designing and implementing behavior-based safety programming, and accident cost-accounting. This course stresses methods for achieving an organization-wide commitment to good health, safety and environmental management practices and procedures.

2002 Schedule of
Virginia Risk-Control Institute Credit Classes.
(Note: course dates are subject to change)

Spring 2002

• BUS 491: Topic Seminar - Ergonomics (January 29-30; February 19-20; March 26-27; April 23-24)
• BUS 432: Insurance Law (January 22-23; February 26-27; April 2-3; April 30-May 1)

 Summer 2002

• BUS 334: Incident Investigation & Analysis (May 20-21; June 10-11; July 8-9; July 29-30)
• MGMT 427: Labor & Employment Relations Law ( June 3-4; June 18-19, July 16-17; August 5-6)
• BUS 691: Management of the Risk Control Function (May 22-23; June 12-13; July 10-11; July 31-August 1)

Fall 2002

• BUS 330: Regulatory Aspects of Safety & Risk Control (September 9-10; September 30-October 1; November 4-5; December 2-3
• BUS 491: Topic Seminar - Benchmarking Best Practices (September 3-4; October 8-9; November 12-13; December 10-11)

To Apply

Step 1: Click below on the application form you wish to print. After you click on the chosen form, you will need to print a copy (or copies) on your printer.

• Risk Control Institute (undergraduate course) Application Form
• Graduate Course Application Form

Step 2: Complete the application. (BE SURE TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY SIGNATURES)

Step 3: FAX the completed form to 804-786-8840 or mail to:

(Top of page)