Risk Management is responsible for hazard, reputational, and financial risks across the County. The focus of Risk Management is on the human and physical assets of the County. The protection and well-being of our employees and our citizens is our utmost priority. Risk Management works with business units across the County to not just respond to hazards, but to also explore and exploit the strengths and opportunities our talented organization has to offer our employees and citizens.
Risk Management responsibilities include:
The claim management function focuses on managing the internal administration of employee work related injuries and coordinating services between the Workers’ Compensation Claim Service Company and the employee for benefits available under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
The claim management function also coordinates activities between injured third parties and the insurance carrier, and works with the insurance carrier to establish liability.
Returning the injured employee to a productive state in the workforce is a top priority. The goal of the rehabilitation program is to ensure the injured employee receives timely medical assistance to reach maximum medical improvement. Research has shown that returning to work, even in a limited capacity, helps promote full recovery. For this reason, Union County’s departments are encouraged to offer injured employees temporary assignments based upon their current work restrictions as determined by the employee’s authorized treating physician.
This program element involves evaluating operational risks and identifying methods of treatment and reduction of risk exposures. Responsibilities under this area include the monitoring and allocation of costs associated with losses to various general fund and non-general fund agencies as a means of accountability; evaluating contractual transfer of risk, evaluating exposures of County assets, and the development of policies and procedures related to this program element.
The insurance program assures that the County’s financial integrity is protected through a combination of commercial insurance and self-insurance. Risk Management is responsible for procuring and managing the County’s purchase of commercial insurance insuring against risk of damages to County buildings, contents, computer equipment, vehicles, mobile equipment, library books, and other valuable assets. Insurance is also purchased to protect the County against various liability exposures and excess insurance for self-insured exposures that may present significant loss exposure.
The County safety program is administered by Risk Management and assists departments as requested in establishing safe work practices. The program’s goals are to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents resulting from County operations. This is accomplished through a variety of methods such as safety training, providing technical assistance, inspections and audits of County facilities, loss cause analysis of services and operations, and the development of safety related policies and procedures.
Keith Richards, CPCU, ARM-E, ARM-P, AIC
Risk Manager
500 N. Main St., Ste 130
Monroe, NC 28112
Email: keith.richards@unioncountync.gov
Phone: 704-283-3663
Fax: 704-292-2590
The goal of Risk Management is to adopt best practices in the identification, evaluation, and most cost-effective approach to eliminating or reducing risks to an acceptable manner, at the lowest possible cost to the County. This is achieved through the development of an integrated multi-disciplinary program for effective management of the County’s resources, assets and liabilities to protect its employees, property, and citizens, and enable the County to achieve its primary aims of enhanced quality of life and service to its citizens.