From proactive staff training to advanced safety tools, industry leaders share best practices for ensuring secure and well-managed facilities through risk management.
Recreation centers act as a hub of a community, creating a space for people to engage in sports, fitness and various wellness programs. The benefits provided by these facilities can’t come without safety procedures and risk management strategies.
Maintaining a safe environment is key to rec centers running smoothly and successfully. By taking advantage of new technology, monitoring facilities and prioritizing staff training, recreation leaders need to develop and maintain key industry safety practices.
Creating a culture of safety starts by managing risk at facilities. Anne Reif, the senior vice president of operations and COO of the Buffalo Niagara YMCA, helps create this culture at her Y by organizing and working with a safety committee.
Comprised of full and part-time staff, the committee works together to identify and evaluate risks, develop mitigation strategies, and then ensure the center adheres to the best practices. Additionally, Reif’s staff completes daily walkthroughs in and outside their facilities, following a checklist to proactively identify potential safety and risk issues.
“These efforts allow staff to address hazards promptly and implement the best course of action to maintain a safe environment for everyone,” said Reif.
Reif makes sure safety is discussed monthly at staff meetings, reviewing best practices and reinforcing them. Regularly, her staff performs fire drills and invites experts into the facility to conduct workshops focusing on specific safety topics that apply to the center. The Y has multiple safety buttons installed throughout the center that call the local fire department, 911 and initiate a lockdown.
By going beyond just stressing the importance of reactive responses, Reif’s rec center embeds safety and risk prevention into daily operations. She said reaching this level starts by addressing immediate and manageable concerns first.
“Gradually build a robust risk management program that addresses broader challenges,” said Reif. “Collaborate with your insurance providers to identify your biggest risks and prioritize them. Don’t hesitate to seek help or guidance from experts or other organizations to strengthen safety efforts.”
Tiffany Gould, the aquatics manager at The Wave Aquatics and Fitness Center, also employs a daily check system at her facility. On top of this, her team conducts patron counts every 30 minutes to track usage patterns and identify overcrowding or safety issues. From these counts, her team is able to strengthen their proactive risk management efforts.
Gould makes sure her recreation staff conducts annual and biannual training with American Red Cross certification and workplace-specific safety equipment training. Completing this training is essential as around the center there’s strategically placed equipment specific to the facility like diabetic shock kits, breathing barriers and first aid kits.
These kits improve the ability to respond to emergencies. To take it a step further, there are emergency pull stations installed in two designated pool areas. These stations immediately alert staff and emergency services during an accident, which can ensure a quick and efficient response.
Gould placed each of these risk management features thoughtfully by recognizing the unique challenges at the facility like lifeguards on duty, drowning prevention, water quality and more. Being unafraid to enforce strict policies — and back them up with access to reduced or free swim lessons — helps promote safety and proficiency.
“We strive to maintain our pools as free from contaminants as possible while ensuring help is readily available in emergencies,” said Gould. “This includes distributing educational materials on water safety, conducting frequent safety briefings, and fostering a proactive culture of awareness among staff and patrons within every part of our facility.”
Achieving this level of success while managing risk is a testament to prioritizing staff training — something she called a cornerstone of risk management and essential to recognize and achieve.
“Cultivating a culture of safety awareness among staff will empower them to identify hazards proactively and respond effectively, ultimately safeguarding patrons and enhancing overall safety in the facility,” said Gould.
Tammy Como, the executive director of aquatics and risk management at the YMCA of Montclair, similarly focuses on her facility’s unique aspects, addressing risk and safety in the areas that make the Y stand out. In her 100,000-square-foot building which spans five floors, Como recognized there are many places to hide, opting to have staff monitoring and checking on facilities regularly during open hours. The local police department came into the facility to conduct a risk assessment of the building, which helped Y employees determine the best areas to monitor to keep members safe.
Como also focuses heavily on abuse prevention, ensuring staff attend training on the topic after being hired and renew their training through each individual department orientation shortly after.
In addition, each non-member or vendor who enters the Y must provide their government-issued ID to check in for a match in the National Abuse Registry before entering the facility. Como’s staff also uses a toolkit provided by Praesidium for compliance with child protection policies.
The YMCA of Montclair achieved Praesidium Accreditation in October 2023, the highest industry standard in safety and abuse prevention. The accreditation is valid for three years, something Como said will ensure her team upholds organization values, and implements and follows safety practices that protect patrons from abuse. She said monitoring the building by checking bathrooms and locker rooms is an important routine to uphold in all recreation centers.
“Administrators, department heads, and every employee in the Y is responsible for reporting and documenting any red flag behaviors,” said Como. “The motto is it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the youth in our care.”
Como recommends having an independent accessor and insurance companies visit the facility and make recommendations. To properly assess risk and provide recommendations to improve, Como said outside eyes are important.
By integrating structured risk management strategies, staff education and advanced safety tools, recreation centers can maintain secure facilities while optimizing daily operations. Prioritizing safety not only protects members and employees but also enhances the overall experience, ensuring that recreation remains welcoming and well-managed for years to come.
