Vehicle Management is Safety Management
May 11, 2016
Ministry-owned and -operated vehicles may be one of the greatest liability threats ministry leaders must manage. The aftermath of an accident involving ministry participants, especially children, is something no church or ministry wants to experience.
Guidelines for Vehicles
Many accidents can be prevented by adhering to a few sensible guidelines that can help ministry leaders manage their organization’s vehicle usage.
- Don’t purchase or keep vehicles unless you can afford to maintain them in top mechanical condition.
- Assign a reliable individual or team to oversee vehicle maintenance and vehicle operation policies.
- Develop a written maintenance program for each vehicle; document all maintenance work completed.
- Develop and enforce a written vehicle operation policy addressing issues such as driver eligibility, vehicle usage rules, and vehicle storage and security.
- Equip your vehicles with every warning and safety device permitted by state codes.
- Make sure each passenger has a working seat belt.
Guidelines for Drivers
Not only should your vehicles be in tip-top condition, but drivers also should be selected with the upmost care. They should be well-qualified and have the necessary licenses and experience to ensure passenger safety.
- Ensure that drivers comply with state laws, obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) when required.
- Obtain driving records on all drivers before permitting them to operate a vehicle.
- Never allow young, inexperienced drivers to operate your vehicles.
- Train drivers to operate large vehicles, perform pre-trip inspections, and use emergency safety equipment.
- For long trips, have sufficient drivers to ensure that no one drives for more than a two-hour stretch.
- If you’re pulling a trailer, make sure the driver is qualified and experienced for the task.
Guidelines for Supervision
- Provide one of more adult supervisors when transporting children.
- Develop and enforce a code of conduct for passengers. Don’t allow them to move about while a vehicle is in motion.
- Teach drivers how to manage “critical moments” when children are entering or leaving a vehicle. Young children should always be escorted across traffic when entering or leaving a vehicle.
- July 22, 2021
- Thousands in Relief Funding Available to Ministries Through the Employee Retention Credit
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Most ministry leaders don’t realize there is funding available to non-profit employers including churches, schools, colleges, and camps. This post includes some highlights about the credit and guidance on where to start to see if your ministry is eligible.
- April 23, 2021
- Predictions and Insights for VBS 2021
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If your church is anything like mine, Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a big deal. Not just because it is central to our ministry’s outreach to young families, but because of the important role that VBS plays in the spiritual formation of children.
- April 13, 2021
- Take Time to Review Your Ministry's Child Protection Plan
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Though child abuse may not be something you could ever imagine happening within your ministry, sexual abuse of a minor is one of the top five reasons churches end up in court, according to Church Law & Tax. Studies also show that a child is much more likely to be sexually abused by a trusted adult than a stranger.
- March 16, 2021
- Prepare for Severe Spring Storms Now
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When severe storms strike, they can produce high winds and tornadoes. Damaging winds can wreak havoc on your ministry’s property and to buildings. A high wind event can crash debris through your windows, strip your siding, down trees on your parking lot, peel shingles off your roof, and fling back the flashing.
- February 25, 2021
- Catalytic Converter Theft on the Rise: Protect Ministry Vehicles
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Thieves are taking advantage of soaring precious metal prices. Take steps to protect your ministry’s vehicles and property.
- February 15, 2021
- Grant Funds Available for Safeguarding Ministries
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As the Director of Ministry Safety for our agency, I am dedicated to finding ways to help safeguard ministries like yours.
- February 5, 2021
- Avoid Frozen Pipes as Temperatures Plummet
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As temperatures plummet, the risk of freezing pipes jumps. Frozen pipes can cause costly messes that could also put your ministry on hold while you clean up.
- January 12, 2021
- Potential Vulnerabilities in School's Safety Plan
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On behalf of our agency, I recently participated in one such training which focused on strategies and tactics for responding as a single officer to an active safety threat in a school building.
- January 5, 2021
- Church Safety Trends for 2021
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If you’re anything like me (and maybe the rest of the world for that matter), you’re grateful to put the craziness of the past year behind us.
- November 23, 2020
- COVID-19 and the Christmas Season
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Preparing for this Christmas season may require additional creativity, due to the uncertainty of what COVID-19 may bring in our local community.
- October 28, 2020
- Guidance for Ministries About Boy Scouts' Bankruptcy
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A mid-November deadline in the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings may have you wondering what the organization’s bankruptcy filing means for your ministry if you ever hosted or chartered Boy Scout Troops.
- October 27, 2020
- Self-Defense or Second-Degree Murder?
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On October 10, 2020, in Denver, Colorado, a 30-year-old private security guard who was hired to protect a Denver news crew while covering protests was involved in a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a 49-year-old man.
- October 1, 2020
- Applying for PPP Loan Forgiveness
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Organizations that obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding through the CARES Act can have their loans forgiven, turning them into grants. To qualify, each borrower must file a forgiveness application with its PPP lender, proving that it followed the rules. If your church, school, college, or camp meets all the criteria, 100% of its loan can be forgiven.
- August 27, 2020
- Emergency Dispatch: Cameron Peak
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Lessons learned from the front line of a wildland fire.
- August 20, 2020
- Colorado Wildfires: Prepare Your Ministry Now
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Four major wildfires are burning across Colorado, fueled by dry vegetation, drought and wind.
- April 13, 2020
- Beware of COVID-19 Cyber Scams
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Ministries are creatively scrambling to continue their operations and safely engage their congregations with an array of online technologies during the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, hackers are ready to take advantage of the confusion with scams designed to steal valuable data or siphon funds from your ministry. Learn how to keep your ministry safe from scams.
- March 30, 2020
- CARES Act: Churches Need to Apply Now
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Learn about the CARES Act and two loans for which ministries may be eligible, since Congress authorized additional funding April 23.
- March 6, 2020
- Coronavirus and Your Ministry: Tips for Prevention
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As concern over the dangers associated with the spread of a new coronavirus, COVID-19, spreads, our agency and Brotherhood Mutual want to keep you informed and provide best practices for managing the spread of this and similar illnesses at your ministry.
- January 29, 2020
- Hosting a Game Day Bash? Brush Up on Copyright Basics
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The first Sunday in February is a big day for sports fans. In fact, many Americans view Super Bowl Sunday as a national holiday. Friends and families will gather this year to watch the big game, enjoy delicious snacks, and of course, critique the commercials that go along with game day.
- October 28, 2019
- Are You Covered If You're Injured Overseas?
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Recently, we learned about two major overseas incidents involving pastors on mission trips. The first incident involved a pastor being hit by a motorcycle while running. The second was a bus accident involving two pastors. The runner and one of the two bus passengers sustained extensive injuries.