Protect Your Volunteers!

As nonprofits begin to open their operations and services to the community they serve, it is essential to review your volunteers’ risk management policies. Volunteers play a critical role in providing services to the community. It is up to your administration to ensure volunteers work in a safe environment.

Part of your risk management practices will include identifying and controlling risks in a post-pandemic society. How will volunteers be protected from COVID-19 and feel safe? Will flexible worksites or work hours be implemented? Volunteers need to be informed of the protocols that have been developed for their safety. The following is a summary of a few basic safety practices:

• Develop and implement appropriate safety policies following Federal, State, and Local regulations and guidance.
• Best Practices must include Social Distancing, Sanitation, Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
• Volunteers should be informed of any screening protocols and protection they are required to use while they are volunteering. Notify volunteers if they will be provided with PPE, such as masks, hand sanitizer, etc.
• Train volunteers on safety protocols such as respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
• The requirement of face-covering (and any exemptions)

Additionally, the organizations should purchase Accident Insurance to protect volunteers from injury while providing service. Most nonprofits do not insure volunteers under workers’ compensation insurance. Therefore, purchasing an accident policy will help pay for the volunteers’ medical expenses. Accident insurance can also be extended to insure participants involved in events and activities sponsored by the nonprofit. Participants may include kids in after-school programs, disabled adults in a day program, fundraiser participants, etc. On average, volunteer accident insurance policies cost around $500 per year. For a volunteer accident insurance quote, call us. We are here to help.