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Insurance Bureau of Canada/mb/Business/Risk Management/Policies and Procedures

Policy and Procedures

​Reduce liability risks: document and train employees and volunteers in risk management best practices.

​It's incumbent on all organizations to proactively identify and mitigate potentially dangerous or harmful situations. Written policies and procedures are important tools for preventing losses and defend ing your organization in legal proceedings should they occur. Ideally, employees and volunteers should be asked to sign off or otherwise acknowledge their receipt and understanding of your organization's policies and procedures. 


Policies and procedures ensure that duties and services are performed in a consistent manner so that:

  • Employees understand what is expected of them
  • Disputes may be resolved by determining whether or not policies and procedures have been followed.
  • Plans are already in place in the case of an emergency.
  • Customers receive a consistent and satisfactory level of service.
  • Strict performance requirements for employees and/or volunteers are proven. In the event of a claim, documentation can improve the chances of successfully defending a claim.
  • The public reputation of the organization is protected.

Legal Liability

It is important to note that no one can accurately predict when a claim will end up in court or what the decision of the court will be. Policies and procedures may be a very effective way to defend against a claim and lawsuit. However, to be effective, policies and procedures must be strictly followed and well documented. 

If your organization has documented policies that are not used or followed, they may prove to be a legal detriment. Discover risk management best practices and learn how to create and implement effective policies and procedures throughout your organization.

 

*Source: Compiled with Canadian Risk Intervention Inc.