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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- September 11, 2019
- Returning to Tornado-Damaged Areas
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If your ministry buildings were damaged as a result of these tornadoes, or if you plan on sending ministry volunteers out to assist with disaster recovery, be mindful of the dangers involved.
- September 1, 2019
- IRS Announces More Church Audits Regarding ACA Compliance
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Last month, the IRS announced that its initiating hundreds of church exams to test compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While many provisions only apply to churches with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), even smaller churches could potentially violate provisions applicable to health benefit plans with as few as 2 plan participants.
- July 3, 2019
- Celebrate Safely This Independence Day
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July 4th is synonymous with food, fun, and fireworks. If your church is planning an event this Independence Day, remember to keep a focus on safety, so that everyone can have fun.
- June 28, 2019
- Insurance is one of those things we forget about until we need it
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National Insurance Awareness Day falls on June 28 this year to remind people everywhere that insurance is vital to their companies and ministries.
- April 29, 2019
- North Dakota Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week
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As winter turns to spring, we’re also in for a turn in weather. Lightning, strong winds, flash flooding, hail, or tornadoes could quickly strike your ministry. The National Weather Service has designated April 29 – May 3, 2019, as Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week in North Dakota.
- April 8, 2019
- Vehicle Registration Guidelines for Ministries
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Do you use commercial vehicles that transport more than 15 passengers or carry cargo from one state to another as part of your ministry? If so, you are required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and obtain a USDOT number.
- September 21, 2018
- Measles Reported in 21 States
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The Centers for Disease Control says 107 cases of measles have been reported in 21 states since January 1.
- June 1, 2018
- June Is National Safety Month - Week 1: Emergency Preparedness
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The National Safety Council has designated June as National Safety Month, so we want to make sure your ministry is doing everything it can to protect its people, property, and programs. Each week in June, we’ll tackle a different topic. Up this week: Emergency Preparedness.
- April 18, 2018
- Collect Online Donations? This New Scam Targets You
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There’s a new scam in town, and ministries and other organizations collecting donations are the primary target. If your ministry collects tithes or donations, you could be targeted by scammers practicing donation overpayment fraud.
- February 21, 2018
- Remembering Billy Graham
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Beloved evangelist Billy Graham was called to his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at the age of 99.