Welcome to the first issue of PRIMA's new weekly e-news service!
RiskWatch is PRIMA’s newest member benefit that will deliver handpicked, high-quality news articles relating to the public risk management industry directly to your email inbox. In addition, RiskWatch will provide PRIMA members with valuable association-related news.
RiskWatch will be distributed every Thursday to keep you on top of the latest news and trends in the public sector risk field.
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PCB risk feared at older N.E. schools
from the Boston Globe
 Window and masonry caulking in hundreds of older schools in New England probably contain very high levels of now-banned toxins that can gradually be released into the air, posing a potential health risk to students and staff, environmental specialists say. With inconclusive evidence to the chemicals mentioned being harmful, and a lack of federal regulations regarding them, the schools are also forced to consider the EPA guidelines concerning their presence in these schools. More
 
Two perspectives on a one-lane bridge
from the Philadelphia Inquirer
Residents and officials of Chester County in the Pennsylvania countryside are finding an impasse concerning an historic one lane bridge originally designed for buggies and horse-drawn carriages. With the deterioration of the building materials of the bridge itself and the increasing weight of vehicles, not to mention the two-way traffic on the one lane bridge, there are concerns with the safety of the bridge and disagreements on how to handle the historic overpass. More
New rules proposed for medical helicopters
from the Sacramento Bee
The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday urged the government to impose stricter controls on emergency helicopter operators, including requiring the use of autopilots, night-vision systems and flight data recorders in an industry that suffered a record number of fatalities last year. More
County boots clean-up crew
from Clackamas Review
Dan Zinzer, director of Business and Community Services for the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, sent the Tsunami Crew a letter on Sept. 2 telling the group that it was not authorized to work there and might be a liability to the county. It also said the crew’s work might not conform to the district’s master plan for the site. More
FEMA publishes new flood risk maps for phillips county
from FEMA
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presenting draft flood risk maps to communities in Phillips County, Ark. The maps will help county officials and local residents identify known flood risks and will be used for insurance and development decisions. More
Contract jobs straddle a fuzzy line
from the Olympian
Recently, eight states have asked FedEx to change its business model due to the fact that it appeared unclear as to whether or not their drivers were considered employees or independent contractors. The issue of contractor vs. employee is one wrought with legalities in both the public and private sectors, often concerning benefits and lawsuits for worker and employer alike. More
Red-light cameras: Most Illinois voters support the concept -- but they're camera-shy in their neighborhoods, survey finds
from the Chicago Tribune
A new Chicago Tribune poll finds most voters favor the traffic control devices -- in concept. But they don't want the cameras in their own neighborhoods. The statewide survey also found broad skepticism about a common refrain echoed by municipal officials: Promoting safety is the paramount goal of camera installations. More
Safety & protection for all: How the right risk management
from Recreation Management
An effective risk management strategy is your best means of making sure your park or pool or soccer field is as safe as possible for those who come to play, and your best approach to keeping your organization covered if (perish the thought) an accident occurs and a potential lawsuit arises. More
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