Meetings:

January 31, 2024
Training & Risk Management Committee

February 13, 2024
Membership Relations Committee

February 15, 2024
Coverage, Claims & Litigation Committee

February 20, 2024
Administration & Finance Committee

February 27, 2024
Executive Board

Training Programs:

February 15, 2024

February 26-28, 2024

February 27, 2024


A New Year and a New IRMA Chair
Happy New Year to all. We start 2024 with a new IRMA Chair, Peggy Halik, who has over 30 years of municipal experience and is also the current ILCMA President. Peggy has worked for the Village of Woodridge for approximately 20 years and for the City of Naperville before that. We want to thank Mike Braiman for his leadership as IRMA’s Chair for the past two years, during which we accomplished so much, including new grant programs, streamlined trainings and risk management visits, new innovative pilot programs and the IT/Cyber Subcommittee.

In the next year, we will continue to provide excellent customer service as well as pertinent risk management advice and trainings. In addition, we will consider revisions to our revenue base and a rate stabilization fund; we will also issue an RFP for panel counsel and kick off our new Benchmark Analytics Program. It will be an exciting and productive year. 
IRMA Budget, Member Contributions and Interest Income: What You Need to Know
The Board of Directors approved IRMA’s final budget on December 12, which includes a recommendation from the Finance Committee to return $2.3 million in interest income to the membership. This interest income return is the lowest return in many years, primarily because of a necessary transfer of $9 million to the contingency fund due to two new reverse conviction cases. 

Introducing D.J. Flick
Senior Loss Control Consultant
D.J. is an experienced environmental, occupational health, and safety professional, transitioning from the City of Chicago, where he was employed as a Safety Administrator with the Chicago Department of Transportation. Prior to that, D.J. headed EHS at various state and federal correctional institutions. He is extremely skilled in Hazard Recognition, Program Auditing, Program Development, and Safety Training.  
Congratulations to Woodridge Police Chief Brian Cunningham on his Retirement

Retiring Woodridge Police Chief Brian Cunningham with Manager Al Stonitsch. We wish Chief Cunningham all the best in his retirement and thank him for his years of service on the IRMA Police Chiefs Steering Committee.  
Cybersecurity
News
Information Security is Critical
Information Security is protecting data from unauthorized access. There are many ways to define information security, but both the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Information Assurance (IA) Glossary define information security as "the protection of information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction in order to provide confidentiality, integrity, and availability."
Strengthen Your Cyber Incident Response Plan

Free Event offered through Chicago RIMS Chapter. Event scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2024, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Discussion will focus on cyber threats and their characteristics, trends, cybersecurity breach impacts, legal implications, and incident response planning.
KnowBe4
Subscriptions Available

IRMA Members are eligible to receive complimentary subscriptions to KnowBe4, the world's largest integrated platform for security awareness training and simulated phishing attacks.


Risk Management & Training
Benchmark Analytics
Kicks Off
One of the most volatile exposures for IRMA members is police liability claims. Overall, IRMA spends more than $2 million per year on police liability claims. In 2024, IRMA is focusing on reducing these risks. The membership voted to invest in the Benchmark Analytics iMPACT® program as a means of reducing the exposure for police liability and workers’ compensation claims.
OSHA 300 Logs Due February 1st

Recordable injury and illness entries from the previous calendar year must be logged on OSHA Form 300. The form 300A (which summarizes the recordable cases that occurred at an establishment) must be posted in an area accessible to employees from February 1st to April 30th of the calendar year following the recorded year.

For more on OSHA 300 Reporting, click the button below.
Confined Space Model Policy Update

Public Sector workplaces include a wide range of job types and therefore, a wide range of safety hazards. One of the most hazardous and potentially deadly job hazards is entering confined spaces.
 
If proper protocol, policies, inventories, and equipment are not in place or practice, the lives of your employees could be at risk.
 
Start this year on the right foot by reviewing your Confined Space Policy and making any necessary measures to recognize and mitigate the risks. 
Claims Corner
Dismissal of Slip and Fall on Municipal Golf Course


In 2018, a resident of Lake Forest slipped and fell while walking inside the clubhouse of the Deerpath Golf Course. The fall, which took place near the clubhouse bar, was captured on a surveillance camera. 
New Member Option for TTD Checks

When an employee is injured, and unable to work either light duty or full duty for more than 3 days, the Workers Compensation Act requires the employer to pay the employee Temporary Total Disability benefits, which is 66 2/3% of their pay, with no tax deduction.
Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency
999 Oakmont Plaza Drive, Suite 310
Westmont, IL 60559
(708) 562-0300