Charleston County News Release
MEDIA CONTACT
Name: Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer
Phone: 843.958.4012
Email: jdavis@charlestoncounty.org
Release Number: 2870
Date: April 9, 2008
See photo: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/newsimages/RiskManager.htm
Safety and Risk Management Director Receives State Award
Charleston County’s Larry Hodge wins 2008 SC Public Risk Manager of the Year Award
Charleston County Government’s Safety and Risk Management Director was recently presented with the 2008 South Carolina Public Risk Manager of the Year award.
Larry Hodge, who has worked for the County for almost 14 years, was presented the award by the South Carolina Public Risk and Insurance Management Association (SCPRIMA).
“There are so many superb risk management and safety programs in this state that are overseen by talented risk managers,” Hodge said. “Words cannot express my appreciation to my fellow members of SCPRIMA for this humbling recognition.”
Hodge was presented the award at SCPRIMA’s annual conference, which was held March 30-April 1 in Greenville, S.C.
“The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor a public sector risk manager who has effectively coordinated and operated a risk management program for a South Carolina public entity,” said Jennifer Graham, SCPRIMA President. “The Charleston County Safety and Risk Management Department has benefited taxpayers by significantly reducing workers compensation premiums through recent injury reduction strategies and initiatives.”
The County’s Safety and Risk Management Department successfully implemented strategies that focused on reducing the number of painful and costly strains and lifting injuries to Charleston County EMS workers. The effort resulted in the number of on-the-job injuries being reduced by more than 50 percent and a savings of over $400,000 in workers compensation insurance this year.
In addition, back injuries to Charleston County EMS workers have significantly been reduced by over 70 percent since the implementation of new ambulance stretchers and stair chairs that were designed to reduce the heavy and repetitive lifting exposures faced by the employees.
Ted Austin, SCPRIMA’s secretary, was in charge of the 2008 selection committee.
“Mr. Hodge has been a long recognized leader in the risk management arena due to his unselfish mentoring to both existing and new risk managers in this state,” Austin said.
SCPRIMA has been in existence since 1991, and is the state chapter of the national Public Risk and Insurance Management Association (PRIMA), which has 2,500 members.
As part of the award, SCPRIMA is providing Hodge with free registration and $500 in travel expenses to the 2008 national PRIMA annual conference. The conference will be held June 1-4 in Anaheim, Calf.
Hodge’s leadership was also recently recognized by the S.C. Association of Counties when the Charleston County Safety and Risk Management Department was presented with the following state awards in January of 2008:
Visit www.charlestoncounty.org for other news and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.
