By Jennifer Inez Ward

UC Risk Services has saved the university about $101 million since 2005. The savings have come about primarily through loss-prevention programs, including the successful Be Smart About Safety initiative.

Since 2004, Be Smart About Safety has helped reduce workplace injuries by 28 percent. The savings in workers' compensation and other liability programs resulted in UC returning roughly $31.5 million to campuses and medical centers to use for operations and safety.

"We've been very happy with the achievements of Be Smart," said Chief Risk Officer Grace Crickette. "The program has been a wonderful resource for the university community."

Be Smart About Safety provides UC campuses and medical centers with resources to support and improve worker safety programs.

"At Risk Services we've worked really hard to develop a variety of forward-thinking programs that enable the university to achieve operational benefits and cost savings," Crickette said. "We believe that by carefully monitoring university risks, focusing on loss prevention and, in the area of liability management, emphasizing cost-saving measures we've built a model program."

Marc Gomez, director of UC Irvine Risk Services, said the Be Smart About Safety program has been extremely successful.

"We've hired a full-time injury-prevention specialist, Jill Johnson, and implemented targeted injury-prevention programs, monthly safety discussions and key training with faculty, management and staff," he said.

Ergonomics is an important feature of Be Smart About Safety.

"We've used some of our Be Smart money to fund an online ergonomics training and self-evaluation program," Gomez said. "We've received a lot of positive feedback from that program."

The Risk Services division is also excited about several new programs including the UC Risk Management Leadership Council, which is made up of risk managers from all UC campuses and medical centers.

Risk Services is also tapping into technology by introducing a new software program that will enable all segments of the university to develop preparedness operations for emergencies and security events. The software tool allows for a coordinated approach during critical safety and emergency events.

Jennifer Inez Ward is a writer in the UCOP Office of Strategic Communications.