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Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Authority (CIRSA)
Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority
Housing Authority Insurance Group/Housing Television Network
New Mexico County Insurance Authority






CIRSA Videos and Publications Product Catalog View Cart
Minimizing risk involves many complicated issues, especially for public entities. To assist in this process, CIRSA has created over 35 videos and publications to help their clients and others learn the basics and beyond of effective loss control. These comprehensive, informative and easy to use videos and manuals cover almost every aspect of operations and exposures faced by public entities everywhere. CIRSA offers a free preview CD, which provides video clips and sample handbook pages for review. For a complete list and information on purchasing any of the CIRSA videos or manuals Click here.

Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority
Video Tape Catalogue
"Anatomy of a Lawsuit" - New
"Avoiding the Danger Zones of Zoning" - New
"Responding to the Call"
"Go Safely, Heed the Sights and Sounds of Danger"
"Playing It Safe"
"Playing It Safe: The Liability Seesaw"
"Behind Bars: Keys to Avoiding the Liability Triangle"
"Closing the Door on Corrections Liability"
"Workplace Violence"


Housing Authority Insurance Group/Housing Television Network
P.O. Box 189/Cheshire, CT/06410-0189
Contact: Paula J. Shemchuk, Phone: 203-272-8220, ext. 210

Resources Available:
"This Old Meeting"
"The Mold Hunter"
"Bright Ideas…for Better Living"
"A Golden Opportunity"
"Smoke Detectors: The First Line of Defense"

For more information, or to place an order for resources shown here,
please contact: pshemchuk@housingcenter.com

"Anatomy of a Lawsuit" - Governmental staff members at all levels are faced with the potential of being either defendants or witnesses in civil suits. A significant number of these will have little or no experience, training, or understanding of the legal process that they will become a part of. This dvd explains them numerous steps involved in a civil suit from incident to jury decision. This dvd presents a very realistic civil suit involving a municipality and explains each and every step of the process.
This would be an excellent training tool to prepare staff members who are involved in litigation. This dvd will demystify the process and give them a better understanding of the process. A better understanding of the tort system will make for a well prepared and better witness. - DVD Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

"Avoid the Danger Zones of Zoning" - Poor land-use decisions are exposing communities and their insurers to costly litigation. Over the past decade there has been an identifiable escalating trend of land-use litigation that prompted the MMRMA Administrative Advisory Committee to address this issue through the preparation of a guidance DVD, Avoid the Danger Zones of Zoning. The DVD addresses not only what decisions are made, but importantly, the basis and motivation of making land-use decisions. - DVD Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

“Responding to the Call” - The focus of the video is the identification of the risk involved in fire/EMT emergency response. The video includes testimony of fire/EMT personnel relating their personal experiences of being involved in a serious accident while responding to emergencies. The emergency vehicle drivers tell their story of how it happened and the effects on themselves, their families and departments. To emphasize the message, dramatic footage of an actual fatal ambulance/auto accident is included. Another effective component of this video is the inclusion of a fire fighter who was involved in a fatal accident with his own vehicle, resulting in him being criminally charged, convicted and incarcerated. His personal testimony on the impact on him and on his family is most powerful. The video also stresses the need for comprehensive policy and procedure, training and administrative control of emergency responses.
Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

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“Go Safely, Heed the Sights and Sounds of Danger” - The purpose of this video is to inform the public on the proper action necessary when confronted with a fire/EMT vehicle on an emergency run. The intent is to reduce risk by promoting their awareness of danger and improving the response of the general driving public. The intended benefit is to increase the safety of the emergency vehicle operator, resulting in safer emergency response and reduced accidents, injuries and fatalities. The video is used as a public information tool to be distributed by MMRMA Members to civic groups, driver training schools and public information programs. The video features public safety personnel involved in emergency vehicle accidents and means of avoidance. The video was filmed entirely on-location in Port Huron, Michigan, utilizing both the local fire and police departments. All of the persons in the video are local residents and public safety personnel who volunteered their time to this production.
Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

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“Playing It Safe” - This video was developed to accompany the Risk Control resource titled: “Play It Safe - Playground Safety Inspection.” Its targeted audience is park maintenance and recreation staff employees. The video is intended as a training tool to be used prior to the season opening and for follow-up inspections during the season. The video covers the inspectors’ certification course of the National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) and reviews the NPSI “dirty dozen,” the most common playground equipment danger areas. The video uses examples such as worn swing chains, inadequate landing surface material and entanglement exposures for illustration purposes. The video features the puppet character, “Mr. Parker” to convey the message. The resource was developed in conjunction with the cable division and recreated departments of Rochester Hills, a MMRMA Member.
Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

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“Playing It Safe: The Liability Seesaw” - The video was developed to accompany the first MMRMA Parks and Recreation video, “Playing It Safe.” The “Playing It Safe” video is intended for use by parks and recreation employees. The targeted audience of “The Liability Seesaw” is city councils, township boards, county commissions, parks and recreation supervisors and volunteer groups. The purpose is to educate them on the numerous standards, federal laws and state laws that govern playground facilities. Educating such groups will hopefully build a basis of support and provide necessary funding for the proper installation and maintenance of playground equipment. Many council members have little concept of the liability exposures of playgrounds, especially related to design and maintenance. The video covers the Michigan law for playgrounds covering manufacturing, installation and maintenance. Additional responsibilities created by the Americans with Disabilities Act, Consumers Products Safety Committee (playground safety standards), the American Testing Society for Manufacturers (ATSM) (playground design standards) and the National Playground Safety Institute certification program are included.
Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org


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“Behind Bars: Keys to Avoiding the Liability Triangle” - This video is intended to communicate the high liability involved in the day to day operations of jails and lockups. The intended audience is county and municipal officials as well as chiefs, sheriffs and public safety directors. The focus is on the jail/lockup “liability triangle” consisting of the physical plant, policies/procedures and personnel. Included are interviews of county jail and lockup administrators, trainers, risk consultants and attorneys. They deliver the message that these facilities pose serious liability exposures and identify areas of concern. The plaintiff’s attorney included concludes with a courtroom like summation. He addresses governmental officials on how they must be aware of their responsibility to operate safe, secure and humane jails. He finishes by warning, “...if you don’t I’m going to get you-and that’s not a threat that’s a promise.” The video is an awareness tool which clearly identifies the problem, the first step in the risk management process.
Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

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“Closing the Door on Corrections Liability” - This video is based upon a study of claims, losses and litigation over a five year period (1994-99), involving MMRMA Members with county detention facilities. The research and report was culled from a broader study of public safety losses over a fifteen year period (1984-1999). Dr. Darrell Ross, author of the study, presents his project to the Michigan Sheriff’s Association Jail Administrator’s Subcommittee at its summer conference (2002). He reviews 202 claims grouped into twenty (20) categories. The video highlights his findings and focuses on a graphic table that he refers to as a “frequency severity index.” The report indicates that issues dealing with medical care, suicide, classification, use of force and sexual harassment are resulting in the increasing losses. A candid discussion between Dr. Ross, a Michigan sheriff, Michigan Sheriff’s Association Executive Director and MMRMA Risk Consultant puts the study into perspective: Policies and procedures as well as training will result in reduced liability and increased professionalism. The video concludes with the message calling for “...having the right people, in the right place, doing the right thing.”
Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

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“Workplace Violence” - This excellent 15 minute video provides an overview of the dangers of workplace violence. Presented in a municipal setting, it introduces the governmental employee to the exposure of violence in the workplace. Attacks initiated by someone from within, as well as outside threats coming into the work environment are portrayed.

Dramatic representations of workplace violence enhance the theme of prevention and reaction to violence in the workplace. This video will equip employees with techniques to spot potential problems and detect risk factors that lead to incidence of violence by identifying the three types of threats: direct, conditional and veiled. It also covers elements of potential personality traits of violent individuals.

A workplace violence prevention policy is also discussed including the need for ongoing facility security reviews, incident investigation, the formation of a threat assessment team, and dealing with the emotional aftermath of an incident.
Cost: $18.00 (Includes shipping)

For More Information: info@mmrma.org

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"This Old Meeting" - This training video was created to assist employees who are responsible for planning a Safety Committee Meeting. This 12-minute, fast-paced, educational video has all the information you need, delivered in a clear, concise manner. Topics that are covered include: The purpose and goals of a Safety Committee, A Mission Statement to adapt for your organization, Responsibilities of the Safety Committee Chairman and Committee Members, Critical items that management should consider in order to support a successful Safety Committee, and Meeting "Tips and Tricks" from Professionals that help you prepare for an effective meeting. A Supplemental Guide is also included with the video and will include key components for a successful Safety Committee Meeting. "This Old Meeting" is an award-winning program and is a Telly Awards recipient. Cost: $75.00.

To place an order, contact: pshemchuk@housingcenter.com
Or phone: 203-272-8220, ext. 210

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"The Mold Hunter" - This 15-minute educational video will take you on an adventure to track down and eliminate your toughest environmental enemy: household mold. The Mold Hunter blends humor and helpful information to show you what causes mold, and more importantly, how to get rid of it. The program comes equipped with everything you need to know to fight mold including: Learning "The Formula"; Definitions; Lab Time, where the best solution for killing mold is revealed; and Mail Call, where The Mold Hunter answers tough questions on recurring household mold. If you have mold, you shouldn't be without The Mold Hunter!
Cost: 1 copy $99.00, 2 or more copies: $75.00 each.

To place an order, contact: pshemchuk@housingcenter.com
Or phone: 203-272-8220, ext. 210

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"Bright Ideas…for Better Living" - This program is geared to improve the basic living skills of housing residents. It is designed specifically for the residents and focuses on improving basic living skills-from oven cleaning to grocery shopping. The program also features the importance of taking proper care of ourselves, with an emphasis on food and nutrition. This program includes an all-inclusive training manual plus seven program video tapes as they were presented live on HTVN. The manual and videos cover a variety of subjects: Efficient housekeeping, Fire Safety tips, Food and Nutrition with Recipes to try, Summer Safety Tips, and Saving Money. Included with the "Bright Ideas" manual are the "Bright Ideas Challenge" packet that includes a test covering the information on the topics discussed and Certificates of Excellence included upon successful completion of test.
Cost: $420.00 (includes all 7 "Bright Ideas…for Better Living" videos and the comprehensive training manual)
Individual videos: $60.00 each
Spring Cleaning 1
Spring Cleaning 2
Spring into Action
Special Summer Edition
The Fall Season
Giving Thanks
A Holiday Special
Training Manual when purchased separately: $120.00

To place an order, contact: pshemchuk@housingcenter.com
Or phone: 203-272-8220, ext. 210

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"A Golden Opportunity" - This 92-page resource book is chock full of information to assist service organizations, and their staff, for their risk management roles in managing the risks involved in service to Seniors. Designed by Housing Authority Insurance Group and the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, A Golden Opportunity provides valuable information on the following topics: A complete overview of Risk Management, Who Seniors are and the myths about serving Seniors, Health-Related Issues for Seniors, Risks common to Seniors, and Housing-related safety issues for Seniors. A useful guide is also provided generously listing organizations, legislation information, and safety resources for any person involved in the service to Seniors. Cost: $25.00.

To place an order, contact: pshemchuk@housingcenter.com
Or phone: 203-272-8220, ext. 210

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"Smoke Detectors: The First Line of Defense" - Each year, home fires cause 5,000 deaths, 40,000 injuries, and $8 billion in property damage. Every year, there are 400,000 fires serious enough to require emergency help from fire professionals. A smoke detector properly installed and maintained at your agency is your first line of defense against injury, property damage, and loss of life. Delivered by a legal professional, this video will cover the importance of smoke detectors, and how proper documentation and training among staff and residents can reduce your risks of fire and loss at your housing authority. The video will further explain the importance of a smoke detector policy in place between the housing authority and the resident. 25 minutes.
Cost: $99.00. Instructor's Manual included with purchase.

To place an order, contact: pshemchuk@housingcenter.com
Or phone: 203-272-8220, ext. 210

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