by Naomi Reed, Director of Risk Management Services, Municipal Association of SC
In cities and towns, the responsibility of keeping employees safe may fall to a dedicated safety manager in a larger municipality, a city clerk or HR director who carries safety alongside many other responsibilities, a department head championing safety in the field, or a safety committee. The structure varies, but the commitment is the same: protecting the employees who keep city services running.
For many municipalities, the question isn’t whether to have a safety function — it’s how to ensure the work receives consistent attention and support. A city clerk who stays current on training and builds strong relationships with department heads can make a meaningful difference. A safety committee that meets regularly, identifies hazards and follows through on solutions can do so as well. What matters most is clear ownership, engaged leadership, and steady, proactive effort — not a particular title.
A strong first step for any city is a loss control evaluation. For members of the SC Municipal Insurance Trust and SC Municipal Insurance Risk and Financing Fund, the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Loss Control Division works with municipalities to assess exposure areas and equip leaders with the information they need to decide how their local safety function should be structured.
Every community is different. The right approach for a larger city like Greer may look very different from what works in a small town like Blackville where one administrator handles multiple operational responsibilities. The goal is to help each municipality understand its environment and prioritize efforts that will make the greatest impact to safety.
One of the clearest patterns in municipal safety is the influence of leadership. When city administrators emphasize safety in planning and budgeting, when elected officials ask about safety performance and when department heads hold supervisors accountable, the entire organization takes safety more seriously. Programs with visible leadership support tend to be more proactive, better resourced and more effective.
Regardless of how the role is structured, municipal safety responsibilities typically include conducting site walkthroughs to identify hazards, coordinating training for frontline employees, updating policies after incidents or near‑misses, supporting supervisors with safety resources, and advocating internally for safety improvements. Larger organizations may have a professional dedicated to this work full time, while smaller communities may distribute these responsibilities across roles — but with the right support, both approaches can be effective.
For SCMIT and SCMIRF members, the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Risk Management Services offers tools and expertise that help municipalities of all sizes strengthen their safety programs. The Loss Control Division provides risk assessments, model policies and procedures, targeted safety training, on‑site consultation, and specialized tools such as law enforcement decision‑making simulators. Artificial-intelligence‑powered dashboards also help identify emerging patterns and potential areas of concern. These resources do not replace local responsibility, but they reinforce it.
The importance of municipal safety programs is reflected in national data on injuries from preventable hazards. In 2023 and 2024, there were an estimated 479,480 nonfatal cases involving days away from work due to falls, slips and trips, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Municipal employees — from public works crews to parks staff to police officers — face these risks daily. Communities where safety programs are active, visible and consistently supported see fewer disruptions, fewer injuries and stronger service delivery.
While safety structures may vary widely, one truth remains constant: safety does not happen by chance. It requires commitment and leadership that treats prevention as an essential part of municipal operations.
For questions about safety efforts, contact the Risk Management Services Loss Control Division at losscontrol@masc.sc.