About Risk Services & Occupational Health

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a strategic approach to addressing the full spectrum of an organization’s significant risks. ERM provides a strategically-aligned portfolio view of organizational challenges that provides improved insight about how to more effectively prioritize and manage risks. Risk Services utilizes the strategic Enterprise Risk Management model to address risk mitigation from a holistic approach.

Collaboration across units and disciplines leverages various perspectives for more successful loss prevention programs. Risk Services manages the Be Smart About Safety (BSAS) program that provides funding to support proactive loss prevention. 

The university’s goal is to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. Achieving this goal is the responsibility of every member of the university community. Workers’ compensation mitigates risk by evaluating departments’ risks and assists in integrating effective risk management strategies into day-to-day operations. We provide claims data and work with the campus units to improve their incident rates and loss control measures.

The WorkStrong Program is a University of California systemwide program that is designed to promote recovery and prevent future workplace injuries. Each UC campus has its own unique program to suit the needs of the employees on its campus.

Risk Services administers the university’s insurance programs. The programs include workers’ compensation, general liability, property and auto as well as other specialized insurance programs. We also facilitate coverage for students, foundation and friends groups, vendors and event holders through the specially developed CampusConnexions insurance programs.

Risk Services works closely with campus units, employees and the university’s third party claims administrators throughout the claims process for all programs of insurance. As part of workers’ compensation claims services, we facilitate the provision of medical care and the development of transitional work assignments for work-injured employees.

It is the mission of the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program to provide UC Santa Cruz faculty and staff with a comprehensive, integrated health and wellness program that supports healthy, engaged employees and a productive work environment. Wellness includes the Healthy Campus Network initiative which uses an integrative approach to health, guided by the core values of fostering a high level of wellness, encouraging personal responsibility, respecting diversity, and working to reduce health inequalities. Wellness also supports a Smoke and Tobacco Free Campus.

Because we get inquiries from across the campus and across the system, we may be able to provide a different perspective on a proposed undertaking. If we don’t have the subject matter expertise to help you directly, we may know of the resource that has the expertise you need. We can provide risk assessment tools for the evaluation of new undertakings or ongoing operations.

Resources are available as relates to abuse prevention of minors, using waivers and performing risk assessments.