1.In "Risks Under the Big Top", (Topic 3 Core Articles):

a.Identify five loss exposures that could result in injuries to Circus employees. (5 points)

b.What train related exposures do you potentially see? (5 points)

c.How does the Circus train for fire safety if at all? (1 point)

RISKS UNDER THE BIG TOP ACK WAL ACE O . . ME TRAPEZE ARTISTS FLY THROUGH THE AIR ACROBATS TEETER ON widesuspended 40 feet in the atr. People enter cages with snarling lions. . . . . . .... .... for get shot out of cannons. Elephants perform handstands and other. amazing ticks. This is the risk-ukend world of Ringling Bros: and Barnum and Boley Circus (Ringling); where "The Greatest Show on Earth" consist of a ditrying array of extreme and exotic exposures that require an aggressive risk management approach. .. . Ever since P.T. Darmim's Circus Museum and Menagerie betd its first performance in 1871, audiences have thrilled to the matics of the circus Today. however. Ringling's circus is a vastly more sophisticated operation than its predecessor, the Ringling circus now presents two separate units equal in scope and quality that simultaneously tour different parts of the United States. The circuses travel entirely by train, and each one visits approximately 47 cities per year, hauling their unique cargo of performers, their families, support staff, stage equipment and animals. Upon arrival in a given city, the circus must be up and running within hours, and perfor- mances are conducted with maximum concern for the safety of both per- ormers and their audiences. Given the grueling travel and circus set-up schedule, and the inherent danger of the performances, Ringling has made safety and risk management the highest priority. PERFORMERS AND PERILS Ringling's performers, consisting of some of the most capable performers from around the world, form a virtual United Nations of talent. However. the incredibly daring and dangerous feats executed by Ringling's per- jack Wallace is senior vice president ar Willis Corroon Corp. of Nashville, IN. 30 RISK MANAGEMENT / AUGUST 1994 WTHE BIG TOP 2/4 ormers are apparent in their risk. Among the hazardous and breathtak- mal acts include the lion and elephant Kenneth Feld, Ringling's current ing acts is the double-barreled human shows of Graham Thomas Chipperfield. Born into a family that owner, president and producer. Ringling, which works closely with cannon. which propels its two human is broker Willis Corroon, is regarded cannonballs at an astonishing 5 Gs of owns the oldest circus in Britain, Mr. orce. Once airborne. the two travel at Chipperfield's lion act involves a as having one of the lowest claim speeds of 65 miles per hour. and number of perilous feats, including crouching in the lion cage as a 350- records in any industry. A regular fea- must choreograph their landings per- ture of Ringling's risk management fectly into a net 110 feet away or risk pound lioness leaps over him. Mr. Chipperfield's elephant acts also plulosophy is frequent brainstorming sessions with Willis Corroon's risk injury. The high-wire act is also a Ringling involve several riveting tricks, but per- management consultants that involve mainstay - and an act that can result haps none more exciting than the In serious injury. Russian husband Terrifying Teeterboard Takeoff, in carefully analyzing all circus opera- tions and procedures to continually and wife team Alexandre "Sasha" which one elephant strikes the teeter- improve the company's claims and Mednikov and Fatima Gadjkourba- board with its foot, sending Mr. risk control record. nova, along with their colleague Igor Chipperfield's somersaulting onto the Ringling's insurance program uses Arefiev. perform a spine-tingling back of another pachyderm. The high deductibles and self-insured series of stunts, including one in teeterboard trick has not always gone which Igor carries the two-person col- smoothly, however, once, an elephant retentions. as well as third-party hit the teeterboard too hard, sending administrators for all lines. Ringling umn of Fatima and Igor on his shoul- also has in-house counsel that are ders until a blindfolded Sasha stands Mr. Chipperfield's onto the ground on the wire and launches into a back- with a broken ankle. Even with very proactive in the liability area, a ward somersault. The act's inherent superbly trained animals, accidents hands-on file management system. and a sophisticated medical manage- hazardousness is best illustrated by an can happen. Incident that occurred in 1983 during One of Ringling's most unusual ment program for workers' compen- animal acts is performed by sation cases. Ensuring a safe circus for performance in Kazakhstan while Chepiakova & Kim. a husband and both performers and spectators they were performing with a Russian "rie team featuring trained bears that requires support and technical O circus. A boit broke off from the high- wire apparatus, sending Sasha plum- ride horses! Originated by Lyubov employees expertly trained in equip- meting to the ground, fracturing his Chepiakova's mother and father in .ment handling and maintenance. Ringling's support staff, wich num- pelvis. Although doctors predicted the Kiev, Ukraine, decades ago, Lyubov bers approximately 150 employees injury would end his career, Sasha and her Korean-born husband Vilorik per unit, is responsible for loading fought back to full recovery. and six Kim are continuing an act in which bears weighing between 220 to 440 and unloading the circus trains, then months later was once again on the pounds climb onto the backs of hors- setting up the rigging for each show, es, race around the ring, jump which includes tasks such as driving wire . Ringling also features: trapeze acts forklifts, hanging wires, ropes and by the Flying Vargas and the Flying through hoops and even perform cables from high elevations, and Alvarez family troupes who have per- handsprings. installing electrical and lighting fected their art over generations; The A SAFE CIRCUS equipment - all activities traditional- ly associated with significant workers Boulibekov Riders, master horseriders Given such acts, it is no surprise that from Kazakhstan; and an assortment injury is an ever-present risk in circus compensation exposures. Ringling of gymnasts and dancers. Each per- also operates its own prop shop in Sarasota, Florida, where in-house staff formance requires expert training and performing. However, Ringling's top create all props, decorative designs precise timing. For example, in one management is fully aware of these risks - as well as those associated and embellishments for the circus act Orinbasar Kurmanbaev of The Boulibekov Riders climbs off the with circus set-up and tear-down - wagons; the activities of the prop horse's saddle and slides under its and the consequent need to maintain effective. fully developed safety and shop are incorporated into Ringling's belly. then crawls back onto the loss control programs. This emphasis risk management program. Setting up the circus takes mount from the other side - all while the horse is in full gallop. A on safety forms a key component of Ringling's corporate philosophy. In between six and eight hours, and truly perilous feat, and in 20 years. requires support employees to install fact, when they purchased Ringling in Mr. Kurmanbaev has never fallen. 1967. Irvin and Israel Feld declared approximately 25,000 yards of rope and rigging for each show, then Animal acts, of course, are an inte- check the torque of wires to ensure gral part of "The Greatest Show on that the safety of Ringling's perform- Earth. " But when human performers ers and support staff would be the proper gauging. Maintenance staff company's highest priority; today. must also confirm that all netting is mingle with animals such as ele- safety and risk management remain a correctly sited and that guide wires phants. tigers and lions, danger lurks at every comer. Current Ringling ani- central concern of the organization, where it has the full backing of for aerial performers, or "mechani- O cals" in circus lingo, are intact and 3THE BIG TOP 3/4 O Since performers' lives directly depend on the equipment used in their acts their counterparts in the wild. Ringling also provides 24-hour secur- - and since injuries are most often due to equipment failures - before each ty for the animals, whether they are being housed, transported or perform- show Ringling's performers carefully test all netting, wiring and other ung. Also, since circus animals are a source of joy to spectators, many visi- tors may be tempted to touch or pet apparatuses to ensure each piece of equipment is in perfect working order. an animal. However, since touching of animals represents a possible public liability exposure. Ringling cordons accurately positioned. Since performers' lives directly For Ringling, maintaining a safe animals off from the public, prior to. during and after a show, as well as depend on the equipment used in circus would be impossible without during the traditional animal walk. their acts, before each show Ringling's including animal handling and train- when the circus marches the animals performers carefully test all netting, ing in its loss control program. A typ- into town to kick off an engagement. ical Ringling show includes elephants. Since the natural habitat for many wiring and other apparatuses to ensure each piece of equipment is in lions, tigers, bears, llamas, zebras, wild animals is gradually disappear- perfect working order. Naturally. the camels and horses. Obviously, animal ing, Ringling believes it can play a safery of performers is paramount, so care and training require the work of experts. Surprisingly, however, there major role in the preservation and Ringling's safety program includes a maintenance of animal species. In variety of other strategies to reduce are no universities or other educa- 1985. Ringling established an ele- injuries and illness, including nutri- tional institutions that specialize in animal training: animal trainers devel- phant farm in central Florida where tionists who have counseled perform- captive breeding programs are used ers on proper diet and the importance op their skills based on time-honored of body warm-up exercises before techniques developed over decades for performance animals. Earlier this each show, and intensive safety train- and, in some cases, even centuries. year, two elephants named Romeo Ringling utilizes positive rein- and Julietre. were born at the farm ing for dancers and gymnasts. As for For its efforts. Ringling has received clowns, in 1968 Ringling founded forcement, a specific animal training regimen that is based on mutual trust accolades from numerous animal Clown College, currently located in groups for their experienced and Baraboo, Wisconsin. the home and and respect between the trainer and humane treatment of exotic animals original winter quarters of the five the animal. At Ringling, animal train- ing always begins in the animal's TRURS AND TRAVEL Ringling brothers. At the college. aspiring clowns are instructed in the infancy, and involves teaching the Besides maintaining sale operations proper use of pyrotechnics, safety animal to perform alongside humans, during performances, Ringling's nsk techniques for acrobatics and stilt- as well as requiring that the difficulty management program must also walking, and the way to perform safe of a given trick never exceed an ani- pratfalls. Overall, this emphasis on mal's abilities. The company also cover formidable transportation expo- performer safety has helped keep per- expressly forbids trainers to whip. sures. Ringling has been transporting is circus by train since the 1870s, former accidents and injuries to a beat, physically or verbally abuse or withhold food or water from animals and today operates the world's largest privately owned trains, each of which minimum. After an engagement, members of as training methods To ensure the health and safety of is 53 cars long, including 32 coach the support staff disassemble the rig- cars, 17 equipment cars, and four ging - a task that takes approximate- the animals, Ringling maintains teams stock cars specially designed to maxi- ly two hours - and then reload the of trainers for each type of animal, a mize the animals' safety and comfort. stablemaster, and a full-time veteri- Every week - and sometimes twice a trains. Since their activities encom week - each train travels to another pass the entire range of workers' com harian and veterinarian's assistant. As pensation exposures, Ringling's loss part of their normal care, Ringling's city, hauling circus employees and control program includes detailed animals are given daily health inspec- their families. animals, wardrobes. safety procedures for all high risk tions and exercise, proper diets, clear sound equipment, props and conces- activities, as well as safety training and exemplary housing conditions. Since its entire performance opera- materials such as booklets. So far, and regular personal contact with sions. these intensive programs have people. Also, to deal with emergen- cies, the company maintains veteri- tion is strictly dependent on train travel, transportation safety is an helped Ringling experience, over essential component of Ringling's risk time, a workers' compensation rate narians on call in each city where the management program. To further the modifier that dropped 60 points and show will tour. goals of transportation safety. Willis is currently at an impressive rate of Ringling's animal safety program results in healthy, well-conditioned animals that enjoy longer lives than Corroon produced a train safety pro- significantly less than 1.0. gram for Ringling including a safety .. .1/EVENT / AUGUST 1994O video that discussed measures such as fire safety ups and warnings about not time. thereby pointing out the necessi- able to maintain highly safe operations walking between train cars. as well as ty for a sound business continuity that have also resulted in significant plan. safety booklets and other training For Ringling, running a business insurance cost reductions. These sav- ings encompass all of Ringling's oper- measures. The train safety program paid off with such a diverse array of exposures ations, including its two circuses. sev- earlier this year when the circus faced is a challenge that requires a corpo- race-wide commitment to safety and eral traveling ice shows and a high one of its worst disasters - a train derailment in Florida that killed two risk management. Since Ringling's tech Las Vegas show. In regard to risk upper management provides this management, then, Ringling Bros. and circus performers and displaced 88 Barnum and Bailey Circus does not employees for whom the company- commitment, the company has been clown around owned train is a year-round home. Two boys aged seven and 10 who rode in the same derailed car in which an elephant trainer was killed escaped DOES SURVEILLANCE PAY OFF? by finding and removing an emergen- cy window. to the amazement of ASK BILL KIZOREK: adults who watched them emerge unharmed. When asked how they HE'S GOT THE EVIDENCE knew to come out through the safety window, the children said they had - + seen the process explained on the .. .ence portant video &. rain safety video, which provided a detailed explanation of how to find Important Vide the window and remove us rubber vidunce important Vids seal to push the window out. "When the train accident occurred. idence moortant Vid O Ringling and Willis Corroon had a viaence Important Vide business continuity plan in place that greatly helped the company overcome vidence the tragedy. Immediately after the Evidence crash, a disaster office was set up on- site, and counselors were hired to care Evidence for circus employees, their depen- Evidence dents and animals. Mr. Feld, other senior company executives, Ringling's co Evidence.. risk manager. 100 other company leo Evidence managers. adjusters and outside con an Evidence Important Video Evidence sultants were at the scene within 24 hours to help performers and their Evidence Important Video Evidence Video ant Video families deal with any trauma they may have suffered. Within 72 hours of the accident, all personal property After writing six books* on surveillance and testifying, Bill, claims were settled, and the show was president of InPhoto Surveillance, has a lot of ideas on how already back on the road to save indemnity dollars with effective use of surveillance. Since the accident was the first InPhoto has full-time agents within a three-hour drive of train-related fatality due to a derail- ment at Ringling in more than 100 85% of the U.S.A. population. For additional information years, the company is convinced that call or fax: trains remain the safest way to trans- port its unique cargo of people, ani- mals and circus magic. This convic- InPhoto Surveillance con is based on the belief that if 800-822-8220 FAX 800-752-0720 Ringling tried to transport the circus over the road in trucks, the potential for accidents would be far greater. "Just Published; Greenhom Witness: The art of testifying in depositions and court. Nevertheless, the accident demon- Cost is $9.95 plus shipping and handling. O strated that a crisis can strike at any AUGUST 1994 / RISK MANAGEMENT 47