The Tennessee Risk Management Trust (TNRMT) is again offering all qualifying TNRMT Members an opportunity for a safety grant. Since we began this program, TNRMT has provided more than three quarters of a million dollars in safety grants to our Members. We anticipate awarding a significant amount again this year, though this is dependent on the number of MEMBER applications received. Recent years have been encouraging as the number of applications received has increased each year. In 2022 TNRMT provided safety grants to 33 Members. We hope to receive a grant application from every Member this year.

We encourage Members to apply with new and creative ideas. Look at your workplace and consider how it can be made safer for your employees and if this grant could help? Remember, this is an employee safety grant not a security grant. We want to support our Members in positive change by being a financial partner. The mere thought that we can give a little back to prevent even one injury is worth every penny.

The better the idea the greater the chance of award. Lives are affected every day from inattention to the “little things”. Think safety and health in everything, every day. At TNRMT we consider our Members our family and together we all win! The two page grant application is available beginning October 1, 2023, at www.tnrmt.com.

The Tennessee Risk Management Trust (TNRMT) would like to shed light on the importance of regular inspections for grandstands and bleachers.

It is crucial to ensure the safety of your attendees and spectators. Regular inspections help identify potential hazards, structural issues, and compliance with safety standards.

The inspection process involves a comprehensive assessment of the structure to verify compliance with safety provisions. This includes evaluating fire safety, storm resilience, collapse prevention, and crowd behavior. By adhering to these inspection requirements, you can ensure the well-being of your audience and mitigate potential risks.

According to the International Code Council (ICC), specifically Section 105.2 and 501.2 Inspection, the owner shall arrange an annual inspection of all bleachers, folding and telescopic seating, and grandstands.

Overlapping codes and standards can be hard to grasp; however, inspections shall be performed by a qualified person annually. A qualified person can be trained by the manufacturer, a professional engineer (PE), or a registered architect.

For more detailed information on grandstand and bleacher inspection requirements, we recommend referring to the **NFPA 102: Standard for Grandstands, Folding and Telescopic Seating, Tents, and Membrane Structures**. This standard provides guidelines extracted from NFPA 5000 and NFPA 101 for life safety. NFPA 102 Section 6.6 outlines how the inspection aims to verify that the structure is maintained in compliance with the provisions of the ICC code.

Remember, safety should always take precedence when organizing events or managing facilities. By adhering to inspection requirements and following best practices, you can create a safer environment for everyone.

If you have any further questions or require additional information, feel free to ask!

Chris Stites
SEC
615.826.4274
cstites@sectn.com

Mark Bilyeu
SEC
615.210.7827
mbilyeu@sectn.com

Jason Baggett
TNRMT
865.228.8835
jbaggett@tnrmt.com

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