Public entity risk managers both here and in the United Kingdom are being subjected to drastic budget cuts that can compromise their effectiveness, requiring sharpened loss control techniques as well as better communication about the value of their work with peers and the public alike, experts in the field warn.

Coming forward with real-world examples and hard data to document the importance and savings achieved by loss control might help protect risk managers from across-the-board budget cuts impacting safety efforts, suggested Patricia H. Roberts, president and chief executive officer of Genesis Underwriting Management Company, during a panel session at the Public Risk Management Association's recent annual conference in Orlando, Fla.

Ms. Roberts said risk managers should also be clear with their underwriters and speak specifically about where cuts have been made and what the impact might be.