In its fifth presentment since first convening nearly 21 months ago, jurors investigated the city's risk-management division - the local government office that oversees injury claims, workers' compensation claims, safety programs and property damage claims.

More than $2.3 million was spent in 2000 for worker's compensation and in public and private property damage claims, ''due in part to the lack of implementation of risk management,'' jurors wrote.

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Although the grand jury commended employees in the risk management department for their work, jurors criticized the program for being understaffed and faced with ''stiff resistance'' from some city departments unwilling to eliminate ''at-risk behaviors.''

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office was singled out in the report, with grand jurors juxtaposing its poor safety record with the successful records of private businesses and industries.

'' ... Westinghouse has just completed over 13 million man-hours of operation without an on-the-job injury resulting in the loss of even one day of work,'' grand jurors wrote. ''In contrast, employees in the sheriff's department alone rarely go more than a few days without an accident or injury.''

In its investigation, the grand jury found that during a two-month period, the sheriff's office accounted for about half of the vehicle accidents - 12 of 23 - and nearly half of on-the-job injuries - eight of 18.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength said that's because of the nature of his department's work.

''I would think we probably would have more accidents - we have the most employees, and we're 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,'' Sheriff Strength said. ''That would definitely call for more injuries, because we're out there and we have to do certain things everyday workers don't have to do.''

Grand jurors recommended that local government policies and procedures be amended to make risk management more of a priority. The grand jury also suggested charging individual departments for the cost of claims, saying it would ''encourage managers to pay more attention to risk management in their department if they are forced to pay for their department's losses.''

Currently, risk management costs are paid out of the general fund.

Reach Heidi Coryell Williams at (706) 823-3215.