Each January, the Delaware Valley Trusts’ Executive Director and Risk Control team select the recipient of the annual Risk Management Innovation Award. Now in its fifteenth year, this program recognizes creative, practical solutions developed by DVPLT and DVWCT members. We are pleased to announce that Whitpain Township has been selected as the 2025 award winner for its submission, “Homemade Anti‑Vehicle Ramming Barriers.”

Like many municipalities, Whitpain Township periodically hosts outdoor events near roadways and must guard against vehicle‑ramming attacks as outlined in U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidance. Commercial barriers and county‑owned resources can be expensive, limited, or unavailable during peak periods, and using fleet vehicles as barriers reduces their availability for other operations. To address these challenges, Whitpain’s Public Works Department and Office of Emergency Management designed and fabricated an effective, low‑cost alternative.

The township constructed impact‑resistant barriers using recycled plastic barrels filled with concrete. Rebar lifting points were added for transport, along with mid‑height connection points for a steel tether cable. If a speeding vehicle breaches the first point of contact, the cable and barrels act like a restraining system, wrapping the vehicle to slow and stop forward movement.

To honor Whitpain Township’s achievement, DVT will present the Public Works Department and Office of Emergency Management with a plaque, a catered luncheon, and a $1,000 award to help offset project costs.

We also recognize this year’s outstanding runners‑up, each demonstrating thoughtful and effective risk‑management practices:

• • Lower Merion Township – Reconfigured valve‑pit piping to allow external connection of bypass pump piping, eliminating the need for confined‑space entry and improving operational efficiency.
  • Montgomery Township – Hosted a full‑day employee development program focused on the benefits of intergenerational workforces, featuring keynote speakers, team‑building activities, and a panel discussion.
  • Narberth Borough – Addressed employee security concerns by constructing a secure vestibule to restrict public access to office areas.
  • Upper Gwynedd Township – Installed automated influent gates at its wastewater treatment plant to reduce response time to pollution events and eliminate the ergonomic risks associated with manually placing heavy channel gates.

We congratulate Whitpain Township and commend all applicants for their commitment to innovation.

Submissions for the 2026 award cycle are now open. DVPLT and DVWCT members who have implemented a creative risk‑management solution are encouraged to apply.

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 For questions, please contact your lead risk control consultant:

Linda Wolf (lwolf@dvtrusts.com), Lauren Conway (lconway@dvtrusts.com), or Marc Medori (mmedori@dvtrusts.com).