What Counts as ‘Hazardous’ in Single Event Insurance?
In today’s litigious culture, it seems as if there is no such thing as an accident anymore. If someone gets hurt, the standard reaction is to find someone to blame. Following this, there is usually a claim for compensation made. That’s where single event insurance comes in.
Single Event Insurance Explained
Single event insurance, otherwise known as one day event insurance, aims to protect organisers from claims such as these. Public liability insurance for events is specifically geared towards covering legal expenses. Additionally, event insurance can cover any eventual compensation owed. This generally arises from a visitor getting hurt and making a claim against the organiser.
A variety of different factors contribute to the overall cost of event public liability insurance. These include the type and size of the event, where it is taking place and how long it lasts for. In short, insurers consider the likelihood of an accident occurring and set the premium for a single event insurance quote accordingly.
A key factor here is whether any activities taking place at the event are deemed to be hazardous or not. The term is only loosely defined, but in general refers to anything which might carry a considerable risk of injury. If an activity is categorised as hazardous, this will usually require additional clauses and stipulations in the policy. Therefore, coming with an increased premium.
Interpretations vary from insurer to insurer, but in general, most event insurance services will consider the following dangerous.
Water-based activities
Any activity involving water, such as swimming, sailing, kayaking, surfing, windsurfing and so on, is likely to be considered hazardous. In some circumstances, it might even apply to an event taking place in close proximity to a swimming pool, river, lake or sea. Not all brokers will provide insurance for water based events due to the elevated risks, and those which do will require thorough risk assessments and health and safety plans to be provided.
Sporting events
Most sports carry some risk of injury, whether to participants, spectators or both, although the level of risk will vary from sport to sport. Sports event insurance is therefore highly variable, and the specifics of each policy will depend on the type of sport involved. Boxing events, for example, carries an explicit risk of injury to the participants, and is now a legal requirement before a venue is allowed to host an event. Other sports, such as cricket, baseball or cycling, carry risks to spectators which will be taken into account.
Fireworks displays
Whether it is Bonfire Night, New Year, at a wedding or birthday celebrations, fireworks are hugely popular at all sorts of organised events. But the risks are obvious, and therefore so is the need for specialist firework display insurance. The key thing to remember with firework insurance is that the terms will differ depending on whether you have a professional contractor in to run the display, or if you are planning to set the fireworks off yourself.
Other event risk factors
There are plenty of other types of activity which would be considered hazardous for the purposes of events insurance. However, they tend to be more specialist than those above. Examples include any events where height or flying is a factor, so air displays, paragliding, rock climbing and so on. Another is motorsport, with amateur events such as demolition derbies and motocross usually attracting special conditions and premiums for insurance.
Find out more
For a quick, no obligation quote for our full range of event insurance services, contact David J Miller Insurance Brokers.