In planning an event, the only ones who can truly understand the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes are probably other event planners. However, despite your perfectionism, when it comes to event planning, there are some mishaps that you cannot plan for. It is therefore important when holding an event that you have appropriate insurance in place if disaster does strike.
It is mandatory that every commercial building have some level of public liability insurance cover to protect any unforeseen event likely to cause harm to any member of the public, be it bodily injury or property damage. But is not mandatory for event organisers to have a policy that protects the public from any negative consequences emanating from their events. Nevertheless, it is a good idea for any event organiser to take out a public liability insurance policy, just in case any bad incident does occur at their event, resulting in a claim being made against them.
Accidents can occur in any scenario, and event organisers with a public liability insurance policy in place can rest easy in the knowledge that their insurance policy has them covered. Therefore, it is advisable for all event organisers who deal with running multiple events to take out an insurance policy which will protect them against their liabilities toward third parties.
Whether hosting a small business dinner, social event or an international conference, public liability insurance for events can help protect any liability in the event of a claim. If an attendee is injured at an event or someone’s property is inadvertently damaged due to the activities of the event organised, or ‘non-professional’ negligence of the insured’s employees causes loss or damage to third parties or the attendees of the event, the public liability insurance will protect the business of the event organiser.
Examples of events that can be covered include parties, festivals, fairs, fundraisers, gatherings, community celebrations, conferences, workshops, cultural exhibitions, musical concepts, video shows, fashion shows, among others. This policy is good for all event organisers including media houses and hotels who organise public programmes on special seasons and occasions.
POLICY TYPES
Once-off Event Cover
This cover can be provided for a once-off or single event. This cover is good for businesses and organisations which organise programmes, seminars, entertainments and other events once in a while, and not regularly. The cover type is once-off and the policy ends once the event is over. Since the event covered is once-off, cover is restricted to the venue where the event is held.
Alternatively, if you plan to run a regular series of gigs or exhibitions across multiple venues, you may want to consider this insurance cover for each occasion. Also, individual events up to three consecutive days per event under one simple scheme can be covered under this type of cover. It is possible to cover events that are longer than three consecutive days as well.
Annual Cover
This type of cover is beneficial to active event organisers who constantly and frequently organise or undertake programmes on regular basis. It is good for businesses which provide services for weddings, funerals, parties, conferences and other social gatherings. This cover can be arranged for a full calendar year, and all events organised within the policy period are covered. The insured can renew the policy when it expires.
Both the once-off event and the annual covers have two divisions: ‘limit of liability per event’, and ‘in aggregate’ for the whole year. Cover can also be on ‘occurrence basis’ for event organisers who pride themselves in throwing a memorable event for clients, this insurance can help you ensure that your events go off without a hitch.
Property Damage and Bodily Injury
‘Property Damage’ means the actual or physical damage to tangible properties belonging to attendees or other third parties.
‘Bodily Injury’ means death, bodily injury, illness or disease of or to any person.
SECTIONS OF THE POLICY
Bodily injury or Death
In most cases people suffer bodily injuries and death accidentally. This is one area that the Public Liability insurance covers. When people suffer bodily injuries or death due to the activities of the event organised, or the activities of the employees rendering services related to the event, the policy pays compensations for the injuries or death suffered by the victims. The victims can be attendees or other people in and around the event grounds. For injuries, the policy also pays for the medical expenses of victims.
Property Damage
This section covers the loss of or damage to property belonging to attendees. Many people accidentally lose their properties at event grounds due an incident that occurred through the event, or by the employees authorised to render services at the event. If the property is partially damaged, the policy will pay for the repair costs.
If the property is damage beyond repairs, the policy will pay for the replacement. This is not only limited to the properties belonging to attendees, but is extended to cover properties belonging to other third parties in and around the event grounds when their properties suffer loss or damage due to the event.
Legal Defence Costs
In a situation where a third party decides to take a legal action against the event organiser or insured, the policy can respond to the costs of defending the claim at the court. Also, any damages awarded in favour of a claimant by the court within Ghana would be paid for by the policy.
Limit of Liability
Once you decide to purchase Public Liability insurance to cover your planned event, it is up to you to decide just how much cover you need. If the event is once-off, you have to select a limit of liability or sum insured necessary to cover your expenses should negative occurrences happened. If you are likely to have series of events throughout the year, you will need an annual cover for all those events.
If you are set to have a large number of attendees, it may be worth considering a higher level of sum insured per single event or a higher aggregate sum insured for multiples and series of events. Ultimately, it is up to the event organiser to decide on the level of cover taken out, but going without any protection at all is very risky business.
SPECIFIC EXCLUSIONS
In insurance, exclusions are incidents or perils that the policy does not cover. When they happen, you cannot make a claim. There are some specific incidents that the policy will not cover when they occur at events. These incidents include:
Gaming
The policy does not cover injury and property damage caused in any game, match, race, practice, trial or other sporting activity including but not limited to swimming, gymnastics, health and fitness activities.
Sexual Assault
The policy does not cover any claims arising from, contributed by or in connection with sexual assault and any form of assault, abuse and molestation.
Amusements
The policy does not cover any claims arising from, contributed by, or in connection with animal rides, amusement rides or devices of any description, and inflatable recreational equipment.
Infectious disease, Bacteria and Virus
This policy does not cover personal injury due to reckless disregard of any guidelines, principles or instruction issued by the state or any relevant government authority in Ghana regarding any infectious or communicable disease, bacteria or virus.
Sanctions Limitation
This policy excludes any sanctions, penalties, fines, or punitive damages by the state or any relevant government regulatory body.
Cancellation of Event
The policy does not cover costs, expenses and any form of liability caused when the event is delayed, cancelled, suspended or postponed.
Advertising Injury
The policy does not cover slander, libel, copyright infringement and misappropriation of advertising ideas, false arrest, detention or imprisonment, malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction, entry or invasion of privacy.
Unapproved Events
The policy excludes any loss or damage caused to property, sanctions, penalties, fines or punitive damages by the state or any relevant government regulatory body for events organised without regulatory approval.
GENERAL EXCLUSIONS
This policy does not cover incidents such as:
Injuries, death or sickness caused by asbestos dust
Contractual liability
Employment Practices Liability
Pollutions
Known circumstances
Liquor liability
Product recall
Professional liability
Property under care, custody and control of the insured
Employers Liability
CONDITIONS OF THE POLICY
Reasonable Precaution
As an insured, you have the responsibility to make sure that you reduce any incident that is likely to cause a claim. The planning and organisation of the event should be standard and ethical. Professionals should be employed to manage all the activities of the events.
Subrogation
In the event of any payment of claim under the policy, the insurance company has the right to recover to the extent of such payments against any person or organisation who caused the accident.
Notices and Change in Event
In a situation where an event is delayed, cancelled, suspended or postponed; or there is change in venue, you have to notify the insurance company about such changes as quickly as possible.
Claim Notification
Any time there is any incident likely to give rise to a claim, you have to notify the insurance company as quickly as possible. It should not be more than 14 days.
Fraud
If any claim under the policy shall be in any respect fraudulent, or if any fraudulent means or device are used by the insured, or any one acting on the insured’s behalf to obtain any benefit under this policy, all benefits and rights under the policy shall be forfeited. That means the insurance company has the right to dismiss the claim.
References
https://www.hiscox.co.uk/event-insurance/event-public-liability-insurance
https://www.protectivity.com/knowledge-centre/what-type-of-insurance-do-event-organisers-need/
https://www.events-insurance.co.uk/event-insurance-policies/multi-events-insurance/overview
https://www.localcommunityinsurance.com.au/insurance/event/public-liability.aspx
Gideon is an experienced underwriter who works with Activa International Insurance, and a member of the Society of Underwriting Professionals, UK.
Email Address: [email protected]/ [email protected]
Contact: 0246972495 / 0555864286
