Page 7 - ALG Issue 1 2023

legal matters
Do you need Employers’ Liability
Insurance for your volunteers?
Your allotment association has a duty of care towards those who lend a hand. Chris Knott Insurance explains why this means Employers’ Liability Insurance should be an essential addition to any association’s cover.
Volunteers can make a real difference to allotment associations. They can pitch in when things need a tidy up, help out when you’re hosting visitors, and offer general much-needed support. But
just because these wonderful people are offering their time and labour for free doesn’t mean that you don’t have responsibility for them.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states that you need to mitigate risks
to protect employees and others who may be affected by work activities – and this includes your volunteers. If you are found to be negligent, you could owe any affected volunteer compensation.
It may seem unlikely that this could happen, but even the safest allotments can be hazardous. A volunteer could trip over a forgotten tool, cut themselves
on a rusty gate or hurt their back while lifting a heavy sack of compost. Any illness or injury that is sustained while carrying out work for your association could lead to a claim. Without the right cover in place, you could find that your association has to pay for expensive legal costs and compensation.
A DUTY OF CARE
For this reason, groups such as the Charity Commission strongly advise charities and other not-for-profit organisations to insure their volunteers in addition to any staff.
It is not a legal obligation for you to do this. While the Employers’ Liability Act 1999 ensures that any organisation
with at least one employee must have Employers’ Liability Insurance in place, this does not extend to volunteers. However, because of the financial risks of not having cover, putting Employers’ Liability Insurance in place can give you some much needed peace of mind.
EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY INSURANCE
Employers’ Liability Insurance can cover compensation costs, damages and legal fees. This will give you financial protection should a volunteer become injured or ill due to your association’s negligence or a breach of health & safety law.
Cover for this type of insurance will start at £5 million, but most policies will offer more. This will ensure that you can cover the costs of both compensation and fees.
Any illness or injury that is sustained while carrying out work for your association could lead to a claim
Not all Employers’ Liability Insurance will include cover for volunteers, however, so you will need to check your policy and explain to the insurer exactly who you need cover for.
This can be a bit daunting, which is why we offer £10 million Employers’ Liability Insurance cover for volunteers within our bespoke Allotment Association Insurance. When organising your cover, we will work closely with you to ensure that the right elements and levels are put in place. This means that you can be confident in your cover and continue working with your volunteers with greater peace of mind.
To discuss your allotment association’s needs, and to get a quote, you can contact the Chris Knott Insurance team on 01424 205001.
Allotment Association Insurance from a broker that really knows its onions
01424 205001 | chrisknott.co.uk/nas
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 7