Public liability insurance - inflatables

Guidance on the insurance of inflatables.

AS a member of the NCPTA your association enjoys the benefit of subcription linked public liability insurance cover for events that you hold. Included in this insurance is cover for your use of inflatables e.g. bouncy castles, slides etc.

Your NCPTA public liability insurance covers accidents that happen as a result of your negligence. Accidents that happen as a result of other factors must be covered by a public liability insurance policy taken out by the owner of the inflatable (see below).

If your PTA wants to include an inflatable at an event it is vital that you note and adhere to the following guidelines: -

Hired inflatables

If you hire an inflatable from an outside body or organisation it is your responsibility to obtain written confirmation that they have their own public liability insurance to meet claims resulting from their property/activities at your event. The NCPTA insurance will not cover negligence by a third party e.g. an inflatable hire company.

The NCPTA has developed a pro forma form, which you can ask third parties to sign and return prior to the event to confirm their insurance is in place.

Guest Entertainers Proforma Third party pro forma form

It is also important that you ask to see a certificate which confirms that the inflatable equipment has been inspected by an external body and declares safe for public use. For example the Performance Textiles’ Inflatable Play Accreditation Scheme (PIPA) This scheme has the backing of industry associations, the Health and Safety executive and local authorities. For more information see http://www.pipa.org.uk/

PTA owned inflatables

Your NCPTA insurance covers you should your inflatable cause any injury or accident as a result of your negligence.

Negligence is defined as something that your association could have prevented. For example, if your inflatable had a hole in and it subsequently deflated and caused an injury, this would be your negligence because the inflatable should have been checked for any damage before being used or loaned out.

If you wish to hire a PTA owned inflatable out to others, the NCPTA public liability insurance will cover an injury or incident caused by your inflatable as a result of your negligence.

If a member of your PTA is not supervising the inflatable whilst it is on hire, it is important that you inform the hirer that they are liable for both the use of the inflatable and any damage to it. If there is an injury as a result of how the hirer uses the inflatable they will NOT be covered by your insurance and maybe held liable for the incident, therefore to protect themselves they should contact their own household insurance company to arrange public liability cover as appropriate.

Most PTAs set up a hire agreement and take a deposit in case their inflatable is damaged whilst in the hirer’s possession.

Loaned inflatables

If you are loaned or borrow an inflatable from a friend or family member you must ask why they have the inflatable. If they have used it commercially at any time, even if they have not charged for its use and are not charging you, they are still classed as a third party provider and must have their own public liability insurance.

If there was any incident whilst using a borrowed or loaned inflatable the insurers will investigate and the provider may be found liable if their property causes damage.

However, if the inflatable is used privately and for personal use, and they are a member of your association, then its use will be covered by the NCPTA public liability insurance.

Safety and Supervision

It is advisable to display notices next to the inflatable stating that parents allow their children to participate at their own risk and that the organisers (your PTA) will not accept any liability for injury, loss or damage to property from any accidental cause.

You MUST make sure that you provide a good level of supervision by responsible adults at ALL TIMES to avoid overcrowding and accidents. We recommend that you restrict the use of the inflatable by age. This may already be specified by the supplier of the inflatable.

Do not site the compressor, or any other obstruction, where children might injure themselves should they fall off the inflatable. It is a good idea to place soft PE mats around the inflatable to provide a soft area should anyone fall.

Additional insurance

You can take out additional NCPTA insurance if you want to insure a hired or borrowed inflatable in case it is damaged whilst in your care. Please call the NCPTA on 01732 375460 or insure@ncpta.org.uk; you will need to know the value of the item you wish to insure and how long it will be in your possession.

The NCPTA can also arrange for all risks cover for a PTA owned inflatable. The charge for this is £4.20 per £100 insured (£500 minimum sum insured). Please contact NCPTA on 01732 375460 or insure@ncpta.org.uk

February 2007

This National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA) information sheet aims to provide clear advice but should only be considered as a general guide.

Further information sheets are available from www.ncpta.org.uk. For more specific advice please contact info@ncpta.org.uk or 01732 375460.

NCPTA 39 Shipbourne Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 3DS t 01732 375460 f 01732 375461 www.ncpta.org.uk.