Surprising public liability claims to watch out for!
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Customers injured by a falling tree branch, broken furniture, or walking into a glass door are just a few examples of unique and surprising public liability claims that could affect UK businesses, as revealed by insurance experts from Toolbox by Admiral.
There are hundreds of thousands of accidents – many of them serious – that take place within businesses every year. Public Liability insurance covers claims brought by people who interact with your business, such as customers, clients, and members of the public.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, statistics show slipping and tripping to be the single most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces, closely followed by handling, lifting, or carrying. But there are many other unusual and unique incidents that UK businesses should be aware of.
Business owners in any type of business have a legal responsibility to ensure that their employees and customers are protected, both by meeting the current health and safety regulation standards, and making sure they’re covered by a suitable Employers Liability insurance policy.
And while it is not a legal requirement to have Public Liability insurance by default, many businesses may benefit from having it as it helps protect them against unexpected costs.
A spokesperson from Toolbox, who specialises in Public Liability insurance, says: “No matter what your business does, there are always third-party risks and possible claims that can arise.
“Many businesses make the mistake of thinking “it won’t happen to us”, but these strange claims show that it could – and does – happen.
“Our Public Liability insurance for trade is designed to protect you should you have compensation claims and legal costs resulting from mishaps at work, such as damage to property or injury to another person.”
Here is Toolbox’s list of possible peculiar workplace injuries to be aware of:
- Falling down a trapdoor
Many service industry businesses like pubs, bars, and restaurants will have a cellar to keep products, and are common venues for parties or celebrations. A lot of these are old buildings with trapdoors down to the cellar or very steep stairs. This is no laughing matter, as you may hear stories of customers falling through the trapdoors on their way back from the toilet, or when putting up decorations for an event, many of such examples resulting in serious injury and unfortunately, even death.
- Walking into glass doors
Lots of businesses have glass doors, either sliding or revolving, that employees and customers both use. Believe it or not, there are claims for harm caused by walking into a glass door. When it comes to glass door accidents, liability often falls on the property owner or occupier. Failure to provide clear markings, warning signs, or safety measures can result in legal liability for the property owner.
- Something falling on you
When a business sells its products in a store, product placement is essential, but at the same time, most stores have limited space. Therefore, some items are set higher up for a good reason. It’s vital to ensure these items are safely stored, and it’s a duty of care for the business to make sure the store is safe. There have been cases of shelving accident claims, and many of these incidents have unfortunately resulted in injury to the customers – and financial implications for businesses. There might be other physical objects that could cause customers harm, such as tree branches for any business with outside space. So, it’s vital to understand and assess all possible hazards.
- Damage to client’s valuables during home services
Any trades that provide in-home services, whether it’s painting, cleaning, or repairs, can sometimes lead to unforeseen accidents that result in damage to expensive furniture, antiques, or personal belongings. These incidents can be upsetting for both the service provider and the client, potentially causing financial and emotional stress.
Common mishaps include paint splatters on carpets, accidental spills, or inadvertently knocking over valuable items. Whilst a primary focus is to complete the service efficiently, it’s crucial to take precautions and exercise care when working in someone else’s home.
- Music or noise is too loud
Noise-induced hearing loss is a common employee work injury claim, but also a consideration for customers. It is not just concerts and building sites that are loud, but landscapers, call centres, and many more types of businesses that work in noisy environments.
These workplaces are all at risk of contributing to impaired hearing. In fact, anywhere with loud noises can damage the cochlea, an essential component of the inner ear involved in hearing.
- Food poisoning
If a business offers a customer any food, then the products should be stored, handled, prepared, and cooked in a safe way that meets regulations. However, errors and negligence do happen when businesses don’t cook food at the right temperature, do not refrigerate, cross-contaminate, or have poor hygiene standards. If a customer or member of the public falls ill from any food provided by a business, then they may be eligible to make a food poisoning claim for compensation.
Finally, it’s important to note that not all insurers will cover each of these scenarios, so it’s important to check the terms of your policy carefully before choosing your insurance provider.
