Single Event insurance

[»Skydazzle Pyrotechnics]

I think the reason people do it is money……!! They get offered the chance to do a display and rather than pass it to a Pro Company they fire it themselves using Event Insurance. If they manage to get Cat4 for the show then they have all the advantages of a Pro Display with none of the real expensive overheads.

One of the problems is some Firers think because they are “on the books” of a Pro Company they can go off refusing and doing their own thing. Unless you are working directly at that moment for a Pro Company when in possession of Cat4 or modifying any firework they are no different from Joe Public. It is against the current 2003 Firework Act.

I think Event Insurance should be for what I think it was originally intended for:

Local group using Cat2/3 for a fundraiser or the pub/school display.

I suppose at least if Event Insurance is used it is better than none at all....

Scab picking satisfied for now…..

[Badger]

Some good points Skydazzle.
I t would be great to hear from people who have used this single event insurance to fire a show.
Was the process of fusing, rigging and firing the show the same as what they would have done while working for a company who has 365 day I. Also was the process of getting the insurance the same as a company !. Interesting to find out.

I feel another scab forming

[RocketRev]

I'm wondering if there are still folk out there who used to do their local pub / school / scout / community etc. display using shells and the like in the days when they were available to them and who are still looking to do the same today? They'd have used single event insurance in the past, I suppose, and would have got the cat4 pyro on the day. I know the school Parent Teacher Association of my first parish, years ago, used to do that.

As for risk assessments etc..... for the local church / school displays that I do (all strictly cat3), I have risk assessment and display guidance papers provided by both the Local Authority and my Church's Insurer. And, to be honest, I don't think they're good enough - and I've told them so! I do individual RA's for each display and work to a higher standard than the Local Authority and Insurer require.... and that's been the case since I began doing the displays, i.e. before I became a firer for a pro company. So the very people who have the responsibility for, or vested interest in seeing that displays are well run seem to be setting the bar quite low - in my experience and opinion, anyway.

So single event insurance originally did cover the use of what we now consider to be cat4 pyro. Maybe there are those willing to let it be like that once again. And maybe, once insured for the event, the other regulatory powers are content - taking the view that you can use whatever you're allowed to use.... and if you're insured to use cat4, then that means you're allowed to do so. Who checks on the actual competency of the person doing the display? Anyone? It bothers me....

[»Skydazzle Pyrotechnics]

and if you're insured to use cat4, then that means you're allowed to do so.

That's the bit that doesn't comply with the newer regs.....Insurance don't make you a Professional Company or employed by one for that event.

Scab itching again now

[»PureParty]

must resist....., it'll only bleed if I pick it...

[RocketRev]

Originally Posted by Skydazzle Pyrotechnics

That's the bit that doesn't comply with the newer regs.....

Agreed - and I know that. But does everybody who ought to know? And who's checking? For example, when MSER came out I discovered that I knew more about it than staff in my Local Authority and my Insurer. From my compliance work days, I've taken the lesson that if the controlling authorities don't fully know or understand the rules, then someone somewhere will get away with something they shouldn't - either unintentionally or deliberately. With what consequences........

[»PureParty]

But does everybody who ought to know?

Well if the Insurance company should know, they are the experts after all

Agreed - and I know that. But does everybody who ought to know? And who's checking? For example, when MSER came out I discovered that I knew more about it than staff in my Local Authority and my Insurer. From my compliance work days, I've taken the lesson that if the controlling authorities don't fully know or understand the rules, then someone somewhere will get away with something they shouldn't - either unintentionally or deliberately. With what consequences........

We have had insurers come out whilst we do shows to inspect, and the people who came to do the assesment didnt have a clue, honestly we could have had the fireworks upside down and they would not have known what was what!
What gets me though is how the local round table can put on a show for bonfire night for thousands of people, yet in their programme state that they accept no liability for injuries caused by the fireworks they are setting off.??????

[elmo]

i agree mate, i attend motorsports events all over the counrty and the organisers must have public liability insurance to stage such events but clearly printed on the back off all the tickets is "motorsport is dangerous and the organisers accept no responsibilty" how can this work? or is it a get out clause?

[»Firework Crazy]

Nothing like that is worth the paper its written on, if there was an accident then you could sue regardless of whats printed.