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Risk Management Bulletin
831-661-5697 Website

Coverage Options If Volunteers Are Injured At Your Workplace

Bookmark and Share Around 63 million people volunteer annually at an hourly value of over $24. Your company may utilize some of these volunteers to assist in daily operations, run errands, or support special events. Protect your valuable volunteers when you understand how to cover injuries they suffer while helping you.

Clarify Your Options

Injured employees are covered under your company’s Workers’ Compensation policy. This policy isn’t usually designed for unpaid volunteers, though. Before your volunteers suffer an injury, talk to your insurance agent and clarify details about your Workers’ Compensation coverage and your other protective options.  

  • What are the state’s Workers’ Compensation regulations for volunteers?
  • Are volunteers covered under your company’s Workers’ Compensation policy?
  • Where does the policy specify coverage for volunteers?
  • How much coverage is provided?
  • What are your options if Workers’ Compensation does not cover volunteers?  
Review General Liability

Standard general liability insurance policies cover injuries or property damage caused by volunteers as they perform their duties. Volunteers cannot use this policy coverage to make a claim against your company, though, if they suffer an injury. Review your general liability policy carefully to verify its exact coverage for volunteers.

Understand Voluntary Compensation Endorsement

Some companies think a voluntary compensation endorsement on their Workers’ Compensation policy will cover volunteers. However, it’s designed for employees who are not covered by your regular Workers’ Comp insurance, such as company partners or employees who are traveling overseas. Your unpaid volunteers are not covered by this endorsement.

Purchase Volunteer Accident Medical Insurance

If your state does not cover volunteers under Workers’ Compensation, consider purchasing a volunteer accident medical insurance policy. It can pay medical bills and related costs if a volunteer suffers an injury while performing duties for your company.

Verify Private Insurance Coverage

Your company could require volunteers to use their own health or auto insurance to cover injuries that occur as they perform their duties. In this case, obtain insurance information before the volunteers begin. Explain that your Workers’ Compensation coverage does not cover volunteer injuries but that you are committed to their safety and want to ensure that their medical needs are cared for.

Sign a Waiver

Protect your company with a waiver and hold-harmless agreement signed by all your volunteers. While you commit to providing a safe environment, this document stipulates that your company will not provide coverage for injuries and that volunteers assume all risks.

Volunteers provide invaluable services for your company. Ensure they’re protected if they are injured, and build strong volunteer relationships.
Scurich Insurance Services 831-661-5697 Website
 

Inland Marine Insurance

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Although you have insured the business property on your premises, this protection does not extend off site - unless you carry Inland Marine insurance.

This type of policy goes back as far as the 17th century when Lloyd's of London extended coverage on ship cargos beyond ocean voyages to their final destination "inland." Today, Inland Marine covers the property of a business when it's in transit - or stored at a location away from the premises - as well as the property of third parties that's held on the premises. Because this property is essentially "floating," these policies are also known as Floaters.

Inland Marine coverage would apply in such scenarios as:

  • A truck carrying designer handbags for an upscale department store is hijacked at a rest stop.
  • A hailstorm damages bulldozers on a machinery dealer's lot.
  • A fire at a dry cleaners scorches customers' clothing.
  • A defective sprinkler system in a "big box" store warehouse soaks dozens of TVs.

You can buy Inland Marine insurance on either a "named peril" basis (which lists the specific risks covered) or as an "all risk" policy (which covers losses from all causes not specifically listed).

This coverage can provide valuable protection for the mobile or moveable property of almost any business, large or small: everything from camera shops and computer manufacturers through building contractors and jewelry stores to museums/art galleries and trucking companies.

As Business Insurance professionals, we can tailor a comprehensive Inland Marine policy to the needs of your company. Feel free to get in touch with us at any time.

Scurich Insurance Services 831-661-5697 Website
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