liability release for shop access

[jony z]

As our team is rebuilding we have lost a lot of knowledge, and we recently came across the issue of liability. A new team member cut his finger on the sharp end of tubing during our shop hours.

We now realize this could have been a far worse situation (power tools, welding, fast cars, etc) and are asking for help on the issue of liability release for shop access. Do most teams have one? Is this provided/mandated by the university? Do you know of any relevant examples?

I appreciate any help,
Jon Z

[jony z]

As our team is rebuilding we have lost a lot of knowledge, and we recently came across the issue of liability. A new team member cut his finger on the sharp end of tubing during our shop hours.

We now realize this could have been a far worse situation (power tools, welding, fast cars, etc) and are asking for help on the issue of liability release for shop access. Do most teams have one? Is this provided/mandated by the university? Do you know of any relevant examples?

I appreciate any help,
Jon Z

[ibanezplayer]

Well we have liability insurance provided by the school (as I'm sure everyone does?) for when we're at school.

When we go testing, that is added onto our policy for the duration of our time there. Just a bit of paper work to cover our asses, accidents do happen, we've had them.

As for in the shop, well the safety officer's office is directly across the hallway, but realistically 90% of the car gets built outside of normal business hours. I think the schools covered it's ass by the "safety glasses must be worn in this area" sign from the 50s, and a tiny yellow piece of paper on the wall in all offices, labs, and shops that basically says dont work by your self, use at your own risk, we didn't make you do it, etc.

Think the only "real" shop accident we've had is when a guy was using an angle grinder, slipped and put a nice gash in his hand. Heat from the grinder cauterized it, and a teammate is a paramedic, so all was good.

Edit: basically what I'm saying, is there is no formal paper work, anyone and everyone works in our shop without a release of liability.

[Tom W]

We have a particular safety induction that has to be done before members are given after hours access to the workshop.

The building that we work in has card access only on it so people can only get into the building once they have been signed off and been given the relevant access.

The university has all sorts of insurance, this OH&S induction covers the local laws so that it becomes the insurance companies problem if ever anybody ever makes a serious mess of themselves.

[TorqueWrench]

I recently had to ask our school about this after a scare with our snowmobile team. Our situation may be a bit different as we are not affiliated with or funded by the engineering department.

For shop liability, we are covered by our own insurance or whoever technically owns the room we work in (no one knows for sure who this is). This is because the room is not a Student Association room and therefore not our student government's responsibility.

For testing at school, everyone is covered by their own insurance and the school is not liable for what happens. That being said, they still asked me to let them know if anyone gets hurt.

For competition, we are covered going to and from competition by SA's insurance as long as we are driving their vehicles. At competition, all those lovely liability waivers from SAE go into affect so that is pretty much a non-issue.

As for liability waivers at the school, its unwritten but understood.