Document D2

BCA's Public Liability Insurance Scheme

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All members of the British Caving Association pay a contribution to the cost of providing third-party public liability insurance cover, since such a policy provides a 'community' benefit to caving in the UK. (BCA 'weights' the contribution its members make by charging cavers more than non-cavers. Although the policy cover is the same for all members there is the clear expectation that, if you pay a non-caver membership fee, you will not be participating in anything other than surface activities). The table, below, summarises the main aspects of the insurance scheme. Please note that it is only a summary, and it does not cover some of the finer points (for example, the Product Liability Insurance and the Volunteer cover that is available) and it is not a substitute for reading the Policy document, its Synopsis and BCA's legal statements regarding insurance. Further information is available from BCA.

This part of the insurance package may be available from other brokers, but because the BCA policy has been negotiated by cavers for cavers, it explicitly covers some very unusual risks, including the use of explosives and complex mechanical equipment such as winches, and it covers other caving activities such as workshops, conferences and training events.

When members of BCA benefit from a provision of the policy, this is the same level of cover for all such members. However, BCA 'weights' your contribution so that cavers pay more than non-cavers do. The contribution paid by Club Individual Members reflects the true cost of administering the policy, and does not include any hidden element for membership of BCA.

The policy indemnifies landowners who enter into a BCA access agreement for liabilities arising out of the crossing of their land, and/or the exploration of their caves by an insured member or member organisation or any other person described in the BCA access agreement.

A BCA access agreement is an appropriate agreement or contract made with a land/property owner with the full knowledge and consent of the BCA Insurance Manager.

This is a requirement of many landowners that partake in caving access agreements.

Whilst some public liability insurance may be included in your existing domestic policy, it is extremely unlikely that this Landowner Liability is covered. This is because you are not the beneficiary of this insurance.

BCA issues Landowner Certificates to clubs on request, to demonstrate that they have insurance which protects a particular landowner.

All Individual Members of BCA.

In English Law, members of a club have "joint and several liability" - it is a fundamental aspect of being in a "club". The risk is not primarily that you could be sued because of the actions of another member of your club, it is that you could end up having to pay a contribution to the costs of a case against another member of your club (even if the case itself was dismissed) and he felt obliged to sue his fellow club members to recover his costs.

Officers etc. of a member club / organisation but only if all the members of the club are Individual Members of BCA.

BCRA Officers benefit from this cover, because BCRA is a member organisation of BCA.

Whilst some public liability insurance may be included in your existing domestic policy, it is extremely unlikely that it extends to cover the risks of being a club officer.

Clubs that provide accommodation must pay an additional contribution.

This section of the policy also includes Product Liability cover (this may be relevant if your club makes tackle for use by its members or prepares food for a club barbecue); and Volunteer cover for persons who participate in caving activities but who are not members of any particular caving organisation. This is particularly important for regional councils and others involved in access related activities such as capping shafts and fitting gates, where help is required from outside the membership of the local caving clubs. For further details please ask BCA.