What are the precedents for kitchen equipment liability?
Awareness of the terms and conditions of your business insurance is essential for owners and managers of nightclubs, bars and pubs. Many policies include safe requirement conditions, these are acts that must be done or avoided by the insured in order to remain covered. The insured may lose their right to cover, and therefore payment, if the conditions are not met.
All insurable assets and policies include conditions which should be understood by both owners and management. A good insurance broker will highlight the stand-out parts that may disproportionately affect your premises, warning you of conditions that must be met at all times. If you do not believe this has been adequately provided, please contact us and we will help guide you through your policy conditions.
Insurance Conditions Tips for Businesses
At NDML, we’ve picked out a few specific conditions which we think really need to be paid attention to. All frying and cooking equipment has specific, narrow conditions that must be met. Insurance around tumble dryers also include stringent conditions which could affect your cover. Guttering and flat rooves have conditions specific to them which need to be regularly acted upon. And a very common policy stipulation includes bins – or specifically – locked waste containers.
It’s important to alter your business practices in order to accommodate these conditions, and therefore remain insured.
Deep Fat Fryer Insurance Conditions
Attendance of all frying and cooking equipment when operational and up to an hour after operation is mandatory for operators. Operators must remain in the immediate proximity at all times. At NDML, we understand this stipulation as meaning the operator cannot leave the room while the deep fat fryer is on. This also stretches to one hour after completion for any period of use.
All frying and cooking equipment includes deep fat fryers, hot plates, ovens, air fryers, hobs, pans, stoves, kilns and furnaces. These must be at least 300mm away from any combustible materials as well as any of the building’s structure.
A fire blanket and a minimum of two fire extinguishers must be kept within the vicinity of the range and regularly maintained. All oily and greasy waste should be kept in metal bins and removed from the premises at the end of each day.
Removal of Waste and Waste Storage Conditions
All waste and refuse must be cleared daily and removed from the premises at least once a week. Keep a record of removal in case your insurer needs it.
It’s imperative all combustible waste storage is kept at least 2 meters from any part of the premises. This includes bins outside which need to be set away from the building. At NDML, we have experienced claims be rejected due to owners not knowing or following this stipulation. If a fire occurs within your bins, it could cause sever smoke and fire damage to your building, damages which you do not want to be paying to rectify.
Flat Roof and Guttering Insurance Conditions
Any flat roof on your premises must be inspected every two years by a qualified property surveyor to ensure it is in a good state of repair. Guttering must be checked for blockages and defects every six months, commencing at renewal. A record of all inspection should be kept as it will be needed upon inspection by the insurer.
These inspections will be necessary to ensure you remain covered in case a claim is made, perhaps in the event of flooding or a leak.
Tumble Dryer Insurance Conditions
It is a precedent to the insurer’s liability that conditions regarding tumble dryers are adhered to. Conditions include: All oily and greasy materials must be suitably washed before tumble dried, and washed with a degreasing agent.
Dryers must not be left unattended whilst in operation. Dryers should be cleaned after each cycle, and waste materials must be removed to be suitably disposed of. They need to be completely unloaded at least an hour before operators leave the premises in order to cool and items aired. Use a non-combustible surface to air items before folding – this limits risk of burns.
Contact NDML for more information on insurance conditions
If you as an operator are unsure of the insurance conditions surrounding a section of your business, or require further guidance on insurance policy conditions, talk to an expert at NDML. We offer over 20 years of expertise and provide our clients with the best deals, advise and comprehensive insurance portfolios possible. Our mission is to see the nightlife industry thrive, helping entertainment and leisure venues continue to grow and succeed. Talk to us about your policies today.
