Insurance questions & answers

From Hitchin Hackspace
Revision as of 09:38, 30 July 2015 by Markmellors (talk | contribs) (answered Mike's questions)
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Insurance Quote Details for Hitchin Hackspace

Location / Site to be covered by insurance

Address:
Ransoms Recreation Ground Pavilion
Ransoms Recreation Ground
Grove Road
Hitchin
SG5 1RQ

Nearest Postcode for Google Maps: SG5 1RB Alexandra Road

Type of Organisation:

Hitchin Hackspace is a community organisation devoted to providing everyone with a place to explore all kinds of creative technologies, engineering and crafts.
Does the group have a constitution: Yes Constitution PDF Version
Directors/Chair person/committee: We have a small committee.

Does the group have a bank account: Yes – Details can be provided
How often does the group meet: Weekly on Mondays from 19:00 to 22:00.
Number of paid up members: 20
Number of active members at any meeting: 10-15
Age group of members: 16-65 (Question for insurer: what is the effect of covering under-16s and 16-18s? Does having guardians present reduce risk/requirements?)

Group Finances:

Turn over: £4000

Insurance Requirements:

Type of cover required: Public / 3rd Party/ Employer's Liability Insurance. Contents / Theft cover for group owned equipment.
Is Buildings Insurance required: Not currently. Building owned by North Hertfordshire District Council leased to Triangle Community Gardens who are a registered Charity (Hitchin Community Gardens, Company No. 7676360, Registered Charity No. 1145243)
Does the Group have existing cover: Not currently
What level of liability insurance cover is required: £2,000,000 minimum
Type of activities to be covered:
Members making/working on projects, low power DC electronics projects using soldering irons, hand tools, handheld battery power tools, handheld mains power tools, computers and computer controlled equipment like laser cutters and 3D printers, in a group context with appropriate training provided.

Tools used:

  • Hand tools
  • Soldering Iron
  • Handheld battery power tools
  • Handheld mains power tools
  • Cordless drill
  • Laser cutter
  • 3D printers

Assets requiring cover:

  • In process of buying a CNC Laser Cutter (This insurance is a requirement prior to purchase) £3.5k
  • Laptop/PC to control Laser Cutter ~£200
  • Oscilloscope ~£100
  • Thurlby Bench Power Supply £50
  • Assorted small tools £100

Events:

Hitchin Hackspace attend events where Public Liability Insurance would be required to cover members of the public

No of Events: ~4 maker faires per year.

No of Group Members attending: ~5

Do we run our own events?: No

Do we run workshops at events?: No

What activities do we undertake at events?:
Exhibiting / Demonstrating small projects / devices to the public.
Running bighak a battery powered robot vehicle capable of carrying a single passenger.
bighak is a scaled up, driveable version of the 70s programmable robot toy bigtrak. Our version is powered by wheelchair motors (top speed ~5mph) and can be controlled by the original wheelchair joystick or remotely. There is a failsafe 'remote kill' feature so that a supervisor can cut the power if required. We display bighak at makerfaires and it is always driven by members. Occasionally members of the public ride it but it stays under member control at all times. See the website for more details: http://hackhitchin.org.uk/bighak/

Some Hackspace assets be taken away from the Pavilion for events, such as hand and power tools. The total value will be less than £500

Access Control and Safety:

Building Security:
The Ransoms Recreation Ground Pavilion is of brick and concrete construction with a pitched metal clad roof. All the external doors are constructed from steel with yale type locks. There are 5 double glazed windows which are all protected by external steel security shutters which are operated manually from inside the building. The floors are concrete. As we hire the building for one evening a week we do not have control of access to the building at all times. We have a key which allows us entry to the building and is used by one of our nominated keyholders to open up each week. The building is in the care of Triangle Community Gardens (including picture of the building. They use the building during the week and at weekends and also hire it to others.

Equipment Storage / Security:

Is access to equipment restricted: Laser cutter will be secured against unauthorised access or use by lockouts on the mains connection and the cover. The unit will be secured in a cupboard / chained to a wall to prevent theft. Only a limited number of authorised and trained custodians will have access to the keys to the machine. Untrained members or visitors will not be allowed to operate the machine without supervision from a trained member / custodian. The other equipment is currently stored in an unlocked cupboard in the building.

Training: Our members include people from a number of engineering and technology backgrounds with many years professional experience with a range of machines and equipment. We will use the most experience members, documented best practice and training guides published by other Maker Spaces, Hackspaces and similar groups to provide training. The initial laser cutter training will be provided by the manufacturer, all other tools are 'consumer' level. Member training will generally be provided by experienced but not professionally certified trainers.

Training documentation: The group will have a library of documentation for tools like the Laser Cutter. Procedures borrowed from existing hackspaces

Risk assessments: All activities will be risk assessed and documented

What safety equipment is in the building:
Fire alarm
Fire extinguishers
First aid kit

Do you have a trained first aider: There won't always be one on site

PAT testing: Everything electrical is PAT tested by a 3rd party