ISM NEWS: ISM Public Liability & Employer's Liability Insurance
06 December 2005

The ISM automatically insures its Full members for up to £10 million against ‘liability for bodily injury, illness or disease of any third party arising out of the activities of a member, and loss or damage to material property not belonging to the member’. For example, if a piano lid fell on a pupil’s fingers, and the pupil sued, the teacher would be covered against both the cost of the legal action and any damages awarded.

Another problematic situation could arise where, for example, a musician is organising a teaching event where classes are taken by other musicians. The organiser may not strictly be ‘employing’ these colleagues; but for statutory purposes they may be deemed to be doing so. They are therefore legally obliged to insure themselves against possible claims for compensation from employees for injuries or disease which they have suffered as a result of their employment, and for which they believe their employer (in this case, the organiser) to be responsible. Any Full member who finds themselves in a position where they might be regarded as being an ‘employer’ can rest assured that their statutory insurance obligations are fulfilled by the simple expedient of belonging to the ISM – they are automatically insured for up to £10 million.

Both of these special insurances cover UK-domiciled ISM members (that is, Full members who live in the UK) wherever they are working in the world.

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