Disclaimers are no longer enough to protect event organisers from liability should an attendee get injured at an event. According to the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act (SASREA), the safety and well-being of people attending an event lies with the event organisers.
The responsibilities of the event organisers include:
- All event role players, from the performers to the sponsors, need to ensure that they have sufficient public liability cover in place.
- Everyone in the event value chain should understand that disclaimers and indemnities will not protect them in the case of serious damages or injuries.
- Insurers should ensure that the underwriting is done correctly in terms of wording, applicable deductibles, and the provided cover. They need to make provision for potential action from events.
(Please note: This is only general advice and should not be relied on solely. The law is complicated and there are many influencing factors that can change the above).