Legal

Legal Review

Risk Management

School Playground Equipment

Insurance

Work Experience Programmes

Schools JournalAllianz Corporate Ireland plc

www.allianz.ie/schools issue 01 | 2007

T here have recently been considerable comments in the media regarding thepossible exposure of individual members of Boards of Management to legal

actions relating to criminal acts by employees of the School Board. To allay concernsof existing members of Boards of Management and prospective new members, wewish to confirm the following: -

The Indemnity to Management Section of theAllianz Custodian School Protection Policy pro-vides cover in relation to legal liabilities arising,inter alia, from the performance of their duties bythe Board of Management. The indemnity providedis in respect of legal costs and damages incurred inconnection with a claim. Naturally there are terms,exceptions and conditions attaching to the Policy,but it is important to state that there has neverbeen a case where a Board of Management hasbeen left without indemnity in relation to suchclaims. In effect a Board, or a member of a Board,who do not consciously set out to commit a

criminal act are provided with cover in the dispensation of their duties.Critically the cover provided under the Allianz policy includes legal liability, which

attaches to the Board of Management, collectively and individually, as a consequenceof a criminal act by an employee or other person for whom the Board is responsible.It is correct to state that the policy does not afford any protection to the perpetrator ofany such criminal act, however this does not affect the indemnity provided to theBoard of Management. In such a circumstance, Indemnity is provided not only to theBoard of Management as a Corporate Body, but also to each individual member of theBoard of Management. The standard limit of indemnity under the Allianz SchoolPolicy in any one year is €2,600,000.

Further information can be obtained on our website www.allianz.ie/schools –refer Guide to Insurance, Safety & Security Handbook Chapters 2 and 7 – Indemnity to Management.

If there is any additional information we can provide in relation to any articlespublished in this issue of the Schools Journal or indeed, if you have any issues youwish to raise, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have a query regarding your school insurance and wish to contact us by email,our address is education@allianz.ie. Please quote your policy number in the subjecttitle of the email. Our specialist school website is www.allianz.ie/schools. You can also contact our Education Team at 01 613 3966, your local Allianz Representative oryour Insurance Broker.

Yours sincerely

Michael NolanMember of the Board of Management

Editorial

Dear Friends. Welcome to the Spring 2007 edition of our Schools Journal.

Michael Nolan

Member of the Board of Management

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Allianz: Schools Journal 01.07Allianz: Editorial

Contents

3 Recent AppointmentsWe introduce the new appointmentsto our External Team.

4 Computer hardware security includ-ing desktop & portable equipmentWe look at computer hardware,desktop & portable equipmentsecurity.

5 Supervision of Pupils outside ofOfficial School Opening Hours – A DilemmaWhat level of supervision shouldbe in place in schools before andafter the official start and finishtimes of the school day?

6 Specific Play/Outdoor Activity Areas“Playgrounds” can provide childrenwith fun, fresh air and exercise,however they can also pose signifi-cantly increased safety hazards.

8 Legal ReviewWe review a number of schoolclaims that have recently been settled in the Courts.

9 Work Experience ProgrammesWork Experiece can have a positive effect on students.

10 Engineering InspectionsWe look at the necessity of having specialised inspections on certain machinery.

11 Lights, Camera, Action!Croke Park turned on its lights towelcome the beginning of theAllianz Football League betweenDublin and Tyrone on February3rd last.

11 Ride On MowersMany schools have purchasedRide on Mowers.

11 Allianz “Challenges in Education”ConferenceAllianz recent EducationConference in Armagh.

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Allianz: AppointmentsAllianz: Schools Journal 01.07

Nuala O’Connor FCIINuala joined Allianz in 1985. She then joined CommercialUnion in 1992 followed by a variety of freelance and consultancy roles. In 2002 Nuala rejoined Allianz and is basedat our Belfast Office. Nuala is a Fellow of the CharteredInsurance Institute and has a NEBOSH Diploma inOccupational Safety and Health. Living in Lisburn, Nuala ismarried with 2 teenage sons.

Nuala’s area of responsibility is Religious, Education andCharity Business in Northern Ireland including the Diocese ofArmagh North, Clogher North, Down and Connor and Dromore.Phone: 07802 961908Email: nuala.o’connor@allianz.ie

Noel O’Loughlin ACIINoel, who is based at our office in Limerick, joined Allianz in1987. Up to now Noel has worked as an Underwriter in theCommercial, Religious, Education and Social Divisions. Over the last few years Noel has worked as ClaimsHandler/Investigator. Noel who is an Associate of theChartered Insurance Institute, lives in Ennis and is marriedwith 2 children. His interests are soccer, GAA, hiking and cinema.

Noel’s area of responsibility will be the Diocese of Killaloe,Limerick and Cashel & Emily.Phone: 087 2588943Email: noel.o’loughlin@allianz.ie

Recent AppointmentsAs part of our ongoing commitment to provide a quality service to our Religious,Education, Community and Voluntary sector Customers, we are delighted to advise youof the following recent appointments and additional resources to our External Team.

Neil Tobin ACIINeil is a native of Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork and was educatedat St. Finbars Seminary, Farranferris, Cork. He joined Allianz in1978 and until recently worked as a Commercial BusinessDevelopment Executive before taking over from his latecousin Brian Tobin in his new role. Neil is an Associate of theChartered Insurance Institute and is married to Fiona. He is akeen sports person with particular interest in GAA, Rugby,Golf and Tennis.

Neil’s area of responsibility will be the Diocese of Kerry, Cork& Ross and Cloyne.Phone: 087 9190428Email: neil.tobin@allianz.ie

Alan Black (Dip)Alan, who is from Drogheda, joined Allianz in 2000 after completing a Business and Marketing course in DundalkInstitute of Technology. He has been working in the Religiousand Education Team for the last 4 years as an Underwriter.Alan holds a Diploma in Insurance and will complete hisAssociateship with the Chartered Insurance Institute withinthe next year. His hobbies are golf, soccer and GAA.

Alan has recently been appointed as trainee BusinessDevelopment Executive and initially will be assisting in theDiocese of Dublin, Meath, Kildare & Leighin, Armagh Southand Clogher South.Phone: 087 9938277Email: alan.black@allianz.ie

W hile accidental damage is a common enough occurrence in relation to claims, theft is the major

contributor to the high extent of losses involving ComputerEquipment. Such equipment, especially Portable ComputerEquipment such as Laptops, is comparatively attractive tothieves due to the relative ease with which such equipmentcan be “re-sold”.

The following guidelines should be implemented as a minimum to reduce the potential exposure to loss or damage.For ease of reference we have separated the guidelines intotwo areas - those relating to General Physical Security andthose relating more specifically to Laptops.

1. General Physical Security > All equipment should be registered with the manufacturer.> Out of school hours, all doors allowing access to areas

where Computer Equipment is stored should be locked.> All computers should be set up with a password

requirement at logon. While this in itself may not act asa deterrent to thieves, it will at least make it more difficultfor an unauthorised user to access the computer. This inturn will increase the likelihood of its recovery.

> Computers should have a password requirement oncethe screensaver is in operation. This should deter opportunistic criminals.

> All Computer Equipment should be asset tagged and/orengraved.

> A formal user policy, incorporating as a minimum theissues addressed in this article, should be establishedand implemented in respect of all Computer Equipment.

2. Laptop Security The portability and “resale” potential of laptops make theseitems a particularly attractive and indeed relatively easy target

for thieves. Up to 70% of computer losses reported to Allianzinvolve theft of portable equipment. An additional cause ofconcern to schools is the avoidance of pressure and stressinvolved in replacing lost portable computer equipment – particularly where sensitive school or personal information isstored on readable memory devices.

The following simple precautionary measures should beimplemented to reduce the exposure to the incidents ofLaptop theft:> Lock Rooms where portable computer equipment is left

when not in use.> Whenever possible, cable locks should be used. Where

this is not practical, place the laptop out of sight.> Permanently marking the outer case of a laptop with your

school’s name, address, and phone number will signifi-cantly increase the chances of recovery of the Equipment.

> Tamper resistant nametags are available which can helpthe Gardai return your laptop where it is recovered.

> On journeys, store the laptop safely in the boot or luggage compartment of the car before commencing ajourney (not when parking – where potential criminalscan see that a laptop has been so stored).

> Lock doors and windows EVERY time you leave the vehicle unattended.

> Do NOT leave laptop(s) in the car overnight.> Do NOT leave a number of laptops together in one place

– this presents an easy target for potential thieves.The requirements of individual schools may vary, depend-

ent of the nature and quantity of Computer Equipmentinvolved. However implementation of the foregoing guidelinesas a minimum should help to reduce the exposure to loss.

In the next edition of the Schools Journal we will cover thetopic of Malicious Software (Malware) and some steps, whichcan be taken to reduce the exposure to this problem.

In the last edition of the School Journal, we addressed the issue of Internet Safety andSecurity Procedures. In this edition we focus on the physical security of computer equipment and set out a number of relatively simple measures, which should be implemented by schools to prevent loss of or damage to such equipment.

Computer hardwaresecurity includingdesktop and portableequipment

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Allianz: Schools Journal 01.07Allianz: Security

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Allianz: SupervisionAllianz: Schools Journal 01.07

Under the legal principle of “in locoparentis” the duty of care imposed

on a school is to take such care ofpupils as a careful parent would of his/her children. The school has a duty tosupervise pupils at all times duringwhich they are in the charge of theschool. If the school allows access tothe school premises before the officialopening hours then the duty to supervise applies. In the same way,where pupils are on the school premisesafter hours a similar duty applies.

It is not unusual for parents to leavetheir children at the school some timebefore the start of the school day, andlikewise collect their children sometime after school finishes. While parents are not entitled to arbitrarilyattempt to absolve themselves fromtheir responsibility for the safety oftheir children, such action by parentsdoes not wholly absolve the school of their responsibility to provide supervision.

Unfortunately this is a dilemma whichholds little sway with the courts whowill argue that the practice of parentsleaving pupils at a school before hoursor collecting them after hours is onewhich is known to schools, and withinacceptance of that fact there is an obligation to provide supervision.

Nevertheless schools can alleviatethe potential exposure to claims in thisregard by issuing a letter/note to allparents at the beginning of term advising them of the times duringwhich the school can accept responsibility for their children. Such aletter/note is effectively in the form of adisclaimer and can prove to be a useful

deterrent against claims being madeagainst the school. While it is doubtfulif such disclaimers carry the desiredprotection in law, we do, in generalterms, recommend their usage.

As regards the School TransportSystem, schools are not party to this, andthe fact that the children are conveyed toor from school by bus does not imposeany additional obligations on the school.As we have stated, it is important thatparents are made aware that no arrangements exist for the supervision oftheir children who arrive at the school,whether by school bus or otherwise,before the official opening times. A similar situation arises in respect of children who remain after school hoursawaiting collection by the school bus.

Please refer to Pages 39 & 40 of ourGuide to Insurance, Safety and Security inthe School for a recommended wordingin relation to the notification of officialschool times.

Where a Principal or other memberof staff takes it upon themselves to

voluntarily provide supervision outsideof official school hours they could bedeemed by a Court to have created aprecedent, and consequently theycould be held to be liable if, havingestablished the practice, they fail to doso for some reason or another.

Notwithstanding all of the foregoing, it is important to emphasize that cover under the Allianz CustodianSchool Protection Policy in respect of accidental injury or damage, asdefined in the Policy, will, subject tothe policy terms, Definitions,Conditions, limitations andExclusions, operate where the school is held to be legally liable,whether such injury or damage occurs before, during or after officialschool times.

If you any queries in relation to anyaspect of this article, please contact ourEducation Team at 01 613 3966 or yourlocal Allianz Representative.

Supervision of Pupils Outside Official SchoolOpening Hours – A DilemmaOne of the most frequently asked questions we receive when the challenging subject ofsupervision is being addressed is what level of supervision should be in place in schoolsbefore and after the official start and finish times of the school day.

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Allianz: Schools Journal 01.07Allianz: Playgrounds

A risk assessment and documentedprocedures in relation to the area

and equipment should form part of theSchool’s Safety Statement. The mostimportant factors in evaluating thesafety of a “Playground” are surface,

design and spacing, supervision, equipment inspection and maintenance. The following stepsshould be implemented as a minimumto ensure that the risk of injury to children is reduced.

1. Location & Design> Professional advice should be

obtained with regard to the layoutand design of the “Playground”,ensuring it is suitable for its purposeand can be accessed safely. Any adjacent hazards, such as vehicleaccess to the school grounds, shouldbe identified and reviewed.

> The surface should be free of standing water, rocks, loose stones,tree stumps, tree roots and debris ofany kind which could cause childrento trip and fall. School proceduresshould include provisions for thepresence of ice, snow and otheradverse weather related conditions.

> Accidents in “Playgrounds” arisemainly due to the way children moveabout – running, jumping etc – with-in the area. Equipment should bepositioned so that there is no causefor pupils to run across movingequipment, thus running the risk ofbeing struck by moving equipment.

Specific Play/Outdoor Activity Areas

The installation by schools of specialised play/outdooractivity areas (referred to as “Playgrounds” for the purposes of this article) has increased noticeably in recentmonths. “Playgrounds” can provide children with fun,fresh air and exercise, but they can also pose significantlyincreased safety hazards. For example unsuitable or damaged surfaces, faulty equipment and inadequatesupervision are just a few of the exposures which canresult in accidents on “Playgrounds”.

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Allianz: PlaygroundsAllianz: Schools Journal 01.07

> Any access gate should normallyopen outwards, except where itopens directly onto traffic or is likelyto cause a hazard. The gate shouldpreferably not close quicker thanwithin five seconds to facilitatewheelchair access and additionallyto prevent it striking a child walkingthrough. Ideally, a suitable 2m highfence should be provided around the“Playground” equipment to preventpupils from wandering into a hazardous area.

> The “Playground” should be adequatelysecured outside of school hours when the area is unsupervised and tominimise the risk of vandalism.

> The Disability Discrimination Actapplies to play areas. Reasonableprovision should be made for inclusion of pupils and staff with adisability, including the visuallyimpaired. The design of the“Playground” should comply withnormal Safety Standards and should,

in general, be appropriate to theanticipated age ranges and abilitiesof the pupils.

2. Play Equipment/Activity Areas> Play equipment and surfacing should

be in accordance with SafetyStandards ISEN1176 and ISEN1177.Where any new equipment isinstalled this should always conformto ISEN1176. Schools should requestthat the manufacturer or supplierprovide written confirmation of theStandard compliance where relevant.

Where existing equipment doesnot conform to an appropriateStandard, then risk assessment andtesting of the equipment should becarried out by The Royal Society forthe Prevention of Accidents knownas ROSPA, National Fire ProtectionAssociation known as NFPA or anyother recognised body or organisa-tion. All risk improvements resultingfrom such assessment/testing shouldbe implemented immediately.

> It is recommended that ImpactAttenuating Surfacing (IAS) shouldbe installed under any play equip-ment. ISEN1177 requires that a sur-face with some impact attenuationshould be installed under all items ofplay equipment. For potential fallsabove 600mm ISEN1177 defines thenature and extent of impact attenua-tion the surface must have. Schoolsmust ensure that such surfacing ismaintained and replaced whenrequired in line with Manufacturersrecommendations and guidelines.

> Schools should ensure that all equip-ment and surfacing is installed by acompetent contractor in accordancewith ISEN1176 and ISEN1177. It isrecommended that a post-installa-tion inspection is carried out by anindependent body, such as ROSPA orother appropriate association.

3. ManagementThe “Playground” area should beinspected weekly by a competent person,preferably with some appropriate basictraining. The inspection should includea general review of the equipment andarea to ensure it is clean and well

maintained. In particular the followingshould be considered:> All wooden equipment should be

checked for splinters, cracking, builtup of vegetation or rusting screws.Metal equipment should not be rust-ed. Checks should be carried out> To identify any signs of weakening.> on equipment which is fixed to

the ground to ensure that boltsare secure and not loose.

Where equipment is identified asdefective it should be immediatelytaken out of use and either repairedor replaced as appropriate.

> The surface material should bechecked to identify any> loose matting fitting,> surface water build up or > wear and tear by weathering (UV

rays as well as rain/snow/ice).> Check equipment, fences and gates

for objects should as hooks, bolts,sharp or unfinished edges that stickout of equipment and which couldinjure a pupil or catch clothing caus-ing entanglement or fall. Immediatearrangements must be made toremove or repair such items.

An effective maintenance programmeshould be put in place to ensure thatdefects/faults are repaired immediatelyand that any equipment which cannotbe suitably repaired is replaced immedi-ately. Records should be kept of whenthe defect was noted and repairs tookplace. An annual inspection by an inde-pendent specialist should be undertaken.Finally, an on-going maintenance andrisk management programme forimproving and up-dating the “Playground”should be implemented.

Remember, taking the appropriatetime in planning the layout, nature andextent of any “Playground” and takinginto account the above safety recom-mendations will save effort in the longrun and will ensure that the“Playground” is as safe as possible.

Useful websites www.playireland.ie www.rospa.com www.kidshealth.org

Case 1This claim involved the slip and fall of afour year old pupil in the school corridor. While returning to his class-room in line with all of his classmates,the pupil in this case was carrying apack of six small cartons of milk. Theteacher was at the head of the line andwhen she heard a scream from behindher, immediately ran back to find thePlaintiff lying on the ground havingobviously slipped. She picked him upand carried him back to the classroomwhere the Principal was summonedand arrangements made to bring theinjured boy home. The floor wasinspected immediately after the accident and was found to be clean anddry. This incident occurred in 1993 andwas not brought to trial until October2006. Fortunately, the teacher had aclear recollection of events and theschool had kept a record of the incidentalong with a hand written statementmade by the teacher at the time. Anumber of issues were raised in the

Pleadings that the floor was wet due toadverse weather conditions outside,but the locus of the accident was someforty feet from the nearest exit door.The school were also able to prove acleaning system and coupled with theteachers clear recollection backed upby the written statement, a full defencewas presented on the day. The endresult was that the Plaintiff withdrewhis claim at the doors of the Court.

Case 2This next claim again involves a slipand fall in a school corridor. On thisoccasion an employee slipped and fellon an orange peel which had been discarded on the floor. Circuit Courtproceedings were brought and a fulldefense presented. There was no doubtthat the accident occurred as alleged.The defence of the school was based onthe fact that the Housekeeper was in aposition to give evidence that she hadinspected the area fifteen minutesbeforehand and the area was clean.This would indicate that the orangepeel was discarded only minutes beforethe fall took place. The Insuredemployed six full-time cleaners whoserole is to patrol the schools corridorsand clean them when necessary. Thiswould indicate that the corridors would

be regularly checked for spillages orrubbish. Having heard the evidence, the Judge allowed time at the end of the case for discussion and the matterwas disposed of for a very small suminclusive of costs.

Case 3This case again deals with a slip andfall accident. On this occasion, afterschool had finished for the day, one ofthe teachers was walking down a corridor when he slipped and fell on awet surface. The floor had been washedand no warning cones had been placedaround the area or notice given to staffor anyone left on the premises thatcleaning had taken place. The teacherin question suffered a very nasty injury.Clearly there was no answer on liabilityand the matter was allowed proceed forassessment by PIAB and appropriatecompensation paid.

Case 4This final claim was heard in the HighCourt on the 17th of January 2007. Inthis case, a five a side football matchwas arranged during P.E. class and thePlaintiff suffered a fracture to his forearm. It was held outdoor on thebasketball court on tarmacadam. The Plaintiff alleged he was playing ingoals but the defence being presentedadvised that there were no goalkeepersand the “last man back” took that position. The Plaintiff’s legal teambased their claim on the basis that 1) he was the goalkeeper, 2) the competitive nature of the game, 3) hispoor eyesight and 4) the tarmacadamsurface. Following evidence given bytwo other pupils and the P.E. teacher, it was accepted that there were no goalkeepers, the Plaintiff was wearinghis glasses and many such games took place on a daily basis in the school yard at lunch and break times.The Judge found that the Plaintiff sustained the injury when attemptingto cross the ball towards the goal, lost his balance and fell injuring hisforearm. The Judge stated that this was an accident and therefore dismissed the claim.

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Allianz: Schools Journal 01.07Allianz: Legal Review

We continue our review ofsome school accidents thathave been finalised in theHigh Court and CircuitCourts in the last 6 months.

Legal Review

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Allianz: Work ExperienceAllianz: Schools Journal 01.07

While we recognise the obviousbenefit of work experience

programs, we also appreciate the burden placed on schools in arrangingplacements with employers. In thisregard we set out below a number ofpoints, which you may find to be ofassistance:1 It is important the school request the

following information when contacting local employers for supportin placing students with them:> business / occupation of the

employer, > the type of work the student will be

asked to carry out, and> details of safety precautions that

will be put in place, includingsupervision / monitoring of thestudent when participating onwork experience.

2 In cases where the parent / studenthave arranged their own work experience placement, the schoolshould still ascertain the same information as detailed in 1 above.

3 The teacher responsible for arranging the work experience program in the school, should be satisfied with the above informationbefore confirming placement withthe student and employer.

When an employer confirms agreement to facilitate a student onwork experience, the school should follow this up by issuing ‘Letter A’, whichcan be either located on our web-sitewww.allianz.ie/schools or from previous issues of our Schools Journal.

Under the Public Liability Section ofour Custodian School Protection policythere is an extension providing cover inrespect of ‘Work Experience’. The coverprovided is an indemnity to the schoolin respect of their legal liability arisingfrom or in any way associated with anywork experience schemes organised bythem or in which they participateincluding an indemnity to an employerin respect of the performance of suchwork by any student of the school. Theindemnity provided to the school andthe employer is subject to the termsDefinitions Conditions Exclusions andlimitations of the policy.

In the event the school receives arequest to issue a letter confirmingcover provided to the employer, as outlined in the previous paragraph, werecommend the school issue ‘Letter B’,as shown below. The wording of thisletter has been recently revised. In consequence thereof please note that‘Letter B’ as provided in previous issues

of our Schools Journals should nolonger be used. The revised letter is also available on our web-sitewww.allianz.ie/schools

If you require any additional information in relation to any aspect of this article, please contact ourEducation Team at 01 613 3966 or your local Allianz Representative.

Letter (B)

“We wish to confirm that under thePublic Liability Section of our schoolinsurance policy our Insurer providesan indemnity to the school in respectof our legal liability, as defined in thepolicy, arising from or in any way associated with any work experienceschemes and transition year placements organised by the school or in which we participate, includingindemnity to any employer in respectof the performance of such work byany student, subject always to theterms Definitions ConditionsExclusions and limitations of thisSection and our Policy”.

Work Experience Programmes

We appreciate that work experience is a very important part of the educational development of a student. The right type of work experience can help prepare a studentfor his/her future career or at least open their eyes to a life beyond the school walls. Thiscan in turn have a very positive effect on their remaining days in school.

Engineering Inspections

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Allianz: Schools Journal 01.07Allianz: Inspections

We regularly receive enquiries from schools and other educational entities regarding the necessity to have

specialist inspections carried out in relation to items ofequipment such as passenger lifts, stair lifts, window cleaning equipment, steam boilers, air receivers/compressors etc

Current legislation requires that, within certain occupations/sectors, all such equipment be appropriatelyexamined and inspected. Properties, which are occupied forEducational and Religious purposes, do not fall within thesectors specified.

Notwithstanding the above, all properties which are used/occupied as a Place of Work fall within the sphere of theSafety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Under this Act aPlace of Work includes any place, land, or other location at, in,upon or near which work is carried on, whether occasionallyor otherwise. The owners of properties occupied as a Place ofWork have a duty of care, inter alia, to make sure all plant issafe to use. Following the principles of adopting “best practice”, specialist engineering inspections form the mostappropriate methodology of achieving this.

Plant for which an Insured (school) would have a duty of careinclude (but not limited to) the following:

Equipment Inspection Frequency

Passenger lifts 6 MonthsStair Lifts 6 MonthsTail Lifts 6 MonthsWindow cleaning cradles/equipment 6 MonthsSteam Boilers/Receiver 12/14 MonthsAir Receivers / Compressors 26 Months

As part of our on-going commitment to provide schools witha superior insurance and related service, EngineeringInspections can be carried out by specialist Allianz personnelat competitively priced levels of premium, thus enablingschools to meet their responsibilities under current Health &Safety legislation.

If you have any queries in connection with the foregoing orif you would like to obtain a quotation for EngineeringInspection please contact our Education Team at 01 613 3966or your local Allianz Representative.

Is it necessary for schools to have specialist inspectionscarried out in relation to items of equipment such as passenger lifts and stair lifts ?"

Whilst these mowers are used primarilyon private property, they fall within thedefinition of mechanically propelledvehicles under the Road Traffic Act(RTA). Consequently, the owner is legally required to effect motor insurance for any “ride-on” mower,which is used in an area deemed toconstitute a public place as defined inthe Road Traffic Act (RTA).

Under the RTA a public place means:a any public road, andb any street, road or other place to

which the public have access withvehicles whether as of right of way orby permission and whether subjectto or free of charge.

The fact that these vehicles may not

need to be taxed does not exempt theowners from their obligations underthe RTA.

The Custodian School Protectionpolicy specifically excludes liabilitywhich is compulsorily insurable inaccordance with any Road TrafficAct(s). It is therefore essential that separate Motor insurance cover iseffected for “ride-on” mowers.

Allianz offer a specially tailored policyfor schools incorporating cover forthird party, fire, theft and accidentaldamage risks at very competitive terms.

If you require any further informationplease contact our Education Team at(01) 613 3966 or your local Allianz representative. You can also download aproposal form from our dedicated schoolwebsite at www.allianz.ie/schools

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Allianz: NewsAllianz: Schools Journal 01.07

“Ride-on” MowersMany schools have purchased “ride-on” mowers for use inmaintaining lawns, playing fields and large grassed areas.

Allianz “Challenges in Education” ConferenceThere was a studied air to the conference facility of the Armagh CityHotel on Thursday 9 November asPrincipals, Bursars and Chairs of Boardsof Governors from a wide selection ofschools across Northern Ireland gathered for the inaugural Allianz“Challenges in Education” Conference.

Allianz recognises that the educational environment is in a periodof rapid change and that both problems and solutions seem to be in aconstant state of flux. We consider thatour position as the leading insurer ofschools in Northern Ireland bestows onus a responsibility to provide access tosound risk management information.Schools can have difficulty in locatingappropriate, professional and school-focussed legal advice. Data is often disparate, unavailable or involves timeconsuming searches. Too often, it isonly found ‘after the event’, i.e. whenthe school is involved in the contentionof a legal action.

To address this issue, and as a tangible demonstration of its commitment to support schools andtheir governing bodies, Allianz broughttogether top local and national speakers for a day to deliver presentations on a range of legal andrisk management related issues.

Mayor of Armagh Cllr William Irwin with Head of

Allianz in Northern Ireland, Adrian Toner

Lights! Camera! Action!

The Allianz Leagues 2007 kicked off on February 3rd last.Helping make this season truly historic and memorable wasthe opening match between Dublin and Tyrone in Croke Park,played under floodlights, delivering a first for the GAA and acapacity crowd of 82,000 people.

Everyone loves to see children running and playing, but every year an estimated 16,000 childrenreceive hospital treatment following an accident in school, on the road, or at home. And the resultingmedical bills can be very expensive.

As the leading provider of insurance for schools in Ireland, Allianz provides extensive accident coverfor pupils both in and out of school. For a very reasonable amount, pupils can be covered whilsttravelling to and from school as well as during school activities, and for a few Euro extra, this covercan be extended to 24 hours a day.

You can’t stop children being children, but you can insure they are well protected with Allianz.

This insurance is available through participating schools or parents’ associations.

Allianz, Burlington House, Burlington Road, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 613 39 66. Fax: + 353 1 613 36 30. Email: schools@allianz.ie Website: www.allianz.ie/schools

Allianz Corporate Ireland p.l.c. trading as Allianz is regulated by the Financial Regulator.

Pupil Personal Accident. Covered by Allianz.

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