CCFMS Insurance Program Information

Published by Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies 
Original produced May 2001; Updated for web June 2013

 

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1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The topic of insurance covers a very broad field. This document will only attempt to pinpoint the special areas of interest of concern to mineral collectors and related hobbyists. We shall try to show how these areas may be insured by the individuals themselves, by their club, or by the CCFMS General Liability Insurance Policy.

Most of us, as individuals, carry life insurance, medical and health insurance, automobile insurance, and homeowners and personal property fire insurance. The automobile and homeowners policies will also often have a general liability policy attached to them.

With all this insurance coverage, why do we need more? The examples below are not given to discourage participation in our hobby or clubs, but only to demonstrate that with this, and most other organized activities, additional types of insurance coverage are necessary.

The CCFMS policy was designed to cover most of the areas requiring additional insurance and/or to provide for the extra coverages needed for specific events. This policy is not static; each year its scope of coverage is reviewed.

FINALLY, BEING COVERED BY INSURANCE DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN BE CARELESS ABOUT ACCIDENTS. IT IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT ALL CLUB ACTIVITIES ARE DONE IN A SAFE MANNER. IF WE ALLOW UNSAFE PRACTICES AND UNNECESSARY CLAIMS, WE WILL FIND THAT OUR INSURANCE FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS WILL EITHER INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY OR BE UNOBTAINABLE. WE MUST CONTINUE TO EDUCATE MEMBERS IN SAFE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND COLLECTING PROCEDURES AND INSIST THAT ALL MEMBERS FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES.

SITUATIONS REQUIRING INSURANCE

EXAMPLE ONE

As a member of a club we attend a field trip in an operating quarry. A chisel is misplaced by someone and ends up during the next week in the quarry crusher, causing $10,000 in damage to the crusher and 10 days of lost operation to the quarry. The quarry owner seeks damages from the club, the club members, if unincorporated, the field trip leaders and all of the participants of the trip.

EXAMPLE TWO

On a field trip you or a field trip leader direct a fellow member to a ledge where you saw an excellent specimen. When injured at this dangerous location, he sues you for medical costs, lost wages and permanent disability.

EXAMPLE THREE

You are demonstrating at a show, or attending a club-sponsored education workshop, and the cabochon you are grinding flies off the dop stick and hits someone else.

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2. WHO IS INSURED

THE CENTRAL CANADIAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES AND THE INDIVIDUAL CLUBS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE FOREGOING AND MEMBERS.

The policy is designed to protect the clubs, their leaders, and their members from liability suits by others while involved in club, society, or federation related activities.

The coverage provided shall apply anywhere in the world provided all claims, demands and suits are brought within Canada or the United States.

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3. GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF COVERAGE

The coverage provided shall apply anywhere in the world provided that all claims, demands and suits are brought within Canada or the United States.

The Tenants Legal Liability for fire covers all locations rented to or occupied by the insured anywhere in Canada.

Members contemplating trips or activities outside of Canada should also verify that their automobile insurance is valid for the area of activity and should consider the advisability of acquiring supplementary hospital and medical coverage.

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4. TYPES OF COVERAGE

The policy covers Comprehensive General Liability with additional coverages not normally included in General Liability Insurance. There are also provisions for additional coverages for specific events or situations.

COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL LIABILITY ($5,000,000.00)

The policy would protect the Societies, their leaders and members from a liability suit filed by others where BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE was incurred and negligence by one or more of the parties insured was involved or alleged to be involved. The policy would defend the parties being sued and if they were found responsible would pay for the damages incurred up to $5,000,000.00 per accident or occurrence.

CROSS LIABILITY INSURANCE

Normally under law people cannot sue themselves. As this policy insures many entities, this would preclude any of the insureds from suing another one of the insureds. However, a special Cross Liability Clause provides that each Society and its leaders is covered as if they were an individual insured so that they could sue each other if negligence were involved and bodily injury or property damage resulted.

The policy does not replace the Personal Liability Insurance that the members should carry for their protection for any personal liability of theirs outside their activities as a member. The policy does protect members when acting with or on behalf of the group, but their Personal Liability Insurance could be called upon if they personally caused bodily injury or property damage to another member.

NON OWNED AUTO ($2,000,000.00)

This coverage protects the captioned named Insured in case of a claim made against them for a vehicle operated on their behalf but not owned by them. The automobile owners policy would be primary; e.g., this would protect the insured's against claims if a car moving show cases for the club or taking other members on a field trip were involved in an accident. This type of coverage is not normally included under General Liability, but was added for this policy.

MEDICAL PAYMENTS ($10,000.00 and up)

$10,000.00 and up each person, each accident. This policy is not meant to be a medical policy. The provincial medical and hospital coverage is primary in this area. These medical payments are included so as to attempt to avoid a more costly suit by providing for minor medical claims.

ADDITIONAL NAMED INSUREDS (THIRD PARTY)

The policy provides for the addition of other insured parties throughout the year. This could include increased membership, new clubs forming or joining and more generally Third Party Insureds.

BLANKET CONTRACTUAL

The policy provides for coverage of contractual obligations which are normally excluded from General Liability coverage, but copies of any contracts entered into should be forwarded to the agent.

TENANTS LEGAL LIABILITY FOR FIRE ($500,000.00)

Coverage on property in the care, custody and control of the insured is excluded under General Liability. This coverage was added to this policy to provide for meeting rooms, etc., rented to or occupied by our clubs and federations throughout Canada.

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