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Property & Liability

RESIG Activity Guide

Read below about the types of activities RESIG recommends be approached with caution and risk mitigation efforts. This is not an exhaustive list of all activities that fall into the aforementioned category. If you have specific questions about any of these activities, or those not mentioned on this page, contact the Property & Liability Department directly with your questions.

Overview

The following activities are excluded from coverage. Alternate coverage should be purchased if members would like to host or organize these activities

Aircrafts

All aircraft ownership and usage, other than commercial airline services licensed to transport passengers for a fee, is an excluded activity.

Rodeo Activities

All rodeo participation and attendance is an excluded activity.

Trampolines

All trampoline ownership and usage, other than excercisers or mini-trampolines when used in conjunction with an IEP or curricular program required by law, is an excluded activity.

UAP/Drones

All UAP/Drone usage, aside from those operated in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations is an excluded activity.

Watercrafts

All watercraft usage, with the exception of manually powered watercrafts, sailboats under 26 feet in length, powerboats w/ less than 25 horsepower, charter operators or common carriers, or watercrafts owned and operated by the U.S. Military, is an excluded activity.

Overview

The following activities are covered subject to a $100,000 deductible.

Inflatables (without prior RESIGapproval)

Any claim arising from inflatable usage that has not been pre-approved by RESIG is subject to a $100,000 deductible. Approval forms must be submitted to RESIG at least two weeks prior to the event and have a copy of the contract/agreement with the vendor attached.
Tips for getting your inflatable approved for the lower deductible:
  • Choose inflatables that do not include a water element
  • Choose inflatables that are not tall slides
  • Choose age appropriate inflatables for your attendees
  • Have the contract/agreement with the vendor that indemnifies the district and have the vendor provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE
You can read more about Inflatables and find all related forms HERE

Ropes Course, Rock Climbing, Zip-Lining, or Rappelling (over 10 feet high)

RESIG strongly recommends opting out of high-ropes activities and participating only in low-ropes activities. If a district chooses to participate in high-ropes activities, any claims arising from the event will be subject to a $100,000 deductible.
Risk mitigation recommendations:
  • Have a contract with the venue that indemnifies the district and has the venue provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE
  • Verify the venue’s certifications are up to date. For high-ropes course equipment to be certified, an inspection must be conducted by a qualified inspector who will determine any safety deficiencies and needed repairs.
Need other low-risk options? Check out our Outdoor Education Venue Spreadsheet HERE

Overview

The following activities are covered subject to a $12,000 deductible, or are activities covered under the normal deductible, but RESIG recommends implementing additional risk mitigation efforts to increase safety.

Animal Rides and Activities

Engaging with animals can be a fun, and often therapeutic, experience for many students.

Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:

  • Permissions slips/waivers for students
  • Have a contract with the vendor that indemnifies the district and has the program provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • Encourage appropriate safe handling procedures, such as hand washing.

Read more animal safety tips HERE

Archery

Archery is a growing offering in many schools. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) exists to help keep Archery in schools safe and adhere to standards.

Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:

  • Teachers instructing archery should be NASP Certified
  • Follow NASP safety features
  • Do not offer archery for students younger than 4th grade

Beach and Water Activities

Beach and water activities to places such as oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, streams, and private pools, are subject to a $12,000 high risk deductible.

Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Permissions slips/waivers for students
  • Have a contract with the venue that indemnifies the district and has the venue provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • Ensuring a certified lifeguard(s) are present if students will be in the water
  • Have appropriate student and staff ratios, found HERE

Read more water safety tips HERE

Bicycle Activities & Field Trips (excluding bicycle safety prgrams)

Bicycle activities, with the exception of bicycle safety programs, are subject to a $12,000 high risk deductible.

Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Permissions slips/waivers for students when participating in bike safety courses
  • Have a contract with the bike safety program that indemnifies the district and has the program provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • Require appropriate protective equipment for students

Read more bike safety tips HERE

Employee Exercise / Physical Wellness Offerings

Activities for engaging Employees should follow the same general guidelines as those same activities would when Students are involved. The same insurance policy language and deductibles apply. Please reference the resources related to the specific type of event.
 
When bringing in outside resources for your Employees, some general risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Requiring a waiver for the activity, stating that the employee is engaging in the activity voluntarily and indemnifying the district. An example can be found HERE
  • Do not make participation a requirement
  • Involve employees equally
  • Consider accessibility to ensure all employees have the opportunity to participate if they so choose
  • If bringing in an outside vendor, require an appropriate Contract/Agreement with the appropriate Insurance Requirements, based on the vendor type. More information regarding contracts and insurance can be found HERE

Field Trips (overnight or out of state)

Overnight field trips inherently involve a higher amount of risk due to a number of factors. Certain types of overnight field trips are subject to a $12,000 high risk deductible. Those types of trips are:
  • Trips to places out of the state or out of the country
  • Overnight field trips where chaperones are not required to be fingerprinted

Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:

  • Permissions slips/waivers for students
  • Have appropriate student and staff ratios
  • Properly screen any adult volunteers. More information about volunteers can be found HERE
  • Follow appropriate transportation guidelines if driving. More information can be found HERE
  • Be up to date on your Boundaries Training. You can schedule a training on your site with RESIG staff. Please contact the Property & Liability Department if interested
  • If the trip involves water activities, brush up on our Beach and Water Activities section
  • If this is an Outdoor Ed trip, read more about Outdoor Education HERE
  • Know and follow your district’s money handling policy

Read more field trip safety tips HERE

Food Truck Vendors

Food truck vendors are a fun and popular option for districts to bring a variety of food options to events for staff and students.

Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Do not allow food truck vendors to drive in spaces other than parking lots when students are present for the vehicle moving
  • Have s contract with the vendor that indemnifies the district and have the vendor provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE
  • Confirm vendor has appropriate food vendor licensing

High Risk Elective Classes

Certain life skills classes offered, typically in secondary education, have an inherently higher level of risk. Some types of classes that fall into this category are woodshop, auto shop, cooking classes, and 4H/FFA. These classes provide opportunities for students to get hands on skills that can be valuable to them throughout life. We suggest providing parents with the following waiver, tailored to the specific risks of your class, at the beginning of each school year.

Culinary Class Waiver

 
For more information on understanding and implementing appropriate safety measures in the classroom based on the type of class, please contact our EHS Department.

Inflatables (with prior RESIG approval)

Any claim arising from inflatable usage that has received pre-approval from RESIG is subject to a $12,00 deductible. Approval forms must be submitted to RESIG at least two weeks prior to the event and have a copy of the contract/agreement with the vendor attached. ​

Here are some tips on getting your inflatable approved for the lower deductible:
  • Choose inflatables that do not include a water element
  • Choose inflatables that are not tall slides
  • Choose age appropriate inflatables for your attendees
  • Have the contract/agreement with the vendor that indemnifies the district and have the vendor provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
You can read more about Inflatables and find all related forms HERE

Low Ropes Courses (under 10 feet)

RESIG strongly recommends opting out of high-ropes activities and participating only in low-ropes activities. Any claim arising from low-ropes activities only is subject to a $12,000 deductible.
 
Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Have a contract with the venue that indemnifies the district and has the venue provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • Verify the venue’s certifications are up to date. For high-ropes course equipment to be certified, an inspection must be conducted by a qualified inspector who will determine any safety deficiencies and needed repairs.

Looking for a venue that offers low-ropes course options? Read more about Outdoor Education HERE

Skateboarding / Rollerblading

Skateboarding and rollerblading should be prohibited on campus. When a claim arises from usage on campus, a $12,000 high risk deductible will apply if no signs prohibiting the activity were posted.
 
Trips away from campus to a skating or roller rink are not subject to the high-risk deductible, but risk mitigation efforts should still be considered.
 
Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Permission slips/waivers for students
  • Have a contract with the bike safety program that indemnifies the district and has the program provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • Require appropriate protective equipment for students

Read more roller skating safety tips HERE

Snow and Ski Trips

All snow and ski trips, including the travel to and from, are subject to a $12,000 high risk deductible.
 
Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Permissions slips and waivers for students
  • Require appropriate protective equipment for students
  • Have a contract with the venue that indemnifies the district and has the venue provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • If this is an out of state or country field trip, review and follow the Field Trip guidelines provided on this page.
  • If this is an overnight field trip, review and follow the Field Trip guidelines provided on this page.

Read more skiing and snowboarding safety tips HERE

Support Animals (aside from service animals)

RESIG strongly recommends that dogs, with the exception of service dogs, be kept off campuses. There is no increased deductible for allowing dogs on campus, but due to the increased risk of having students with animals, we do not suggest it.
 
If your district decides to allow dogs on your campus anyway, some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Having a delineated space for animal(s) where students and animal(s) cannot access one another without intention
  • Permissions slips/waivers for students interacting with animals
  • Consider student’s fears and allergies and have a plan b for dealing with animals, even if that means saying no to them coming on campus
  • Know and follow your district’s policy for animals on campus
  • If animals brought on campus are owned by an organization, have a contract with the organization that indemnifies the district and has the venue provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • If animals brought on campus are owned by an individual, require that individual to provide an insurance policy that covers the animal and provides the district with an additional insured endorsement.

Swimming / Pool Parties

Private pools activities are subject to a $12,000 high risk deductible.
 
Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Permissions slips/waivers for students
  • Have a contract with the venue that indemnifies the district and has the venue provide the district with a certificate of insurance, including an additional insured endorsement. You can find our sample Contract for Services Agreement HERE, and sample Insurance Requirements HERE.
  • Ensuring a certified lifeguard(s) are present if students will be in the water
  • Have appropriate student and staff ratios, found HERE

Read more water safety tips HERE

Work Based Learning

Work-based learning provides valuable opportunities for students to gain hands on skills in a real world setting. Sending students out to be supervised by non-district staff inherently involves higher risk due to limited oversight by the District.
 
Some risk mitigation efforts your district can engage in to help lessen the likelihood of a claim are:
  • Permissions slips/waivers signed by parents, including a description of what the Employer is responsible for versus the District and School site
  • A written agreement with the work site, describing what the Employer site and District are each liable for
  • Confirming fingerprinting and TB test requirements with Employer site
  • Following transportation regulations if the school is responsible for transporting students to the Employer site
  • Ensuring the Employer site follows all applicable employment laws and practices

Access sample insurance requirements HERE

Access an example Work Based Learning Agreement HERE