Volunteer liability insurance

According to Statistics Canada, over 47% of Canadians volunteer each year. That’s over 13 million people generously committing to donate over 2 billion hours of volunteer activities annually. Given these statistics, it’s important for volunteers to understand the insurance risks and for voluntary or non-profit organizations to have insurance in place that protects these dedicated workers. Stick around to learn more about liability insurance for volunteer workers in Canada.

The types of personal liability insurance for volunteers

In terms of work, while volunteers contribute their time, energy, and skills for free, they are still entitled to the same protection as paid employees. However, since volunteers may not be as familiar with the work environment or as heavily trained as an employee who has been on the payroll for years, they may be exposed to greater risks.

To ensure they're protected against unexpected risks, the following types of insurance are available to you while you're volunteering:

Volunteer accident insurance

There are numerous types of volunteer duties you may be asked to perform without any previous experience, which could put you at risk of injuries that result from an accident. However, with this type of insurance, you'll be covered and protected, ensuring you won't have to pay out of pocket for any incurring expenses that result from an insurance claim.

Personal property insurance

As a volunteer, your personal property policy may help protect you from certain risks associated with volunteering. For example, if your personal property is damaged while volunteering, the property damage may be covered under your property policy, subject to your deductible.

Personal liability insurance

If you accidentally injure someone while volunteering and the injured person decides to take legal action and seek compensation, both your personal insurance company and the organization’s insurance company should be advised and will get involved.

Types of insurance volunteer programs require

As an organization, you may be held liable for the actions of your volunteers. Examples of risks to seek coverage for do not just include third-party liability insurance for bodily injury or property damage. The types of liability a business needs, whether they are a nonprofit or not, include:

Car liability

Car liability insurance provides protection in the event volunteers or employees use their own vehicles to conduct business for the organization.

Business event liability

Business event liability insurance is similar to holiday and host liability. This coverage protects your business should it host a volunteer event against liabilities.

Holidays & host liability

If your nonprofit organization or business hosts an event, there are numerous liabilities you could be held responsible for, including damages and personal injury. With holiday & host liability coverage, you'll have the protection you need against instances like underage volunteers drinking alcohol, third-party drinking and driving, and more.

General liability

What you'll findcovered by general liability includes third-party accidents that cause injury and harm caused to third-party property. Types of general liability coverages include:

Public liability

Public liability insurance is meant to protect organizations that work on different job sites or engage in nonprofit projects that could lead to any liabilities that occur once the work itself is done. This includes harm to property and third-party injury.

Errors and omissions

Errors and omissions (E&O) insurances protect your organization in the event a third party holds you responsible for any services you provide or fail to provide. It also offers protection against alleged negligence, omissions of information, and misrepresentations.

Tenant's legal liability

Make sure you're insured should a volunteer cause damage to the organization’s rental property.

Assess your organization's risks and carefully weigh your coverage options

Implementing a structured risk management approach, which includes comprehensive insurance coverage, is vital in ensuring that an organization can continue to meet its objectives when faced with an insurance issue.

In creating a risk management approach, you will go through the exercise of determining what situations you may be exposed to and what will require coverage. As each non-profit organization will have very different risks depending on the types of services they perform, the kind and level of coverage each organization requires will also vary.

You can do this by assessing your various needs. Then, the risks associated with these needs will be determined. Once this is complete, you can then create a budget for insurance coverage in your overall expenses plan.

Now, you'll need to find an insurance company that is reputable and has experience working with volunteer organizations. Make sure to do your research and consider working with an insurance broker in order to get the best deal and coverage out there.

Once your organization is ready to go, don't forget to have volunteers sign a waiver before they begin their work. It's also important that you conduct thorough background checks on all volunteers you work with for safety reasons. And, of course, invest in high-quality training for all members of your organization moving forward to lower associated risks further.

Get insurance policies with the help of BrokerLink

If you are a volunteer and want to learn more about how you are protected through your own personal policy, contact a BrokerLink broker today. If you are a voluntary organization looking to update your liability insurance, we can help you find the right type of coverage at the best possible rate.

Whether you need Ontario motorcycle insurance, coverage for your volunteer programs, or other types of policies, rest assured that our experienced car insurance brokers.

Speak with a BrokerLink broker to discover all the ways we can help ensure the safety of your hardworking volunteers so that you can keep on serving the community together with peace of mind. We're available at one of our many locations across Canada or over the phone!

1-866-724-2372

FAQs about Volunteer liability insurance

What does directors' and officers' insurance cover?

D&O liabilities insurance provides legal defence to policyholders in the event claims of misconduct, mismanagement, and negligence are filed against them.

Should my volunteers sign a waiver?

If you're working with volunteers in your community, it's highly recommended that you have them sign a waiver before they begin. With a volunteer waiver in place, you can protect your organization from any liabilities that may occur. Beyond this, and to prevent accidents from happening in the first place, it's also highly important that you conduct proper training with everyone you work with to ensure the safety of all volunteers and community members involved. Additionally, while a waiver is recommended, you should also purchase insurance for your volunteer program with a reputable insurer.

Should I still volunteer with an organization that does not have insurance?

Whether or not you choose to volunteer with an organization that does not have insurance coverage in place is up to your discretion. In most cases, all reputable and experienced organizations already have insurance with an insurer. However, if the business does not, you may want to ask them if they are able to purchase it as a form of risk prevention. Should they refuse, you may want to reconsider whether being a volunteer with the organization is worth the risk moving forward.

Do I need travel insurance if I am volunteering overseas?

If you are a volunteer with an organization that has planned a volunteering trip overseas, you'll likely already have coverage with the nonprofit you are working with. But it doesn't hurt to check with them and confirm this. On the other hand, if you and other volunteers are going overseas and volunteering on your own accord, having travel insurance is highly recommended. With travel insurance, you'll have numerous types of protection, including emergency medical coverage, lost baggage compensation, trip interruption insurance, and more. We suggest reaching out to an insurance company to speak about your plans as a volunteer, as they will be able to customize an insurance plan tailored to your needs.

Do volunteers need professional liability insurance?

Yes, as a volunteer, having liability insurance is an absolute must. There are many risks associated with volunteer activities, and making sure you're covered in the event something unexpected happens can make a world of difference. Liability insurance will cover costs associated with legal fees, medical bills, and more, saving you from having to pay out of your own pocket.

What happens if I don't have insurance as a volunteer?

Should you choose not to have insurance coverage in place, you put yourself at serious financial risk should an unexpected event occur. Whether it be third-party injuries or property damage, if a lawsuit is filed against you, it could cost you thousands of dollars to defend yourself. From lawyer fees to medical costs and settlements, you can severely impact your finances. So, to prevent this, liability coverage is highly beneficial and recommended at all costs.

If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.