Barbecue Season Is In Full Swing: Don’t Go Up In Flames
The joys of outdoor cooking also bring fire and associated risks. Here are some safety reminders for gas and propane barbecues to protect you and your property from harm or damage.
• Never operate a barbecue in an enclosed space, close to a structure, or near combustibles. Have a one metre radius around it free of obstructions.
• Keep your barbecue in tip top shape. Check for hose breakage, valve leaks, and other parts before securing the tank well and turning on the gas.
• When in use, never leave the grill unattended, and when finished turn the tank off before the burners so the remaining gas in the lines can burn off. This can help prevent a flash the next time the BBQ is in use.
• Make sure your fire extinguisher is easily accessible and in good working order.
Additional Tips
• Propane companies use an additive to create an unpleasant odour like rotten eggs to make a propane leak easier to detect, so you can shut off supply immediately, stop using the grill, and clear the area.
• Although the risk of carbon monoxide is low when using a BBQ outdoors, it is not entirely eliminated. Learn to recognize the signs of CO2 poisoning and take appropriate action.
• Store propane tanks in an upright position, in a spot where they are unlikely to be knocked or bumped to prevent any safety risk.
Are You a Volunteer?
If you are involved with community organizations and volunteer your time and energy for a good cause, you may not have considered your exposure to personal liability.
Volunteers involved with fundraising, whether for organized charities, minor league sports teams, or special causes such as helping a family with emergency expenses, are especially vulnerable.
If during the course of a fundraising event, you inadvertently cause bodily injury to a third party, you could potentially be named in a lawsuit. Where would you look for legal assistance?
Before volunteering, we recommend you confirm the organization has a general liability policy. Typically, this policy covers board members and employees, but not necessarily volunteers. If this is the case, ask if coverage can be extended to volunteers. What happens if no coverage is available to you ?
In the absence of any coverage provided by the organization, if you have a homeowner’s, condo, or tenant’s package, you automatically receive personal liability protection for most property damage and bodily injury claims arising out of your personal actions anywhere in the world. However, if you operate or use any motorized vehicle, trailer, or watercraft in your charitable activities that does not belong to you, make sure the owners have insurance and have provided you with consent. We do suggest you contact your Insurer to confirm what coverages your policy includes.
W.H. Williamson & Co. Limited
