Work Experience Liability

Differences in Liability

When employers provide work experience to school age students and unemployed people there are distinct differences with liability issues between the two groups.

With school students the employer is normally indemnified by the school that the student attends, together with relevant State Government authorities indemnification, in respect of any injury sustained by the student during the course of work experience.

That situation isn’t the same when it comes to providing work experience to unemployed persons to help them gain future employment in the workforce. Authorities such as WorkCover Queensland specifically exclude coverage for ‘non paid’ employees, other than full time school students, under the employers normal WorkCover Queensland Policy.

Employers should advise their insurance broker of their work experience engagement practices so that the existing Broadform Liability Insurers are made aware of the circumstances and can extend their Policies accordingly to note the inclusion of unpaid labour.

Employers should also advise the ‘unpaid worker’ of the potential exposures should they suffer a workplace accident or incident that results in their own injury. Consideration should be given to other policy coverage.

Policies such as Personal Accident & Illness or a similar product may then indemnify the ‘unpaid worker’ against injury or illness.

In all cases it’s prudent for any insured person or business to advise their insurance broker of any material changes to their business operation so that
the Insurers are made fully aware and coverage can then be tailored accordingly.