Staying jolly safe

Mark Alexander asks Hiscox managers how to keep covered during the festive season

Organising Christmas’s enormous helpings of food and fun comes with a serious side that can be easily overlooked. With a host of Christmas calamities waiting to occur (and not just Santa getting stuck up the chimney), we give a rundown of some top tips to pass on to your clients.

First up, Austyn Tusler, Head of Art and Private Client at Hiscox, offers his advice on keeping homes safe during the festive season.

* “Keeping your chimney free of debris will not only help Santa make an easy descent,” he says, “it’ll also minimise the risk of a chimney fire.”

* “Don’t go too traditional – the flickering flames of small candles may be magical, but they’re also a fire hazard when used as tree decorations – and don’t overload your sockets with Christmas lights that have seen better days. The consequences could be severe.”

Big corporations often see Christmas as an opportunity to kick back at specially arranged off-site events. Martin Linfield, Underwriting Manager of the Event Insurance team, explains what to do to protect your festive party.

* “If a company takes over a bar or hotel, that venue will expect the company to have public liability cover. If you don’t have the appropriate insurance, a oneoff policy can be arranged that’s easy to sort out within a couple of days.”

* “Including key person non-attendance in a policy could be a useful addition, especially if the fat man in the red suit fails to make an appearance!”

* “There is also cancellation insurance, which becomes invaluable when circumstances spiral out of control, forcing an event to be cancelled, curtailed or postponed.”

Joe Brown, Head of Specialty Commercial Product, explains what can be done to protect commercial activities over the festive period.

* “Christmas parties are notorious for slips and trips, so it’s best to make sure yours is well managed and properly supervised. Above all else, ensure the party-goers don’t drink too much mulled wine.”

* “Although you can protect your business against loss of income due to events such as fires, it’s best to turn off all electrical items, including Christmas tree lights, when closing, especially if the building is to be left unoccupied over the holidays.”

* “Headturning Christmas window displays can attract shoppers, but they can also spark interest from criminal elements – especially when highvalue unsold stock is stored on the premises.”