If you’re a fitness instructor or PT with instruction or training videos you’ve created and uploaded online, here’s why it’s important to maintain liability cover for online training
One of the lasting legacies of the pandemic is the increase in remote teaching and use of digital technology to conduct classes online and create content for social media and the wider web. Here we look at the importance of maintaining liability cover if you have uploaded instruction/training videos onto the web that you have created yourself.
It is fairly obvious that, while you are teaching (both in person and remotely) you need Public & Teacher Liability Insurance to protect you should anything happen to one of your clients as a result of that class. What is not so clear is what happens to that online content you created once you step back from teaching.
If it remains available to be viewed, then your liability also remains
So, it is probably worth having a simple checklist in place if you are producing content:
- Use separate, professional accounts to host content, so these can be closed without impacting your private sphere.
- Keep a list of all content produced and where it is hosted.
- Date all content – while it won’t mitigate any injury caused, it will give viewers a context to the age of the video.
- For any content hosted on sites you don’t control (e.g., a gym website), ensure the site agrees to withdraw it immediately upon your request.
Know your insurance expiry date, so you have a deadline to work towards. However, if you want the content to remain, then maintaining liability cover for online training is crucial. Here’s why it matters:
- Protection against claims: If a viewer follows your advice, guidance or instructions and gets injured or experiences property damage, they may seek compensation. Liability insurance helps cover legal costs, medical expenses and settlements, so you’re not personally responsible.
- Covers unintended consequences: Even with disclaimers, accidents can happen. If your advice leads to unforeseen outcomes, like equipment damage or personal injury, liability insurance steps in to mitigate the financial impact.
- Reputation management: In case of a lawsuit, insurance can help manage the public fallout, which is critical for preserving your reputation and credibility as an instructor on social media.
- Professionalism: Having liability coverage shows you take your role and responsibilities seriously, fostering trust and professionalism with your audience and potential partners or sponsors.
- Platform compliance: Some platforms or sponsors may require liability coverage for content creators, especially if they provide instruction in areas like fitness.
Even if you’re confident in your instruction, liability cover for online training adds a vital layer of protection in today’s litigious environment. Find out more about FitPro’s liability insurance for fitness professionals
