ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Really excellent response, Karen.  Sounds like the voice of experience!

Eric Siegel
Director of Planning
   & Program Development
Connections Project Director
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
[log in to unmask]
www.nyscience.org

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Karen Courtman
> Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 9:33 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Accidents & injuries
>
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of
> Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network
> of science museums and related institutions.
> **************************************************************
> ***************
>
> i'm pretty sure 'inherent risks' as you're using it is a
> legal term, so i'll leave it to the lawyers.  let me offer
> some personal observations about you and staff surviving what
> is no doubt an unpleasant ordeal.
>
> in the 13 years at science place, i had the misfortune to be
> involved in two lawsuits regarding injuries on the premises -
> one involved a patron and one involved a truck driver injured
> unloading an exhibit. both were extremely stressful for staff
> that was directly involved.
>
> 1.  this is what you have insurance for - no matter how much
> you may disagree with any outcome, it is their call as to how
> to proceed - not yours.  it can make anyone involved feel
> helpless so don't take it personally. 2.  when they settle,
> not if,  it just means its the cheapest way out. it is not an
> indictment of how you do business. (by the way, the board
> will probably pound the table and demand that the institution
> not settle, but they, too, forget it's the insurance company,
> not the Center).  you will also be surprised at the end of
> this ordeal how little it will affect the Center's insurance
> rates, if at all. 3.  don't become paranoid about safety -
> your institution has obviously done a great job - you've had
> tens of thousands of people come through without anything
> like this happening.  use it as an opportunity to fine tune
> your exhibit maintenance program. 3. make sure any staff
> involved in the taking of depositions, etc. get your FULL
> support.  for those that haven't experienced anything like
> this, it can be quite stressful. 4.  by all means, consult
> your own lawyer about strategies for the future. for
> instance, it may be as simple as instructing floor staff
> about what not to say if an accident occurs. 5.  take heart
> there are so few suits against science centers, given the
> number of people served and the propensity for people to sue
> these days. it also says a lot that liability insurance is
> afforable for science centers - it means the risks are relatively low.
>
> it is a fact of life there are 'ambulance chasers' out there
> who will take every advantage they can.  they are not
> interested in the notion of personal responsibility.  they
> can and will turn a paper cut into a life altering injury and
> will find legal advice to support their position, no matter
> how absurd. don't let this taint the knowlege that we do the
> best we can.
>
> **************************************************************
> *********
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network
> and the Association of Science-Technology Centers may be
> found at http://www.astc.org. To remove your e-mail address
> from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message  SIGNOFF
> ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to [log in to unmask]
>

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]