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BRITISH FENCING STATEMENT ON I
Added on 17/05/11 at 03:05:26

Sword price Fighters Equipment Safety concerns - BRITISH FENCING STATEMENT ON INSURANCE WITH SPF EQUIPMENT
9th May 2011
Further to the Board notice on the 7th May, British Fencing has received enquiries on club level use of Sword Price Fighter Fencing (SPFF) equipment, and the potential insurance issues. British Fencing would like to emphasise that this is an interim measure until we receive further information and to assist members and clubs, we have added an addendum to this notice which can also be viewed below:

"British Fencing has direct control and accountability over competitions it runs itself. Other fencing activities, whilst they are authorised and formally recognised by BF, are not within its direct control and consequently BF is not directly accountable for them.

BF insurance is designed to protect not just BF, but also other parties with potential risk exposures such as regions, affiliated clubs, registered coaches and members .

The interim suspension announced by BF on 7 May on the use of Sword Price Fighters protective clothing relates only to BF run activities (eg. competitions; academy etc.).

Unless it is ever legally proven that the SPFF kit is ineffective in relation to safety when used whilst fencing, the insurance for such additional parties remains in place and effective and will not be prejudiced by the use of the clothing. There is no specific condition or exclusion under the policy which removes cover in the event of a dispute over the suitability of the safety equipment used.

However, under the Reasonable Precautions General Condition of the Insurance policy - "The Insured shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent accidents and any injury, loss, destruction or damage and shall take all reasonable steps to observe and comply with statutory or local authority laws, obligations and requirements." It should be noted that "Insured" includes the other above insured parties, besides BF itself.

BF must leave it to clubs, coaches and fencers to take their own decisions about the use of any clothing, other than in BF actitvities, and would expect this to form part of regular risk assessments."



Which seems to me as clear as mud.
They seem to say on the one hand that nothing in the BFA insurance says you can't use SPF but on the other that you probably won't be covered by insurance if you do.
I suggest, that if you have bought SPF kit, you contact Terence Kingston to find out what he intends to do and see if you can get a refund. Meantime I will bring kit of other brands which I strongly advise you to use.
Angela

In fairness, please also see the SPF response
- "We had a meeting with Trading Standards yesterday (12 May). They inspected our test certificates for all our clothing and other equipment, the products in question and our company, and judged ...all to be in order. They expressed surprise that the complaint had come from a commercial competitor and not a genuine customer. They noted that there have been no reports of any injury, or of any other safety-related issues, from customers or users over the five years we have been selling products (in substantial volumes). They could see no reason for our products to be declared unsafe or not fit for purpose, nor why we should not continue selling them. The BFA have been informed"
.