Kerb appeal

The phrase “Kerb appeal” is not something one immediately relates to museums and insurance! But the phrase can be a useful umbrella term to thinking about the outside of your museum and how to protect people.

As the British summer is here, bringing sunshine and showers, it also brings many visitors to museums who make immediate first impressions of what they see and experience. This kerb appeal, or otherwise, is what Martin Howard from AIM Associate Supplier Hayes Parsons Insurance Brokers explores in this article.

Signage and entrances

Are your signs clear to understand, and by that we mean if you have never been to your museum before are you clear as to where you should walk and enter? Maybe ask some visitors for feedback. Clear signs lead to a clear flow of people in and out of buildings. Likewise, any doors, are they automatic and serviced so as to minimise accidents, or are they manual, with clear “push/pull” or “way in/way out” signs? Again, this minimises accidents.

Car parks and pathways

It’s amazing how many claims arise from people falling over and hurting themselves on uneven car park surfaces or pathways. Have you ever walked around these areas and looked for signs of wear and tear, and if you have a car park, are bays clearly demarcated?

Trees and plants

Every year we have reports of accidents and near misses relating to tree branches falling, or trees damaging property. This is a potentially very high-risk matter if you fail to have professional checks done on the health of your trees at intervals deemed necessary by arboricultural consultants.

Exterior lighting

If you hire out the museum for evening events or use it yourselves, is lighting in the main areas of approach sufficient? Dark or un-lit areas always lead to insurers paying out for accidents, slips and trips, so have a think about how best to light your external approach and entrance.

Walls and boundaries

Have you ever inspected your walls and boundaries to see if they look sturdy and in good order? It’s easy to assume all is well, but a walk around your boundary and areas that have walls or fencing could be a great way to detect problems and prevent accidents.

Steps and rails

If you have step access near to the museum entrance, are these steps checked for stability? And do you have obvious edging to steps so that they are visible e.g. white painted edges or anti-slip protection? Likewise with rails, it’s worth checking these are firmly attached, and are not jagged in any way.

Find out more 

Most of the factors listed above will affect not only the natural kerb appeal of your museum, but also the safety of the approach into your buildings. As with all good practise when it comes to managing property, the best thing to do is to record your checks, and where remedial actions are needed, do discuss and action these with time appropriate deadlines and then diarise to check these issues again.

Hayes Parsons has been working with the museums sector for almost 60 years and has the knowledge and expertise to source your museums a bespoke insurance policy as well as provide risk management advice. For more advice, hints and tips, speak to our dedicated expert, Martin, to help you minimise your risks, and get the best protection and support from your insurers should a claim ever arise.

Martin Howard Cert CII
0117 930 1668 | 07719 023 194
m.howard@hayesparsons.co.uk