Rank: New forum user 
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Our company has provided table tennis equipment for employees to use in their liesure time but in the company canteen, very comendable. But are they responsible in the vent of an accident. I fully support the initiative which is popular amongst the staff, but am concerned that the good intent of the company could back fire if someone should injur themselves. Can they ask the employees to sign a disclaimer ?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Let's keep a sense of proportion here. What is the likelihood of someone being injured playing table tennis, and how severe would their injury be? If you are really worried, carry out a risk assessment, and record your findings; then enjoy the facilities.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Well it’s not work equipment so PUWER does not apply. That leaves us with good old negligence. So if the equipment was obviously dangerous (I am not sure how a table tennis table is dangerous) and they were allowed to use then there might be a case. Of more concern is that fact that they are using the canteen. I assume that it is not being used when meals are being served but after that. What about the condition of floors and someone slipping on the greasy stain left over from the chicken korma?
Disclaimers are not worth the effort as they have no legal weight.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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1. "But are they responsible in the vent [sic] of an accident". As always it depends on the individual circumstances of what has happened. So, maybe, maybe not.
2. "Can they ask the employees to sign a disclaimer ?" Yes, I guess you can but I really don't see the necessity or value in it. I have been playing table tennis for around 35 years and I am still here to tell the tale. Went to Center Parcs last week, played everyday, no disclaimer, no significant risk. Still in one piece.
3. "Disclaimers are not worth the effort as they have no legal weight.". While I don't see the necessity for a disclaimer in this case (see 2 above), and while many disclaimers are ineffective (due to their specific wording), many disclaimers are perfectly valid, 'acceptable' and 'legally enforceable. There is even a disclaimer for the use of the IOSH website!!!!
Back to basics on this one I suggest.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rank: Super forum user
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Not sure if that was aimed at me/my response or someone else, but, regardless I don't understand what it means and in that respect it isn't a lot of help (to me at least)
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Rank: Super forum user
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ron hunter wrote:wiff waff The original name for table tennis was wiff waff- also known as ping pong. When our buildings were designed they included a purpose built table tennis room-not a gym just a room for table tennis- apparently that was common in the civil service at one time unbelievable! It is now a shared office
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Rank: Super forum user
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Ah, apologies then to Ron. I should have done a quick Google. Been playing TT for years and my particular game has been described as many things, but never wiff waff :-o
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Rank: New forum user
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Thank you for all your reasonable and practical responses ! We have developed a risk assessment, clean floors, not whilst the canteen is open, suitable shoes not stilettos etc.
All the players sign onto a briefing note and we have dropped the disclaimer, I agree pretty worthless. Yes, being probably a little older than the majority of you all I remember well the ping pong tables in our 'recreation room' GPO which I guess was as good as civil service. No risk assessment, no briefings but very busy and lots of fun.
It is becoming immensely popular with our team, we may have to buy another table, benefits stress, fitness, laughter and team bonding, I think it's worth the risk.
Thank you all again, back to the day job, constructing a 70m deep tunnel across east London !
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Rank: Forum user 
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Pete Neale wrote:Thank you for all your reasonable and practical responses ! We have developed a risk assessment, clean floors, not whilst the canteen is open, suitable shoes not stilettos etc.
All the players sign onto a briefing note and we have dropped the disclaimer, I agree pretty worthless. Yes, being probably a little older than the majority of you all I remember well the ping pong tables in our 'recreation room' GPO which I guess was as good as civil service. No risk assessment, no briefings but very busy and lots of fun.
It is becoming immensely popular with our team, we may have to buy another table, benefits stress, fitness, laughter and team bonding, I think it's worth the risk.
Thank you all again, back to the day job, constructing a 70m deep tunnel across east London !
A quick note re. RIDDOR. There are no specific requirements to report accidents or injuries caused by sporting activities. However, a death or serious injury to a member of the public or an employee at a sports ground or a sporting activity must be reported to the appropriate enforcing authority under the general requirements of the RIDDOR. Whilst there is a legal requirement to report injuries at work that result from acts of violence, RIDDOR specifically excludes sports injuries of this type if taking part in the sport implies that participants accept a level of violence and risk of injury. This situation applies to contact sports such as boxing and rugby provided that the injuries result from activities that are in compliance with the laws of the sport. The following link will provide you with an excellent overview on Negligence and Sport - http://www.inbrief.co.uk...negligence-and-sport.htm - if you want to read something harder then the Tort Law Review is also very good - http://usir.salford.ac.u...2_13_Player_Violence.pdf B
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