[hackerspaces] Lending Tool Program

[Arclight]

We've traditionally not let anyone except long-term, invested
keyholders park their tools at our shop. For everyone else, we've had
the policy of "don't leave it unless it's no-strings-attached and
you're OK with it being got rid of at some point."

One of the reasons for this is that removing big equipment when you
get something better or decide it isn't meeting anyone's needs is very
problematic.

You probably got that item because the person who put it on loan had
nowhere to store it. So when you decide that a 4-ton shot blaster
isn't really a good use of 100 square feet of floor space, everyone is
mad, the person who loaned it feels like you're trying to rob them of
their stuff, etc.

This is similar to what happens with car projects in my experience.

So you might want to have an up-front policy that states your space
can ask to have any item on load removed with a certain amount of
notice, and a policy for what happens if it is still there after 30
days or whatever.  You don't want to be the permanent guardian for
someone else's precious.

Also, I would double-check with your insurance agent about what is
actually covered. I had a long and very contorted conversation about
this a while back where it was explained that insurance companies see
the space, people who have their names on the lease, customers, rent
payers, etc as completely different entities for purposes of insurance
and may cherry pick what is paid for under what loss conditions (fire,
theft, breakage, etc are all different).

Arclight


On Wed, Dec 3, 2014 at 9:04 AM, Jens <a.madman at gmail.com> wrote:
> Bringing this subject back up as we are implementing a tool loan policy at
> MakeICT in Kansas.  Here is what we have so far:
>
> http://makeict.org/wiki/index.php/Tool_Loans_to_MakeICT_Policy
>
> Any of you have any additional suggestions for us?
>
> Jens
> Treasurer, MakeICT
>
> On Sat, Aug 2, 2014 at 5:48 PM, Joshua Pritt <ramgarden at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Yep we have the standard liability waiver at melbourne Makerspace that
>> says you operate the tools at your own risk and hold the space harmless.
>>
>> On Aug 2, 2014 5:26 PM, "Chris Gallaty" <chris.gallaty at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I would just make a precondition to the tool lending that all
>>> participants sign a waiver that states that if they mame themselves with the
>>> tool they are an idiot and liable for their own actions. You might want to
>>> reverse that and state that if Charles proceeds to destroy said mill that he
>>> has to in good faith help right that (likely less binding). I would run the
>>> whole thing past Legal Lisa to proof, but you get the point. The liability
>>> on is the easy one. If you can't get the other clause, you may want a waiver
>>> for anyone lending a tool that they do so at their own risk and the Space is
>>> not liable for other folks destroying their stuff.
>>>
>>> Seems a sad thing to have to do, but it only takes one moron to wreck
>>> things for everyone. Better safe than having to shut the whole thing down
>>> later due to an 'incident'.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 1, 2014 at 3:55 PM, Robert Davidson
>>> <robert at dallasmakerspace.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> As a Makerspace many of us Lend Tools to the organization. Has anyone
>>>> looked into the liability of loaning equipment?
>>>>
>>>> Example
>>>>
>>>> Mo has a Mill he want's to loan to a Hackerspace
>>>>
>>>> Charles is clumsy and breaks his arm on the Mill.
>>>>
>>>> Charles talks to Legal Lisa and says wouldn't it be fun to goto court
>>>> and sue Mo and Hackerspace
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone looked into the liability of  accepting loans vs requiring
>>>> donated tools so all the legal liability stays on the organization?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> My guess is this is a common discussion among most
>>>> makerspaces/hackerspaces in the world.
>>>>
>>>> I would be interested to see if anyone has done the research?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Robert Davidson
>>>> Dallas Makerspace
>>>> Dallas.MS
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Chris Gallaty
>>> EveryB1T, Inc.
>>> 612.867.5572
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>
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