VeeBlock
Plastic
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2013
- Location
- Northwestern USA
The shop I work at is a job shop, primarily. However we do have a very talented welder on staff who does anything from making welds on our production parts to welding walk-in work. The walk-in parts are usually one-offs that require welding to repair or modify something at the customer's request and design. The variety of design and metals in this type of work is vast (anything from welding fishing rod holders to welding trailer frames). The welder is very skilled at everything we've asked of him but he is very concerned at times with the liability ramifications of some of the work we do. His welds are high quality, but he keeps insisting that we need customers to sign waiver forms on much of the repair work we do - He's certain we're gonna get sued.
This hasn't been a concern for past welders we've had on staff or previous department managers, who are still in the company. I think that many times he's just being difficult and/or paranoid but at other times the liability concern is a legitimate argument.
I would like to know how your shop approaches the liability issue in repair/modification work for "walk-in" customers. What criteria for design and part type/weld type do you establish that sets the boundary for what work you take on vs. what work you won't touch? Do you have customers sign a waiver? What kind of "liability waiver" is appropriate for a job shop/weld repair?
This hasn't been a concern for past welders we've had on staff or previous department managers, who are still in the company. I think that many times he's just being difficult and/or paranoid but at other times the liability concern is a legitimate argument.
I would like to know how your shop approaches the liability issue in repair/modification work for "walk-in" customers. What criteria for design and part type/weld type do you establish that sets the boundary for what work you take on vs. what work you won't touch? Do you have customers sign a waiver? What kind of "liability waiver" is appropriate for a job shop/weld repair?