Visuals
- The waivers are meant to be printed or displayed online in colour so that the highly visible yellow areas draw the reader’s attention.
- The waivers fit 8 ½ x 11 letter-sizedpaper.
- Waivers should be printed double-sided to minimize the two pages becoming separated.
- When printing double-sided, heavier weight paper should be used so that the colour does not bleed through the page.
Signatures
Three signatures are required for each waiver:
Member/participant signs in two places:
- Top of first page to acknowledge that he/she has given up the right to sue or claim compensation
- Bottom of second page to confirm he/she has read and understands the waiver and has waived his/her rights
Witness signature (only for paper waivers)
- The witness needs to be an individual over the age of majority
- The witness can be next-of-kin
- The witness needs to watch the participant sign the waiver and immediately follow with his/her own signature.
- The witness should request a piece of ID (such as a driver’s licence) from the individual signing the waiver, in order to confirm the participant’s identity.
- A waiver should not be witnessed if the member/participant is intoxicated when signing the waiver.
Additional Points to Consider When Using Paper Waivers
- Ensure that the member/participant was given ample opportunity to read the waiver. By having them sign the waiver, they confirm they have read and understood it.
- Post the waiver prominently on the club website. This gives members/participants ample time to read and become familiar with the waiver.
- Don’t wait until you reach the trailhead to sign waivers. The waiver should be signed when opting out of the trip is still an option
- Don’t trivialize the waiver or downplay its legal effect (ie “Don’t worry, nothing will happen!”). It’s an important legal document that can protect your club, your volunteers and your leaders in the event of a lawsuit.
- Explain to your trip leaders the importance of the waiver and that its purpose is to protect them and the club.
- The waiver should be a separate, standalone document. It should not be combined with other documents (i.e., trip sign in list, membership registration form, health form, etc).
- The waiver should not be interpreted or explained. It is self-explanatory.
- Members/trip participants must not cross out or delete areas of the waiver. If they do, or if they refuse to sign the waiver altogether, they should not be allowed to go on the trip.
Storage of Waivers
- Ideally, signed waivers should be stored indefinitely, even if stored electronically, because “historical” waivers demonstrate the person’s familiarity with waivers.