I also use tanks that have been inspected... so yes while I’m exposed... so Is the gas company in cases of defective tanks.
If you're paying attention, there was nothing defective about the tank that injured three people and ended the reception. It was improperly trained staff, and violations of the State code that requires compressed gas cylinders to be fixed and/or caged.
How about the photographer, caterer, venue, limousine company, wine distributor, and your DJ equipment manufacturers? Are you equally as cavalier about enjoining them in covering your risk? The point I'm trying to impress upon you is how this is perceived by other informed business professionals, or dangerously mis-understood among the wide field of amateur and semi professionals that make up so much of this industry. We are never insulated from liabilities that arise from the actions of other people.
The band Great White, whose "special effects" were the first domino in a disaster that killed 100 people in a RI night club had a $1M liability policy much like most of the DJs reading this right now. So did the venue, a former restaurant later turned into a dive bar/niteclub by a pair of brothers who also carried a similar minimum policy.
The ultimate total of the settled damages was around $115,000,000.00 (almost 58,000 times the combined value of insurance carried by the band and venue.) Others like the tour promoter, etc. also carried similar minimum policies. Who ended up paying?
$22,000,000.00 paid by Anheuser-Busch for the privilege of having Bud-Light on tap at the bar,
$ 6,000,000.00 paid by JBL Corporation because their brand of speakers were installed in the bar.
$ 5,000,000.00 paid by Home Depot because they sell insulation used in the venue.
$10,000,000.00 paid by the state of Rhode Island (every man woman and child for the privilege of living there.)
The list goes on and on of people and businesses that ended up paying for other people's sole discretion, including improper use of products, failure to abide by existing safety codes, lack of training, and failure to communicate or abide instruction. It has substantial personal risk to you as well. Three people received prison sentences and they will forever be tied to the unnecessary deaths of people's children, siblings, spouses, and friends.
One name conspicuously not found on the list - the manufacturer of the Pyrotechnic product. So, don't bank on the fact that there is some other poor schlep standing by to take the hit for you.