Working as a scaffolding contractor is hands-on, diverse, and gratifying work, but it’s also necessary to keep in mind the risks. By purchasing scaffolding contractor insurance coverage, you can protect yourself from the dangers of working at height. This policy is tailored to your trade and provides you with all of the coverage you need for compensation payments and legal fees incurred on the job. With scaffolding public liability contractors insurance, you can operate confidently knowing that you and your company are protected.
Why Do I Need Scaffolders Insurance?
Scaffolding contractors’ public liability Insurance can help pay the costs if something goes wrong, such as an employee falling and breaking their limb, or if poles and boards are stolen. If you need to resolve a dispute or if a client sues you and takes you to court, your policy may cover your legal bills.
You’d have to cover these costs yourself if you didn’t have insurance, and it goes without saying that replacing equipment and covering legal fees and compensation can quickly add up to thousands of pounds.
It’s also worth remembering that in a potentially risky trade like scaffolding, your clients may demand that you be insured, especially if you work on commercial projects.
What Does Scaffolding Contractors Public Liability Insurance Cover?
Policies cover a variety of incidents and events, and you’ll be able to combine several different forms of insurance to provide your company with the comprehensive coverage it requires. Two or more of these forms of insurance are commonly included in standard policies:
#1. Scaffolding public liability insurance
If a member of the public accuses you of causing harm or damage to their property and decides to sue you. Your insurance will cover court fees and compensation costs.
#2. Employers’ liability insurance
Covers the cost of compensation in the event that an employee is hurt or falls ill as a result of their job. This is required by law if you have any employees, even if they are part-time or temporary.
#3. Tools and equipment insurance
Compensates you if tools or equipment are damaged or stolen.
#4. Legal expenses
Meets the cost of legal fees and court expenses if you need to settle a dispute.
#5. Business buildings and contents insurance
Because of an insured incident, it covers the cost of repairing, replacing, or rebuilding any commercial premises you possess As well as the contents of your office (like a fire, flood, or attempted theft).
What else should I consider?
As a scaffolder, it’s critical that you have proper coverage for working at heights. Check to see if your policy includes a height restriction (for example, you may only be insured to work at a height of 15 metres), and if it does, make sure it’s acceptable for you.
If you operate on commercial structures and want insurance with higher height limits. You should be able to add this to your existing policy (for a slight increase in your premium).
What level of Scaffolding Public Liability insurance do I need?
The insurer may limit the amount of insurance coverage, for example, tool coverage may be limited to $10,000. Of course, you can ask for more, but this will almost certainly be reflected in the cost of your policy.
Many insurers, on the other hand, give public liability insurance for a minimum of £1 million. With some going up to £10 million. If this is the case, you must determine what is best for your company.
As a general rule, the more dangers you face, the more protection you’ll require. To give you an indication of the scale, contractors working with local governments are required to obtain public liability insurance of at least £5 million. If that sounds like a lot, keep in mind that scaffolding can be dangerous; after all, all it takes is one unsecured pole or plank to injure a member of the public.
If you need employers’ liability insurance, you must have at least £5 million in coverage. You could be fined £2,500 for each uninsured day if you don’t have insurance.
How Much Does Scaffolding Insurance cost?
Scaffolders insurance is tailored to your specific needs, therefore, rates might vary significantly. To begin with, it’s critical that your policy provide you with the protection you require. To compare features and become aware of any limitations or exclusions (events that aren’t covered).
Cheap scaffolding contractors’ insurance may appear to be a good deal at first, But you may find that you need to add extra features or increase your coverage levels. Both of which will raise your premium. Policies that appear to be expensive, on the other hand. May represent excellent value for money if they already include all you require.
What Level of Scaffolding Liability Insurance Do I Need?
A growing number of businesses are treating their commercial insurance as if it were personal insurance. However, shopping around solely on the basis of price rarely works in the same way that it does for car insurance. It’s crucial to understand the difference between a low price and good value for money.
If you have scaffolder liability insurance which is a generic, off-the-shelf policy. It is unlikely to provide enough coverage and hence offers poor value for money. You should think about the level of insurance you’ll need to safeguard yourself, your employees, subcontractors, and the environment.
Bonds are another example of coverage that is rarely included in standard scaffolder insurance. This can come in handy if you have a dissatisfied customer or if you have recently completed work that has to be repaired. The gap in money to make such improvements is generally for with proper bond coverage. Minimizing the impact on your project’s margin.
When determining the appropriate level of scaffolder liability insurance. It goes without saying that claim risk is in your industry. While the excess and maximum insurance coverage are often meaningless numbers. The consequences of failing to address these aspects can be disastrous.
Because of the nature of the industry, injuries can occur, therefore having scaffolding public liability contractors insurance and cash available to assist workers in recovering from accidents and supporting their families is a critical consideration.
When Do I Need to Get Scaffolding Liability Insurance?
It’s best to get scaffold public liability insurance as soon as possible. You may quickly include the charges into your bids to potential clients if you have the right coverage. In reality, in an industry still riddled with trade ‘cowboys. A comprehensive scaffolder insurance policy can give your potential customers peace of mind. As soon as you have insurance, make sure to mention it throughout the quoting process. As it could make all the difference when it comes to securing contracts.
It’s important to remember that scaffolding contractors liability insurance that is to your specific needs is more cost-effective. With the right coverage, you’ll only pay for what you need, not the extras that many generic policies include!
Get in touch with our broker team right away for free scaffolder liability insurance assistance. We’ve worked with a wide spectrum of construction and trade professionals, from sole proprietors to large contracting firms.
Types of Insurance That Are Important for a Scaffolding Business
#1. Public liability
One of the biggest concerns for every scaffolder or scaffolding business owner is that their job will cause property damage or significant injury to someone else.
Scaffolding failure, resulting in catastrophic damage or death of persons below the scaffolding, is the worst-case scenario.
If you or your company is to be culpable. There will be severe financial implications in addition to the obvious emotional damage.
This is where general liability insurance comes into play.
Your public liability coverage may cover the costs of a claim brought against you or your company for property damage or personal injury caused by your carelessness.
Even if the courts judge you not to be at blame. Your insurance may be able to cover the significant legal fees that will almost certainly be incurred.
Scaffolding is considered a higher-risk career when compared to other trades like carpentry, hence the costs will normally be greater.
You may also need to hire a specialist insurer because most mainstream insurers set height limits of between 10m and 15m while working externally.
As a result, it’s critical to inform your broker about the heights you’ll be working at when getting a public liability quote.
We have access to professional insurers and underwriters through our network of insurance experts who can help most scaffolding firms regardless of the heights they work at.
#2. General property
Despite the fact that scaffolding equipment is quite durable. It is nonetheless costly to replace if it is beyond repair.
You may safeguard your equipment and tools from a variety of dangers, including theft from a secure position, fire or lightning, and damage caused by a vehicle collision, by insuring them.
If you require your gear to be on-site overnight, additional coverage is available. This is an extra-cost option that, depending on your demands, may be worthwhile.
#3. Income protection
Scaffolders are at significant risk of injury, and the risk of a very serious injury is especially high due to the heights at which they frequently work.
Income protection is essential to ensure that you can continue to live comfortably even if you are unable to work.
If you work for someone else, you’ll probably have sick leave and workers’ compensation. But if you work for yourself, you’ll be on your own with no income security.
Even if you are a salaried employee, income protection is critical, especially if you have an injury that prevents you from working for an extended length of time.
Visit our income protection guide for more information on this type of insurance.
Additional forms of coverage, such as TPD insurance, may be worth investigating. If you suffer a career-ending injury, this can help you even more.
FAQs
How much does public liability insurance cost UK?
The average UK annual public liability insurance premium costs £119.37, according to AXA. However, some small businesses and sole traders will pay less than that and it can be as little as £40 a year.
Who needs public liability insurance UK?
Do I need public liability insurance? You’re not legally required to have public liability insurance, but if you’re a business owner, the chances are you’ll need it. Public liability insurance covers your costs if someone else sues your business – and without cover, unexpected legal costs could bankrupt your business.
What's a good price for liability insurance?
General liability insurance typically costs $30 a month or less, based on a survey we conducted with 50,000 small business owners. We also learned that 95% of the surveyed small business owners pay less than $50 per month for general liability insurance, and just 1% of small businesses pay more than $100 per month.
