3. Pollution Liability Insurance
Pollution liability is just as it sounds your liability in a pollution incident that occurs at a job site. If you are bringing fuel tanks for equipment or chemicals onto a job site you have an exposure for a pollution incident. General liability policies generally exclude pollution liability unless endorsed for a limited amount and the coverage significantly less in coverage scope than a standalone policy for pollution. In some cases we can combine both a pollution and professional policy into one to protect a contractor for both situations.
4. Business Vehicle and Commercial Auto Insurance
Even if you don’t have a large fleet of vehicles but you still have vehicles that are titled to the business you will want to make sure you have a commercial auto policy in place for your business. Owning a vehicle personally but using it for business purposes could create potential coverage gaps. In the event that this does happen there are options to work around it but its always in the best interest to title the vehicle under the company name and have a commercial auto policy. Commercial vehicles that you can insure range from cars and trucks to much large vehicles like tractor trailers, dump trucks or cement trucks. The general theme is if it has to be licensed for road use in the state you operate then it should be put on a commercial auto policy. One exception to that rule is a yard truck that never leaves the premises of your operations.
5. Inland Marine Insurance
The name of this insurance may cause some head scratching. The early days of moving goods from one place to another involved transport by ship, hence “marine insurance” was needed for the property on board. The term now not only means moving of good but also includes specialty property such as contractors equipment, installation floater and riggers liability. Regardless, the construction industry regularly involves transporting equipment, tools and supplies to and from various work sites. Most business insurance only provides coverage for property while at a work site and not during transport. For example, if a tool box is stolen from the back of your truck when you stop at a gas station, your normal business insurance likely won’t pay for replacement, but inland marine coverage will. Coverage known as builder’s risk insurance is also usually included as part of an inland marine policy for buildings that are under construction. Builders risk can be done on a per project basis or a blanket master program.
6. Contractor License Bonds or Surety Bonds
Some cities and states require that contractors obtain license and permit bonds to ensure that customers receive the services and completed work that’s been promised. It’s a legally binding contract that also helps ensure that the contractor will pay for any materials and labor required to complete the job and not leave the customer holding the bill. Most contracts for cities and municipalities require a performance and payment bond to foresee their financial interest in a contract. You might even see some private projects require this as well to anticipate the investment in the project. Being bonded means that your company is financially sound enough to perform the work being required.
7. Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Most states require some form of workers’ compensation insurance to protect employees from lost wages and medical expenses that result from job-related injuries. It also helps protect a company from lawsuits related to those injuries. While premiums are often dictated by the state, there are ways to potentially lower your work comp costs. The number one way is to lower your experience modification factor — a factor calculated by the state. To do so, you’ll need to improve safety and subsequently lower the number and severity of injury claims.
8. Cyber Insurance
One of the fastest growing types of business insurance involves protecting your company’s data and that of your customers and third-party vendors. As construction firms rely more heavily on technology — whether software platforms to manage business functions or equipment and smart technology used on job sites — the need to protect all that streaming data increases. Even small construction firms should consider cyber insurance since nearly half of all cyber attacks target small businesses, and only 14% believe they’d be highly effective at mitigating cyber risks, vulnerabilities and attacks. The good news is that cyber coverage is typically inexpensive and offers a nice layer of protection, but it’s important to make sure you get the right kind of cyber insurance coverage.
The construction industry faces unique risks and thus requires different layers of protection than many other types of businesses. Reach out to a strategic risk advisor to talk through how to best protect your business and your bottom line.
The construction industry has inherent risks and job sites are often bustling with activity. Workers, contractors, large machinery and more are needed to get the job done, which open up the possibilities of injuries, third-party damages and potential litigation. Advancing technology and machinery is alleviating some of the risks of doing business on the one hand, though can ultimately add more risks on the other. However, there are ways to mitigate risks by ensuring you have the right insurance coverage. There is no one-size-fits-all policy, and a general business owners policy (BOP) won’t suffice. Let’s take a look at the various types of insurance your construction company may need.
