Summary

If you work on different sites, with different equipment and contractors, it’s important that your insurance policy is kept up to date.

Make your Building Site Safer with Specialist Insurance

Everyone knows that building sites can be dangerous places. With the right safety precautions in place they can be made as safe as possible, but accidents can still happen. The nature of the construction industry means there’s a certain amount of risk with every job: heavy machinery driving around warehouses; cranes lifting awkward and heavy loads; and people working with dangerous equipment, mean that accidents are more likely to occur here than in other areas of the workplace. This means that warehouse insurance should be at the top of every construction firm’s list of priorities.

If insurance is one of your job responsibilities then it’s something you should pay very close attention to. If you think about it, the health and safety of the workers and any visitors that come onto the site are not just down to site security but also a result of the quality of your insurance. If there’s an unforeseen accident, the insurance company will have to deal with the claims and payouts so if the insurance isn’t there in the first place, the onus will be on you and your company.

If it’s time to get a new quote for your construction insurance, make sure you shop around and don’t just buy the first policy that appears to tick all the boxes. Look carefully at what’s included in the policy and think about using a company that specialises in your area of cover. For example, you’ll need full liability cover for your industry and you should also look out for comprehensive cover for your own equipment, as well as any hire-in equipment that might be used on site. Plus, think about the various contractors you use in the course of any one construction project. It’s important that you have insurance cover in place for them, as well. A specialist firm should be able to provide all these elements as part of your policy, so make sure you check this out before you commit your money.

It might also help to have flexible payment terms or different payment options to suit your business. For example, you might want to pay your premium in one installment, or you might prefer monthly payments, to spread out the amount during the financial year. Again, specialist providers will be well aware of the particular nature of the construction industry and are therefore more likely to offer more flexible payments options, to work with the specific needs of your business.

If you haven’t looked into your current insurance cover for a while then take some time out to check. It’s such an important part of the business that it shouldn’t be overlooked for any reason – in fact, it should be a priority. It will only take a few minutes of your time to ensure all your details and those of your business are up-to-date, and that your cover reflects the current nature of the work you do, the premises you operate from, and the staff you employ. It will be time very well spent.

About David Cant

A chartered (fellow) safety and risk management practitioner with 20+ years of experience. David provides a healthy dose of how-to articles, advice and guidance to make compliance easier for construction professionals, Architects and the built environment. Get social with David on Twitter and Linkedin.