INSURANCE FOR SCAFFOLDERS
SCAFFOLDING IS A NECESSARY RISK IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
WHY DOES SCAFFOLDING REQUIRE INSURANCE?
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR SCAFFOLDING - WHY YOU NEED IT?
Scaffolding is an integral part of the construction industry. According to OSHA, 65% of construction workers in the U.S. use scaffolding as part of their job. These temporary platforms allow workers to repair, renovate, clean, and build structures.
OSHA mandates employee training and has strict standards for how scaffolding must be built, used, and maintained. For example, scaffolding must be able to safely hold four times the intended load weight. And once erected, scaffolding must be inspected at regular intervals. Despite these guidelines, accidents can and do happen. Every year in the U.S., 4,500 injuries are sustained in scaffolding-related accidents. That comes out to 87 accidents each and every week.
Nearly all of these accidents are the result of three scenarios: a plank or supporting fixture gives way, an employee slips and falls, or an employee is struck by a falling object. Additionally, any scaffolding that is near power lines puts workers at risk for electrocution. Tragically, scaffolding accidents result in 60 deaths each year. Scaffolding is a necessary risk for our nation’s construction workers, that’s why it is vital that the right scaffolding coverage and risk solutions are utilized in order to minimize these unfortunate accidents.
COMPLEX SCAFFOLDING COVERAGE
Your clients need to protect their businesses from the devastating financial consequences of scaffolding injuries and fatalities. While the right insurance coverage can’t prevent these accidents from happening, it can protect the longevity of your client’s business, as well as potentially call attention to high risk scenarios that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Without the right kinds of adequate coverage, an injury or fatality can be devastating to a business and it’s employees.
Insurance coverage for scaffolding can be more complicated than at first glance. General or basic coverages might not adequately cover all the potential risk scenarios that apply to the scaffold industry…that’s why it’s very important to consider a scaffold-specific program. When researching this type of insurance, there are 7 types of coverage your clients need to consider
7 TYPES OF INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR SCAFFOLDING
GENERAL LIABILITY
Commercial general liability insurance provides coverage for any bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage that are caused by a business’s operation or products. It also covers injuries that occur on the business’s premises. For general liability coverage, Ascinsure offers various deductible amounts. We will work with you to tailor general liability policies that make the most sense for your clients’ needs.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Worker’s compensation insurance provides coverage for an illness or injury that an employee sustains while on the job. If a worker slipped and fell on your client’s scaffolding, this insurance could provide coverage.
Worker’s compensation benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages, and any vocational rehabilitation that is needed. If an illness or injury resulted in the death of an employee, death benefits may be paid out to survivors such as a spouse or dependents. We can obtain worker’s compensation in most states, and dividend plans are available in some states.
Property
PROPERTY INSURANCE
Property insurance protects a business’s physical property from any damage or loss. Physical property includes tangible goods like equipment, materials, and tools. In most states, we can obtain coverage for damage caused by floods and earthquakes.
Specialty coverage can also compensate for any loss of income and extra expenses. We provide replacement cost valuation, meaning your clients won’t be shortchanged if they need to buy new equipment.
Any physical property that is located off site may be covered, including property that is in-transit or on a job site. We can also tailor coverage to include property that your client has rented out to a third party.
EXCESS
Simply put, excess insurance extends the limit of coverage for another insurance policy. This coverage fills in the gap if your client is found liable for an amount greater than the coverage limit on one of their policies.
AUTO
Commercial auto insurance will protect any vehicles owned by your client’s business. One aspect of this coverage is protection if an object, such as a portion of scaffolding, falls and impacts a company-owned vehicle. We offer preferential pricing for qualified accounts, as well as fleet and loss experience discounts.
INLAND MARINE
The term inland marine insurance can be confusing and is a bit of a misnomer. It refers to the coverage of any goods that are being transported on land, such as by semi-truck or rail. (As opposed to marine insurance, which covers any transportation via water.) We can underwrite difficult, high volume inland marine exposures.
CRIME
Business crime insurance protects against any business-related crime including fraud, embezzlement, robbery, theft, and misrepresentation. Your clients should not overlook this coverage. It is a myth that crime insurance is only for white collar industries. Business crime can be far-reaching, with devastating financial consequences. Every year, just fraud and abuse alone account for $400 billion in liabilities for companies in the U.S.