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Whilst scaffolding in Australia has become relatively safe, there is still the ever-present risk of something going wrong.
And when you consider what’s involved in scaffolding, when something goes wrong it can easily end very badly.
That’s why it’s important to ensure that you and your business are properly insurance.
There are a number of insurance types which are important for a scaffolding business, and in this guide we’ll look at three of the big ones.
Public liability
One of the greatest fears for any scaffolder or scaffolding business owner is that your work results in property damage or serious injury to another person.
The nightmare scenario involves the failure of scaffolding which results in serious injury or death to those below the scaffolding.
Besides the obvious emotional impact, there will also be very serious financial consequences if you or your business is found to be responsible.
This is where public liability insurance comes in.
Your public liability policy can cover the costs of a claim against you or your business where your negligence has resulted in property damage or personal injury to another person.
Even if the courts find that you were not at fault, your insurance can still cover the substantial legal costs that will have most likely been incurred.
Because scaffolding is considered to be higher risk occupation when compared to other trades such as carpenters, the costs involved will generally be higher.
Furthermore, as most mainstream insurers impose height limited of between 10m and 15m when working externally, you may need to use a specialist insurer.
Because of this, when requesting a quote on your public liability it is important to let your broker know about the heights you will be operating at.
Through our network of insurance experts we have access to specialist insurers and underwriters who can assist most scaffolding businesses regardless of the heights worked at.
General property
Although scaffolding gear is pretty tough stuff, it is still expensive to replace if it is lost or damaged beyond repair.
By insuring your equipment and tools you can protect them from a range of different risks including theft from a secure location, fire or lightening and damage caused in a vehicle collision.
Additional coverage is available if you need your gear to be covered whilst it is left on site overnight. This is an extra-cost option, but may be worthwhile depending on your needs.
Income protection
The risk of injury to scaffolders is high, and the risk of a very serious injury is also high due to the heights commonly worked at.
Income protection is an absolute must to ensure that you can continue to survive financially even when you cannot work.
If you’re an employee you will likely have access to sick leave and workers compensation, but if you work for yourself you’ll be on your own without income protection.
Even if you are an employee on wages, income protection is still very important, especially in the event that you suffer an injury which keeps you away from work for a long period of time.
For more information on this form of insurance please visit our income protection guide.
It may also be worth considering additional forms of cover such as TPD insurance. This can provide further assistance if you suffer a career-ending injury.
Quotes and more information
Through our network we can help you with obtaining quotes and advice on the full range of insurance types of scaffolders.
To speak with an expert simply call us on 1300 542 245, or complete our online quote request and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.