There are many business types throughout Australia that require public liability insurance, but one of the most common users are workers in the trades and construction industry.
Many tradesmen work as sole traders and subcontractors, and are therefore generally not covered by the insurance of the person or company that has contracted them.
Public liability is available for all tradesmen as well as some unskilled workers and labourers.
We are the experts in helping you find the right public liability insurance for your needs, whilst also tracking down the best value quotes and premiums.
If you’re a tradesman who requires public liability cover, please complete our online quote request or simply get in contact with us for an obligation free chat.
Why Do Tradies Need Public Liability?
For tradesmen who work for their own business or as a subcontractor, there is generally no coverage offered by the building company or whoever else you are working with or for.
This means that if something goes wrong on the worksite and you are found to be liable, any costs relating to property damage or personal injury will have to come out of your pocket.
For this reason many building and construction companies make public liability mandatory for all self-employed tradies and subbies entering their worksites.
What Does it Cover?
Public liability is primarily designed to cover you for property damage or personal injury that you cause to other people.
If you are found to be liable for costs such as repair or replacement of damaged property, or for a person’s medical expenses, lost income and other forms of compensation, your public liability policy can cover such costs provided that they are not excluded by your specific policy.
For a claim to be successful, generally it will need to be proven that you are liable for the costs due to negligence on behalf of your business or yourself.
Is Faulty Workmanship Covered?
A common question asked by tradesmen is whether or not their policy covers them for faulty workmanship and defective work.
The answer is yes, but it will only cover the costs of property damage or personal injury which results as a consequence of the faulty work.
The policy will not cover the costs of repairing or rectifying the faulty works, regardless of whether or not such work is done by you or another tradesman.
How Important is it?
The costs involved in some cases can be massive, and in those involving death or severe injury the figures can climb into the hundreds or thousands, and potentially millions.
Having to come up with this sort of cash would send most tradesmen and their businesses into bankruptcy, but with the right insurance in place you can rest easy knowing that you are protected.
How Much Does it Cost?
The cost of public liability for a tradesman will depend on a number of different factors, including the type of business you run as well as the size of the business in terms of staff number and annual turnover.
For a domestic carpenter working as a sole trader with an average turnover the cost can be as low as $450, but if you run a larger business or work in hazardous locations the premium can increase significantly.
The easiest and most accurate way of determining your public liability cost is to request a quote from an insurer or insurance broker.
You can request a quote from us by clicking on the quote button at the top right of this page. We will then pass your details on to a qualified insurance adviser who specialises in dealing with tradesmen and will be able to find you the best deal on your insurance needs.