Concrete contractor insurance

Concrete contractor insurance is a collection of separate policies commonly bought by concrete businesses to help protect against risks such as third-party injuries and property damage, employee injuries, and stolen or damaged tools and equipment.

Depending on your operation, you may also want to consider getting a separate Professional Liability, Commercial Auto, or Cyber policy.

As of the date of this article, Simply Business doesn’t offer Commercial Auto insurance, but our licensed insurance agents can help you find trusted providers who do.

If you have employees, even part-time, Workers’ Compensation insurance is often required. Additionally, for high-risk construction trades like concrete, some states mandate coverage even for solo owners. General contractors and project owners may also require General Liability and a certificate of insurance before you can begin working. In addition, project contracts often require subcontractors to include an additional insured endorsement or a waiver of subrogation.

Requirements can vary by project, so check your state and local rules, along with the insurance requirements in each contract or bid before work begins.

An additional insured endorsement can extend certain liability protection under your insurance policy to another party, such as the general contractor or project owner.

A waiver of subrogation generally limits your insurer’s ability to pursue recovery from the party named in the waiver after certain covered losses. Requirements and endorsements vary, so review the contract with your agent before work begins.

It can. If your work accidentally damages a client’s property — for example, wet concrete spills past the forms and damages a homeowner’s driveway — General Liability may help cover the resulting third-party property damage claim, subject to your policy terms and exclusions.

If a slab cracks because of faulty workmanship, General Liability typically won’t pay to tear it out and repour it. But if a defect causes accidental bodily injury or damage to a client and their property, the resulting claim may be covered depending on the facts, policy language, and applicable law.

Concrete work is physically demanding. Employees lift heavy forms and materials, work around moving equipment, handle caustic wet concrete, and may generate silica dust while cutting or grinding cured concrete.

OSHA warns that wet Portland cement can cause burns and that cutting, grinding, drilling, or crushing concrete can expose workers to respirable crystalline silica. These hazards can lead to serious injuries or occupational illnesses, which can make concrete work more expensive to insure than lower-risk occupations.

Workers’ Comp premiums can also be affected by payroll, employee classifications, claims history, location, and other rating factors.

When concrete operations generate respirable dust, employers must comply with OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for Construction. This standard requires employers to limit worker exposure, implement a written exposure control plan, and provide necessary training and safety controls.

Concrete contractors move expensive gear from job to job — power trowels, concrete saws, vibratory screeds, laser levels, compactors, and other specialized tools.

Contractor’s Equipment and Small Tools coverage, also known as Inland Marine insurance, can help protect covered mobile equipment from risks such as theft or damage while it’s in transit or at a jobsite.

If your business owns pick-ups, dump trucks, trailers, or other vehicles used on public roads for work, you are typically legally required to carry Commercial Auto insurance.

Ask your insurer how your vehicle’s business use is classified. Trucks, trailers, and equipment being hauled may have different coverage needs. And don’t assume your personal auto policy adequately covers your pick-up when used for business.

As of the date of this article, Simply Business doesn’t offer Commercial Auto insurance, but our licensed insurance agents can help you find trusted providers who do.

Every concrete contractor may not necessarily need Professional Liability coverage for alleged negligence, errors, and omissions. But if your concrete business also provides design, engineering, structural calculations, or other professional services, Professional Liability, also known as Errors & Omissions insurance, may be worth considering.

If you use email for bids and invoices, process digital payments, run payroll online, or store customer and employee information, a cyberattack can disrupt your business. Cyber insurance can help with certain costs from data breaches, ransomware, data recovery, and business interruption, depending on the policy.

Generally, yes. COIs for most policies from Simply Business are typically available soon after you purchase your coverage. You can download and share your COI instantly through your online account or right from your phone — useful when a general contractor needs proof of insurance before you can begin working on a job.

Your insurance premium depends on several factors, including, but not limited to:

• The type of concrete work you perform
• Whether you primarily work on residential or commercial projects
• The size and value of your typical jobs
• Your annual revenue and total payroll
• The number of employees or subcontractors you use
• The value of your tools and equipment
• Your business vehicles and how they’re used
• Your claims history and how many years you’ve been in business
• Your chosen policy types, coverage limits, and deductibles

Larger projects, higher payroll, more expensive equipment, and higher-risk operations can all affect what you pay.

Before purchasing, consider asking:

• Does my general liability policy cover the types of concrete work I perform?
• Does my policy meet the insurance limits required by the general contractors I work for?
• Can I add a general contractor or project owner as an additional insured when required?
• Can my policy provide a waiver of subrogation if a contract calls for one?
• What does the policy consider faulty workmanship versus covered property damage?
• Are my power trowels, concrete saws, laser levels, and other tools covered in transit and at a jobsite?
• Do my trucks and trailers require separate Commercial Auto coverage?
• Can I download a COI immediately when I need one for a bid or jobsite?

Our licensed agents can walk you through these questions — give us a call.