There are several types of business insurance you should consider if you’re an electrician, electrical contractor or running your own electrical business. These include:
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is essential for anyone working as an electrician, as you have such close contact with the public and their property. This is particularly important if you’re an electrician working directly for customers, rather than as a contractor who is hired by a larger company.
Public liability can cover you against claims that your activity caused injury to a third party or damaged their property. This insurance can offer between $5 million and $20 million worth of coverage. It is a compulsory requirement on most building sites and also to tender for many government contracts.
What it covers:
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Damage to a third party’s property
- Legal fees to defend yourself
Professional indemnity insurance
The greatest business risk faced by many electricians is liability risk. If something goes wrong with your switchboard wiring, causing a major fire, you could potentially face a costly lawsuit. Therefore, professional indemnity insurance is highly recommended for electricians who run their own electrical businesses.
This policy covers you against claims that the electrical service you provided was negligent or fell short of expected professional standards. Cover is available starting from $2 million but can extend up to $10 million or more.
What it covers
- Cover for your legal defence costs
- Payment of compensation if there’s a successful claim against you
- Payment of court-awarded damages to the litigant
- Cover for the cost of disaster investigations
Portable equipment cover
This form of insurance is available as an add-on to general business insurance and can cover all your trade tools and portable equipment, including expensive things like generators. There are two options available depending on what level of cover you are looking for:
- Insured events cover: only covers named events such as fire, theft, storms and collisions
- Comprehensive cover: includes the insured events listed above, plus other accidental damage to your equipment and tools
What it covers:
- Fire, storm, water damage, explosion impact
- Accidental damage, malicious damage
- Collision or overturning of the conveying vehicle
- Theft following forcible entry to a vehicle or building
- Theft of equipment attached to a vehicle using locks or padlocks
Personal accident and illness insurance
Since you rely on your physical health and fitness to be able to do your job, taking care of your personal health should be a high priority for all people who earn a living working with their hands. Accident and sickness insurance can provide cover for you if you become sick and are unable to work, with a weekly replacement income available if you can’t work as a result of an accident or injury.
What it covers:
- Loss of income as a result of sickness, injury or accident
Optional extras can include:
- Death benefits
- Disablement benefits
- Payment of business expenses during your recovery period