Installing ceilings and partition walls isn’t a job just anybody can do. You need brains and brawn in equal measure, and the accuracy and high-quality workmanship required means there’s no room for cowboys in this trade. But what about when things go south despite your best efforts?
One word – insurance! Read on to find out everything you need to know about insurance for ceiling partitioning installers.
Ceiling Partitioning Installers Insurance is a specialised type of coverage which protects those of you in this trade from a range of risks. We know that life doesn’t always go to plan, especially when you’re doing a dangerous job like yours – this is why insurance is so essential.
Unlike when you’re working for someone else, self-employed individuals must grapple with the reality that if they cause accidental damage, give some dodgy advice, or harm themselves (or someone else) in the line of duty, the buck stops with them. There’s no HR department to call, no legal team on standby to smooth everything over. It’s times like this when insurance will be your best friend. Ceiling Partitioning Installers Insurance isn’t just one policy, either – it’s a bundle. This bundle contains the key policies that you need to ensure you’re covered for every eventuality – from the ceiling falling into you accidentally breaking your apprentice’s leg.
If you make your living in this game, you know how hazardous the work can be. Here’s a little rundown of the type of risks you’re looking at on your average day:
Heavy Lifting
Heavy lifting and manual handling during the installation process can pose a risk of physical injury. Whether it’s partitioning plates, plasterboard or steel screens, those things can weigh a ton, and some of the tools you’re wielding aren’t exactly featherweight either.
Falls from Height
Working at height is one of the most dangerous aspects of any trade, and the accident statistics related to this make for pretty grim reading. For example, a fall from as little as ten feet can cause devastating injuries or even death.
Sharp Objects
Handling sharp tools and materials like gypsum boards can lead to cuts and abrasions – requiring treatment, time out and the delaying of the job.
Unstable Work
Less-than-perfect installation, water damage, or substandard materials can cause fixtures to loosen over time, potentially leading to falls or accidents.
Risk of Fire
Improper handling of flammable materials during installation can pose a fire hazard, either while you’re doing the job, or somewhere down the line.
Exposure to Harmful Elements
Exposure to dust, debris, adhesives, and other materials during the installation process can play havoc with our health.
Electric Shocks
You can meet all sorts of live electrical cables and electrical equipment ceiling spaces. These can cause electrical shock or electrocution if not properly isolated or handled.
Let’s take a look at a real-world example of why having insurance is so important as a Ceiling Partitioning Installer.
Jan is a Ceiling Partitioning Installer working in Bury. He’s got a job installing a suspended ceiling in a new café in town. Jan didn’t renew his insurance this year, but he’s not worried as it’s a straightforward enough job, and he can always renew it later.
After the job commences, disaster strikes. His apprentice, Rob, slips when descending his ladder, breaking his ankle. After Rob has been taken to hospital, Jan takes a closer look at the work site. He sees the equipment resting against the café’s freshly-painted walls has left some marks, and in the rush to assist Rob after his fall, he sees the ladder has cracked a glass display case.
Between Rob’s injury and the damage to the café, Jan wouldn’t need to stress if he had insurance. It would be a simple matter of putting in a call to his insurer and getting his costs covered. As it stands, Jan is uninsured, so he’s got a whole world of trouble on his hands. He needs to compensate both Rob and the café owner, which will cost thousands, and he’s also facing a £2,500 daily fine from HMRC for not having Employer’s Liability Insurance.
At Rhino, we know that each trade is unique and comes with its own specific risks. For example, the risks you face as a ceiling and partition installer are different from those faced by a gardener, for example, so why would you both have the same insurance?
At Rhino, our trade insurance is tailored around individual trades, and reflects the specifics of YOUR trade.
One policy that every tradesperson DOES need is Public Liability Insurance. This is why we have structured our trade policies around this core cover – from which you can build your bundle to add only the policies you need.
Without further ado, meet Public Liability Insurance, your partner in battle.
Public Liability Insurance will protect you against the costs of third-party claims, ranging from customers who you’ve accidentally injured, to random passers-by who trip over your equipment. It will also cover accidental property damage that you cause in the line of work. So, if your work has hurt a customer or member of the public, or damaged their property, you won’t have to shell out yourself for any associated costs if you have Public Liability Insurance.
What costs, you might be wondering? People can make claims against you for things like missed income, transport to medical appointments, costs incurred as a result of their recovery and damaged property. You’ll likely be on the hook for it all – so make sure you have a good Public Liability Insurance policy in place so you don’t have to pay a penny from your own pocket.
What Other Policies Might a Ceiling Partition Installer Need?
Employer’s Liability Insurance
Employ anyone else? You need Employer’s Liability Insurance by law. It will cover you if one of your employees is hurt while working for you and makes a claim against your business. It also covers damage to their property.
Personal Accident Insurance
If you’re physically harmed and can’t work for a while, who will pay the bills? Even if you have savings or support from a partner, it’s likely the missed income will leave a hole. Personal Accident Insurance fills this hole by covering your missed income while you recover.
Legal Expenses Insurance
From disputes with non-paying clients to employee woes, you might need a little legal help from time to time. This insurance gives you access to a highly qualified legal team wherever you need them, who can even represent you in court should it come to that.
Tools in Transit Insurance
Your tools are essential to your work. If they’re lost, stolen or damaged then you’ll be out of pocket replacing the lot. This insurance is so handy for any tradesperson in the UK, where tool theft is absolutely rife.
Tax Enquiry Insurance
Adding this handy policy to your bundle will give you access to a team of tax experts who can take the headache out of a HMRC investigation, leaving you to concentrate on other things.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
If a customer makes a claim against you, blaming you for a financial loss they’ve suffered as a result of your work, it can be a fraught time. This insurance will cover the costs of a settlement to the third party, meaning your own finances will be protected.
1. Consider contractual obligations
Any good tradesperson will take a good look at any contract they’re about to sign. It’s usual that trade contracts include the types of insurance you’ll need to comply with the contract terms, plus the minimum levels of cover (e.g., Public Liability Insurance minimum £100,000, Employer’s Liability Insurance minimum £5million).
2. Consider the law
In the UK, the law stipulates that you need at least £5million in Employer’s Liability Insurance if you have any staff, including apprentices.
3. Consider the risks
Some tradespeople face increased risk, stemming from taking on bigger jobs, working at greater heights or using high-powered, expensive equipment. Your chosen limits of cover may need to be higher to reflect this risk.
4. Consider the size of your operation
Those ceiling and partition installers who run a SME and have other staff on board will need greater insurance coverage to reflect this. If you employ anyone, you’ll need Employer’s Liability Insurance by law, and the more your turnover, the higher your indemnity limits will likely be.
5. Make sure you’re up-to-date
Obviously, an expired insurance policy is a useless insurance policy. But wait! Even if your policies are all in-date, you might still be under-insured. This occurs when you’re not covered for a sufficient amount to cover the likely risks you face. So, if you’ve added new employees, bought new equipment or increased your turnover, you need to update your policies to reflect these changes.
As a tradesperson, trust is a priceless commodity. You can’t buy it, you have to earn it. Trust in your services is what will help your business grow – whether that’s via word-of-mouth locally, or glowing recommendations online.
One way to offer assurance and build trust among your customers is to be fully insured.
We’ve all seen enough cowboy-builder programmes on TV to know that an uninsured tradesperson spells trouble. Having the right insurance not only protects your business but also enhances its credibility and trustworthiness among customers and potential customers. Insurance shows that you are serious about protecting your customers should anything go wrong on-site, and will take responsibility in putting things right.
So, there you have it. Trade insurance is a fundamental investment for ceiling and partitioning installation businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to larger enterprises. A tailored bundle of coverage from Rhino will safeguard you from potential risks and liabilities that come with the territory and will ultimately protect the business you’ve worked hard to build.
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