Insurance for Plumbers

Plumbers and plumbing engineers face numerous daily risks on each job. The very nature of working with plumbing systems, water, and in potentially confined spaces means there is a high risk of potential accidents and injury.

The risks can also include exposure to old and/or unsafe pipes and potentially to unsafe building structure. All of the hazards involved with a plumbers profession can create high risk of property damage should there be a leak of water or sewage.

These are just some examples of why comprehensive insurance is important for ensuring your business and your customer’s premises are protected if something goes wrong.

Public Liability Insurance (PL)

Public liability insurance is viewed as the most important cover for plumbers and will cover claims arising as a result of accidental injury to members of the public or property damage to a customer’s premises.

Even if you feel you have done nothing wrong, you could still face legal action if you’re alleged to be at fault for someone being hurt, or if you’re blamed for damaging someone else’s property in the course of your work.

Employers’ Liability Insurance (EL)

Many plumbers are self-employed and work on their own on domestic and commercial premises, and are sometimes contracted to work for larger companies as plumbing contractors.

In some instances plumbers can become so busy that they require assistance and look to employ staff, including apprentices. If you are looking to employ staff you are required by law to carry Employers’ Liability insurance, with a minimum of £5 million of cover.

It is your responsibility to look after the welfare of your staff. As such it is an offence not to hold EL insurance as an employer and you can be fined £2,500 for every day you are not insured.

Personal Accident Insurance

Personal accident insurance provides cover for injuries sustained in the course of your job that stop you working. The policy can provide a weekly benefit if you are temporarily unable to work or it can provide a lump sum if your injury is more serious and permanently stops you from working.

Insurance for Tools, Equipment and Trades Materials

Tools insurance will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your tools if they’re lost, damaged or stolen. The policy also includes cover for your power tools.

Cover provided is from £1,000 to £5,000 depending on how much you require. If you need to make a claim, we will pay you the amount required to replace your equipment, helping to quickly get you back ‘on the tools’.

Goods in Transit Insurance

This type of cover is for goods that are lost or damaged while they are being transported, either in your own vehicle or on your behalf by a third-party courier. The policy provides cover for theft of items whilst in transit, damage to goods caused by an accident during transit, loss of items during transit, damage caused to items during transit.

Product Liability Insurance

Product liability insurance is offered as an extension to public liability insurance and can provide cover for your legal liability and compensation awards if a product you supply or install injures a person or causes damage to property.

Product failure can occur if the product isn’t installed properly, which could potentially cause an accident resulting in property damage or injury to another person.

Contract Works Insurance

This policy provides cover for costs incurred in having to re-do existing work be destroyed by fire, flood, or theft, including the cost of the tools, materials and the labour required to re-do the work.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Mistakes happen due to tiredness and a loss of concentration. As a plumber, any mistake you make could cause damage to property, which could result in a significant loss of money for your customer.

Professional indemnity cover is an important form of business insurance as it will cover your legal costs and compensation awards if you need to defend a negligence claim from a customer, even if you feel you’ve done nothing wrong.

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