Industries / Trades and construction
Trades and construction: the covers businesses usually need
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, builders, painters and cleaners work on other people’s property and sites. Most of their claims involve damage to that property or injury to someone on site.
What can go wrong
The exposures that drive claims in trades and construction.
Damage and injury on site
A burst pipe after a plumbing job floods the floor below, or a member of the public trips over a lead. These are public liability claims.
Tools and vehicles
Tools are carried between sites and left in vehicles, where theft is common. Work vehicles are usually the business’s largest asset after the tools.
Work in progress
A building under construction can be damaged by storm, fire or theft before handover. Contract works insurance covers the works themselves.
Head contractor requirements
Head contractors and large clients set liability limits, often above $10 million, and may require a performance or retention guarantee.
NoteHome warranty insurance is compulsory for residential building work above a threshold in most states, and the scheme differs by state (in NSW, Victoria and Queensland it is run by a state body). The industry lookup asks about residential contracts and the state.
Covers the lookup lists
What the industry lookup lists for typical businesses in this industry.
These are the results of the Cuttleflow industry lookup (release exp-0.7.0) for the businesses below, before any questions are answered. Answers about staff, vehicles, premises, contracts and the state change the list. Covers the lookup lists only as “consider” are left out here. Every class on the Commons wordings is available on Cuttleflow Go; “On Cuttleflow Go” links to the class. A Marketplace class is also placed by brokers through the Cuttleflow Marketplace.
- Electricians · ANZSIC 3232 Electrical Services
- Plumbers · ANZSIC 3231 Plumbing Services
- Carpenters · ANZSIC 3242 Carpentry Services
- Builders · ANZSIC 3011 House Construction
- Painters · ANZSIC 3244 Painting and Decorating Services
- Cleaners · ANZSIC 7311 Building and Other Industrial Cleaning Services
| Cover | Lookup tier | Where it is written | Listed for | Why it is listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers compensation | Must have Compulsory where it applies | Statutory scheme (depends on state) | All of these businesses | Employers must hold workers compensation cover in every state and territory, apart from limited wage-based exemptions. Depends on: how many employees does the business have, not counting owners. |
| Home warranty insurance | Must have Compulsory where it applies | Statutory scheme (depends on state) | Builders | Home warranty insurance is compulsory for residential building work above a threshold in this state. Depends on: does the business sign contracts with homeowners for residential building work (new homes, extensions or renovations); which state or territory is the business based in. |
| General liability | Recommended | On Cuttleflow Go | All of these businesses | Almost every business deals with customers, visitors or other people's property, so it can be held liable for injury or damage. |
| Motor fleet | Recommended | On Cuttleflow Go · Marketplace class | All of these businesses | Ten or more vehicles can be insured as a fleet, priced partly on the fleet's own claims record. Depends on: how many vehicles does the business own or lease for work. |
| Management liability | Recommended | On Cuttleflow Go · Marketplace class | All of these businesses | Companies and associations have directors or committee members who can be personally liable, and every employer can face employment claims. Depends on: what type of entity is the business. |
| Business package | Recommended | On Cuttleflow Go · Marketplace class | All of these businesses | The business has premises, stock or equipment that fire, storm, theft or water damage could destroy, and it would lose income while it rebuilds. Depends on: does the business have premises, stock or equipment at a fixed site. |
| Commercial motor | Recommended | On Cuttleflow Go · Marketplace class | All of these businesses | The business owns or leases fewer than ten vehicles used for work. Depends on: how many vehicles does the business own or lease for work; does the business own or lease vehicles used for work. |
| Tools and portable equipment | Recommended | Through your usual markets | Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters, Builders, Painters | Tools are carried between sites and stored in vehicles, where theft is common. |
| Contract works | Recommended | On Cuttleflow Go · Marketplace class | Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters, Builders, Painters | Work in progress can be damaged by storm, fire or theft before handover. |
Classes on the Commons wordings
Classes for this industry on Cuttleflow Go.
Public and products liability
See the class →
On Cuttleflow GoExcess of loss
See the class →
On Cuttleflow GoConstruction all risks and liability
See the class →
On Cuttleflow GoCommercial motor
See the class →
On Cuttleflow GoBusiness package
See the class →
On Cuttleflow GoPersonal accident and sickness
See the class →
Brokers
Win clients in trades and construction
Put the industry lookup and an indicative price on your own channels, and take leads from the public marketplace when it opens. Place every risk once, with every market in the class, on the same wording.
Underwriting agencies
Write this business on Cuttleflow Go
Your own rates and rules on the Commons wordings, quoted to your brokers from day one and to Marketplace brokers when the class opens.
General information. This page is not advice about any business and does not recommend any insurer or product. The lookup’s rules are a first draft and have not yet been reviewed by an underwriter or a lawyer. Check each cover against the circumstances and the policy wording, and check compulsory insurance with the regulator in the relevant state. Industry classes: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSIC 2006 (cat. no. 1292.0), © Commonwealth of Australia. Professional occupations: APRA National Claims and Policies Database.
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