Professional electrician, installing sockets at homeThe label given to contractors who bring their tools and highly developed skills to the job site — artisan or casual contractors — can be misleading. After all, there is nothing artsy or casual about the risks these professionals face on the job. In fact, almost every type of artisan contractor has a potentially high degree of liability because they can inadvertently damage property or cause harm to others or themselves.

Some examples of artisan contractors include plumbers, electricians, roofers, landscapers, drywall installers and others with specialized areas of work. All of these occupations demand technical knowledge and expertise, and these contractors are in high demand for their expertise.

Their work often can be dangerous, and accidents can happen, causing liability issues to arise. Self-employed artisan contractors need insurance plans tailored to meet their needs. In fact, liability insurance is one of the most important types of insurance for specialty contractors. This insurance protects your business from claims or lawsuits that may arise from your work. If you are found liable for damages, your liability insurance will help to cover the costs.

Besides injury or property damage, there can be issues related to product liability. Project managers may require artisan contractors working as a part of a larger construction project to carry their own liability coverage. Depending on the locale, there also may be laws and regulations covering artisan contractors. The project manager may have contractual obligations to the client that all artisan contractors used on the job will have their own insurance coverage.

Our Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy gives trade/artisan contractors extra policy options that can be added by endorsement including: contractor’s pollution, transportation, and employee benefits liability coverage. The CGL policy includes coverage for additional insured, primary/non-contributory and waiver of subrogation. Limits of up to $2 million per occurrence and a $2 million aggregate policy limit are available. Coverage premiums begin at a minimum of $2,000 with deductibles as low as $1,000. We offer the CGL policy in all states except New York, Colorado and Nevada.

If you are a specialty contractor, you know that your work comes with a unique set of risks. That’s why it’s important to have liability insurance to protect yourself in the event that something goes wrong. C&S Specialty Underwriters understands the unique risks of artisan specialty contractors. If you have clients who are artisan contractors with revenues under $10 million, we can provide an insurance package to meet their needs. Visit our website or contact us if you’d like more information: https://csunderwriters.com/