
Ask the Expert: Liability Insurance Recommendations for Coronavirus Cleaning
Dave Dybdahl of ARMR Network answers three questions related to liability coverage and cleaning during the coronavirus pandemic:
- What is the #1 question you are getting from your restoration clients?
- What are some of the “must haves” for liability insurance if you’re doing coronavirus cleaning?
- What are some helpful documents out there for contractors right now? (This is obviously the place to mention the RIA/IICRC doc)
Diving deeper into the discussion, here are some risk management tips for restorers going out in the field to conduct virus decontamination work:
- Job #1: Protect the workers. If your employees have not been trained on personal protection equipment, if your firm does not have the equipment and experience working with bio-hazards, this is not place for on the job training.
- Follow the guidance and advice offered in the new RIA and IICRC Preliminary Report for Restoration Contractors Assisting Clients With COVID-19 Concerns. This document was produced s specifically to help contractors mitigate risk. DOWNLOAD HERE.
- Get your insurance coverage in order. At a minimum, contractors should review their general liability, contractor’s pollution liability, professional liability, and workers’ compensation policies with an insurance agent or broker with specialized knowledge or access to specialized knowledge in restoration contracting and bio hazards. There is no training available for insurance agents on the specialized needs of restoration contractors. Which explains why more than 90% of restores are inadequately insured today, not just on biohazard work. If you do not have a Contractors Environmental or Contractors Pollution Policy with its own insuring agreement section, stop all biohazard jobs. Job site coverage extensions on the General Liability policy do not fulfill this requirement.