Who needs Public Liability

This cover is not a compulsory requirement by law but it might be a contractual obligation requested by your customer before allowing you entry into their premises to perform the contracted work.

I am Self Employed with no Employees:

  • I offer products and or services to other businesses or to the public
  • The public may visit my premises

There is no legal requirement for you to have this insurance cover.

Best practice:

In general the industry recommends that you take out cover against unforeseen circumstances which could put your business at risk should a claim for compensation be made against you or against your firm.  If successful the compensation award could be substantial and more than likely put a strain on your finances. Furthermore, the award may have to be met from your own personal wealth.

Should you in the future employ someone to work for you then you need Employers Liability Insurance which is required by law.

  • Employers Liability Insurance, covers you should any member of your staff suffer an injury at your workplace or while working away at your customer’s premises as a result of their work or duties. This cover does not replace Public liability Insurance and it does not cover the public.

Public LiabilityWe are a Limited Company:

  • We are a limited company with one employee, the director only, or
  • We are a large company with several employees
  • Offering products and or services to other businesses or to the public
  • The public may visit our premises

There is no legal requirement for you to have this insurance cover.

Best practice:

In general, the industry recommends that you take out cover against unforeseen circumstances which could put your business at risk should a claim for compensation be made against the company or any of its employees.  If successful the compensation award could be substantial and more than likely put a strain on your company’s finances threatening your company’s existence and the future prospects of its employees. However, you need Employer’s Liability Insurance which is required by law.

  • Employers Liability Insurance, covers your company should any member of your staff suffer an injury at your workplace or while working away at your customer’s premises as a result of their work or duties. This cover does not replace Public liability Insurance and it does not cover the public.

Public LiabilityI am a Tradesman (Commercial or Residential) with no Employees:

  • A Builder
  • An Electrician
  • A Plasterer
  • A Plumber
  • A Roofer

There is no legal requirement for you to have this insurance cover however your client may want you to have Public Liability Insurance  before awarding you a contract or even allowing you access to the site

Best practice:

Whether you are a commercial or residential tradesman due to

  • the physical demands of the work involved,
  • the extensive use of power assisted equipment and machinery,
  • working at heights,
  • working below ground level,
  • digging trenches with the potential hazard of not knowing the whereabouts of power cables, drains etc.

Public Liability Insurance protects you against compensation demands, when you are working at your customers’ premises should you cause damage to their own property or injure their personnel or customers. Accidents and mishaps do occur in your field of work and as such the industry recommends that you buy, for your peace of mind, Public Liability Insurance Cover.

This policy will cover you against unforeseen circumstances that could put your business and personal wealth at risk should a claim for compensation be made against you.  If successful the compensation award could be substantial and more than likely will put a strain on your finances, threatening your livelihood and your personal assets. Personal assets include your own home.

Furthermore, should you in the future employ someone to work for you, then you need Employers Liability Insurance which is required by law

Employers Liability Insurance, covers you should any member of your staff suffer an injury at your workplace or while working away at your customer’s premises as a result of their work or duties. This cover does not replace Public liability Insurance and it does not cover the public.

Public LiabilityI am a Tradesman with any number of Employees:

  • A Builder (Commercial or residential)
  • An Electrician
  • A Plasterer
  • A Plumber
  • A Roofer

There is no legal requirement for you to have this insurance cover however your client’s may want you to have it before awarding you a contract or even allowing you access to the site.

Best practice:

Whether you are a commercial or residential tradesman due to

  • the physical demands of the work involved,
  • the extensive use of power assisted equipment and machinery
  • working at heights
  • working below ground
  • digging grounds with hidden power cables, utility ducts, water gas or sewage.

Accidents and mishaps do occur in your field of work and environment and as such the industry recommends that you buy for your peace of mind a Public Liability Insurance Policy. That will cover you against unforeseen circumstances which could put your business at risk should a claim for compensation be made against you personally.  If successful the compensation award could be substantial and more than likely put a strain on the your finances threatening your livelihood and your personal assets. Personal assets include your own home.

Furthermore, Public Liability Insurance protects you against compensation demands, when you are working at your customers’ premises should you or any of your employees cause damage to their own property or injure their personnel or customers.

As you are an employer you need Employers Liability Insurance which is required by law.

Employers Liability Insurance, covers the company should any member of its staff suffer an injury in the workplace or away from the workplace at customer’s premises as a result of their work or duties. This cover does not replace Public Liability Insurance and it will not cover the public

Public LiabilityI am an Events Organiser:

Such as Indoors or outdoors, exhibition, show, market or fayre.

Best practice:

Due to various tasks involved in organizing an event and the potential of things going wrong such as:

  • Damages to equipment and property
  • Injuries and illnesses to Entertainers, Exhibitors, Speakers, Sub-contractors, and Suppliers
  • Trips and falls, claims made by members of the public
  • Volunteers and Staff issues
  • Reduced attendance or Cancellation of events due to weather conditions

Public Liability Insurance protects you against compensation demands which arise as a result of and in connection with the event. This policy can be tailored to add

  • Cancellation cover,
  • Employers Liability
  • Property Damage

If you employ someone to work for you whether full time or part time, then you need  Employers Liability Insurance which is required by law.

  • Employers Liability Insurance, covers you should any member of your staff suffer an injury at your workplace or while working at the venue as a result of their work or duties. This cover does not replace Public liability Insurance and it does not cover the public.

Public Liability


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