Contractors who work with hazardous substances on a regular basis, as well as consultants who assess the effects of contaminants, have always required specialized coverage. As the environmental insurance marketplace has expanded, many of these firms have found that coverage is readily available. As an agent or wholesaler, your challenge and opportunity, is deciding if the coverage is right for your insured and if it will bring them the greatest protection and advantages.
Claim scenarios for environmental contractors.
One of the first steps in PartnerOne Environmental’s process is to determine whether an account has enough of an environmental exposure to be considered an environmental risk. We usually consider an insured “environmental” if they have a minimum of 25% environmental operations. Contracting and consulting operations that fit this category include, but are not limited to:
- Asbestos abatement
- Environmental consulting
- Wastewater treatment plant operations/maintenance
- Air monitoring
- Regulatory compliance/permitting services
- Mold Inspection and abatement
- Soil/groundwater remediation
- Lead abatement
- Storage tank contractors
- Emergency response
- Analytical laboratories
- Fire & water restoration
- Industrial cleaning
- Biosolid application
- Environmental drilling/sampling
Here are some of the types of insurances environmental contractors and consultants should consider:
GL/Contractors Pollution Liability/E&O
PartnerOne Package is a combined form offered through the PartnerOne Environmental program. It provides General Liability coverage, as well as Contractors Pollution Liability and Professional Liability when applicable. Available product enhancements include: Blanket Additional Insured Coverage for General Liability and Contractors Pollution Liability coverage parts, Blanket Waiver of Subrogation, Primary and Non-Contributory, Employee Benefits Liability, Mold Coverage, Transportation Pollution Liability, Natural Resources Damage, and Follow Form Excess Liability via a separate policy, from the same carrier.
Product information sheet (PDF)
Site Pollution Liability
Site Pollution Liability insurance, also known as Premises Pollution, Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL insurance), and Pollution Legal Liability (PLL), is designed to cover claims arising from pollution releases at, on, or emanating from a specific scheduled location. Examples may include a contractor’s equipment yard or a self storage facility.
Product information sheet (PDF)
Workers Compensation
A Workers Compensation policy provides coverage for an employer’s exposure arising out of job-related injury/death resulting from an accident or occupational disease sustained by employees. PartnerOne Workers Compensation must be bound in conjunction with a Product information sheet (PDF)
Auto
Automobile insurance coverage is typically required for most businesses; an Auto policy including Pollution is an ISO based Auto form including broadened pollution endorsements and any motor carrier filings. PartnerOne Auto must be bound in conjunction with a PartnerOne Package policy.
Product information sheet (PDF)
Follow Form Excess Liability
If underlying General Liability, Pollution and/or Professional Liability is offered via PartnerOne, a Follow Form Excess policy is also available. The Follow Form XS will go over the qualifying environmental coverage lines, as well as the underlying Auto and Employers Liability if applicable.
Standard insurance carriers usually either don’t want to write or aren’t equipped to properly write the coverages listed above that environmental risks may need. Further, please also keep in mind that packaging these coverages with PartnerOne Environmental can produce some advantages for the environmental contractor:
- The insured can often get package credits for binding more than one line of coverage and a combined form also eliminates or lessens the chance there will be a gap in coverage.
- If there is a gray area, it is usually easier to determine whether it is a GL, Pollution, or Professional claim, but if there are two carriers involved, claims handling becomes more complicated.
- Writing multiple lines with PartnerOne Environmental will also help retain the account at renewal.
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