If you’re an arborist or another similar tree service professional, you know that you face several different types of risks on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s essential that you protect yourself from these liabilities. One of the most effective ways to do this is by purchasing insurance. Here is a close look at insurance for arborists.
Essential Insurance Coverages For Arborists
There are two types of insurance coverages that every arborist or tree care professional (including landscapers) should carry:
General Liability
General liability coverage protects you against common business-related liabilities, such as a customer who becomes injured on your property, advertising injuries, and property damage. By acquiring such coverage, you can significantly reduce the cost of resolving lawsuits and secure more contracts and leases. Trees can cause severe injuries and property damage during storms like hurricanes, so it’s especially critical to have general liability insurance if you work in an area where storms occur frequently.
Workers’ Compensation
Many arborists often work in high locations (that reach over 100 feet for certain trees). These professionals also frequently use heavy or dangerous tools and equipment, like chainsaws and can also become injured by animals or other workers’ negligence. Therefore, the likelihood of accidents in this field is high. According to St. Louis-based tree care company Jackson Tree Service, there were 1,040 non-fatal and 53 fatal injuries among 100,000 workers in the United States in 2017.
Tree service workers also face the risk of suffering illnesses related to their use of pesticides and other hazardous materials. Thus, it’s imperative that you acquire workers’ comp insurance to protect your employees. Nearly every state requires this type of coverage for businesses with at least two employees, but the exact laws vary by state, so be sure to do your research.
Other Coverages Arborists Should Have
While additional coverage is always an option, these policies would benefit any arborist.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Most commercial auto insurance policies cover accidents involving vehicles that an arborist business owns (cars, trucks, etc.). Specifically, your policy can cover any damages or medical bills resulting from a crash, as well as damages arising from theft, vandalism, or weather-related incidents (for more comprehensive policies).
Contractor’s Tools and Equipment Insurance
This type of policy covers equipment such as climbing gear and chain saws that can be damaged, stolen, or lost on the job.
Business Interruption Insurance
Sometimes, arborist or landscaping companies are forced to shut down due to an unexpected event, such as a natural disaster or a pandemic. In these cases, business interruption insurance will help cover routine costs like rent and utilities.
Property In Transit
This type of policy covers commercial items that become damaged during a shipment.
Cyber Liability Coverage
If you conduct some of your arborist or landscape business operations online, this coverage is critical. A cyber liability policy can help cover risks associated with loss of data caused by viruses and hardware theft, which has become extremely common in today’s world. It can also typically pay for costs tied to public relations, lawsuits, and alerting victims.
Crime Coverage
Arborist and landscaping businesses can be victims of loss due to theft (including incidents of employees stealing) and forgery just like almost any other type of organization. A crime coverage policy can shield your company from these kinds of incidents.
An experienced agent can help you obtain an arborist insurance policy that matches your unique needs and budget. Be sure to evaluate your needs and goals before purchasing a policy, however, and keep in mind that your premiums will likely depend on factors such as your location, the size of your business (revenue and total number of employees), and your history of claims.
Speak To The Arborist Insurance Experts
Reach out to the professionals at John M. Glover to learn more about arborist insurance and its benefits. Since 1916, we’ve been dedicated to providing high-quality insurance solutions to clients throughout Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. As an independent agency, we work closely with many well-known and reliable insurance firms.
If you own an arborist or landscaping business, we strongly recommend that you purchase arborist insurance. At JMG, we understand the risks associated with this type of company and are prepared to protect you from these liabilities. Our policies include coverages such as general liability, workers’ comp, commercial auto, and contractors’ tools and equipment insurance. The cost of your policy may vary based on factors such as your business’s location, the type of services you offer, the number of employees you hire, and your total revenue.
Call JMG Insurance Agency today or contact us online for more information about our arborist insurance policies.