Public Liability & Employers Liability

Although not a legal requirement, Public Liability Insurance is essential no matter how small or large your business and is particularly important for businesses that work with or come into close contact with members of the public. Public Liability protects your business against legal liability claims arising from injury to third party person or damage to third party property where you are proven negligent. Incidents can occur anywhere and at any time, from an employee carrying a marquee pole and accidentally knocking over a client’s garden ornament to a client visiting the office and tripping over a loose bit of carpet and breaking their wrist.

Employers have a legal obligation to carry Employers Liability Insurance which indemnifies the employer in respect of injury to its employees for which it is legally responsible. An employee is deemed to be any individual under a contract of service or apprenticeship with the insured, whether the contract is actual or implied.

There is a common misconception that Employers Liability is not required for subcontracted labour. For Marquee Companies this is invariably not the case because under the terms of the relevant law, if the employer has direct control over the activities of such persons or provides tools or equipment for them to use, then the employer can be liable. Employers Liability is not normally required in respect of ‘Bona Fide’ contractors, who will complete a given job without supervision, using their own tools and equipment. Typically, these jobs will form part of the overall contract, for example, provision of an erected marquee, installation of lighting or sound systems, or catering. It is important to ensure that these contractors have their own appropriate insurance cover in force.

The legal penalties of failing to effect adequate Employers Liability insurance are severe, but perhaps even more significant are the implications of the potential cost of a successful claim against an uninsured company. In an increasingly litigious society, personal injury claims are becoming frequent and of greater magnitude.

In some cases, contracts will require a business to hold a Public Liability limit greater than £5 million regardless of trade.

Excess layer is a separate policy designed to provide an increase limit of liability on top of your primary insurance cover making it a cost-effective way to be protected and fulfil any contract requirements.

If you are manufacturing or supplying (retailing) products, products liability should be considered essential. Let’s say for example, you manufacture chairs and one of the chairs you have sold is defective and as a result the chair collapses underneath someone and they are injured. Products Liability protects your business against the injury claim as a result.

Commercial Combined Insurance is a single policy specifically designed to protect your business against the risks associated with the day to day running of it.

At CoverMarque we focus heavily on our service ensuring we understand exactly what your business does and that you understand exactly what you are covered for.

We will work closely with you to create you a tailored policy with one of our A Rated Insurers that combines a range of essential covers into one policy with one renewal date.