Pollution and Environmental Liability Insurance for Excavation Contractors
If you operate an excavation contracting business in Denver or Colorado you may have exposures to environmental risks that are not addressed in your commercial general liability policy. Most general liability policies exclude pollution losses that your entity could come across in the regular course of business. Orcutt Insurance Group can help protect your business and meet contractual obligations. We are a local independent agency that has been helping Colorado contractors protect their businesses from potential liability since 2004. Please contact us to discuss liability and your company.
Potential Exposures
- Disturbing or exacerbating existing pollutants – exposures include digging into an unknown pocket of contaminated soil, disturbing an old storage tank, or cutting a poorly marked utility. Unfortunately even if you do everything by the book Federal and State laws could still hold you liable.
- Naturally occurring substances – disturbing or uncovering pollutants that are naturally in the soil.
- Job site pollution – caused by materials brought to the site including fuel for the equipment and conditions caused by operations such as run off to a stream that kills fish.
- Operations of subcontractors for which the contractor is responsible – If you hire subcontractors you can run the risk of being held responsible for pollution conditions from the subbed out work. If they have inadequate coverage your company could be liable.
- Over the road pollution – Transport of coatings, paints, lacquers and stains or old windows and other materials with lead paint could lead to a cleanup and third party claims.
- Exposures at your place of business – claims could arise from storage of equipment, vehicles, fuel, adhesives, stains, etc. could lead to clean up, decreased of property value and bodily injury claims.
Policies Available to Protect on Top of General Liability
- Contractors Pollution Liability – bodily injury and property damage protection stemming from operations performed by or on behalf of the insured
- Transportation Pollution Liability – protection while on the road
It is important to note that if you have environmental risk you not only should purchase the product but require your sub-contractors to purchase as well. The contractors with the greatest exposure should have environmental policies in place and be contractually required to keep them in place after the project is completed.
We are looking forward to discussing pollution/environmental liability insurance and your business. In addition to these products we can help with general liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, bonds, inland marine, and any other product you may need. Please visit our excavating contractor page for more information.
Thank you for your consideration.
The Orcutt Group Team