What is completed operations and why does my Colorado construction company need it?
What type of insurance does a Colorado or Denver construction business need? One, if not the, most important insurance policy provision is completed operations liability. The information below should help you understand liability insurance to not only protect from potential liabilities but to meet requirements of contracts. Please contact us to discuss insurance and your contracting or construction company.
Completed Operations Liability and Obligations – Information for Denver and Colorado Construction and Contractors
Even quality workmanship is not immune to potential claims of property damage or bodily injury. All operations carry the risk that injury or damage may occur as a result of the work, leading to costly lawsuits. Considering the complicated mix of contractors and subcontractors that contributes to each project, who is liable for this risk?
Defining Responsibility
In insurance terms, “your work” as used in an insurance policy is a broadly defined term that includes operations performed by the policyholder or on the policyholder’s behalf, including material, parts or equipment in connection with the operations. Operations or work performed on behalf of the policyholder means work done by a subcontractor is considered the contractor’s work. Therefore, faulty electrical work performed by an electrician that causes a fire or other damage could be considered the contractor’s liability, but would be covered under a standard commercial general liability (CGL) policy.
Contract Requirements
Because a contractor or other involved party could be held liable for defects in a subcontractor’s work years after it has been completed, and filing the claim under the contractor’s CGL policy could cause the premium to rise, many construction contracts require subcontractors to provide insurance coverage for claims resulting from their completed work for a finite period of time, typically the one- to five-year range. Typical contracts also require that the subcontractor name the owner, the architect, the general contractor and other third parties as “additional insured” parties, entitled to coverage under the insured subcontractor’s CGL policy. Naming additional insured parties requires a separate endorsement to that policy.
Contract Implications
This means that as a subcontractor, you can be held liable for claims of property damage or bodily injury resulting from a defect in your work. It is also critical to maintain this coverage into the future; failure to do so could lead to a breach-of-contract lawsuit brought by the contractor or other party.
It is important to understand this commitment when signing the contract – the insurance commitment doesn’t end with the project. Further, in the event of a large claim, the subcontractor could be faced with a substantial increase in premiums on the policy.
Reducing Risk
What can you do to reduce the risk of a claim being filed against you for a defect in your completed work? To avoid litigation, it is crucial to know local regulations and adequately document proper performance. Know your company’s documentation practices relative to each subcontract, and carefully keep records of all processes.
Respecting the Contract
It is crucial for subcontractors to respect this requirement if included in the contract. Failure to do so could result in breach-of-contract lawsuits. Naming additional insured parties can be complicated, and it is very important to work closely with Orcutt Insurance Group to ensure that your contractual obligations are satisfied. We can help your business with general liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, builders risk, coverage for tools and equipment, professional liability, and many other insurance products.
We hope you found the information above useful. Please feel free to contact us for any of your insurance needs.
Thank you for your consideration.
The Orcutt Group Team