Q: What is public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance protects your business against claims by third parties for damage to their property or physical injuries your business may be liable for. Examples include injury to members of the public caused by the methods of pest control you use, such as someone getting a hand caught in a trap, or chemical damage caused to property. Public liability claims are common. As a result, most large organisations will insist you have public liability cover before they will work with you.

Q: What is employers’ liability insurance?

Employers’ liability insurance protects you against claims made by an employee or former employee for harm or illness suffered while working for you. If you have any employees, even if they are part timers or trainees, you must have employers’ liability cover. You can be fined for every day you don’t have it, when you should.

Q: What is professional indemnity insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance protects your business if you give professional advice which turns out to be negligent, causing the client a financial loss. This might be advice about different control methods and techniques, or the equipment to be used.

Question 1

What additional insurance do I need for pest and vermin control?

Accepted Answer

Pest and vermin controllers need to consider robust professional insurance, just like any other business. However, it’s not always easy to know whether you need basic insurance or additional cover to ensure you and your business are properly protected.

Question 2

What are the main types of insurance I need?

Accepted Answer

There are three main types of cover you will need to consider:

public liability insurance
employers’ liability insurance
professional indemnity insurance

Question 3

What is public liability insurance?

Accepted Answer

Public liability insurance protects your business against claims by third parties for damage to their property or physical injuries your business may be liable for.

Examples include injury to members of the public caused by the methods of pest control you use, such as someone getting a hand caught in a trap, or chemical damage caused to property.

Public liability claims are common. As a result, most large organisations will insist you have public liability cover before they will work with you.

Question 4

What is employers’ liability insurance?

Accepted Answer

Employers’ liability insurance protects you against claims made by an employee or former employee for harm or illness suffered while working for you.

If you have any employees, even if they are part timers or trainees, you must have employers’ liability cover. You can be fined for every day you don’t have it, when you should.

Question 5

What is professional indemnity insurance?

Accepted Answer

Professional indemnity insurance protects your business if you give professional advice which turns out to be negligent, causing the client a financial loss. This might be advice about different control methods and techniques, or the equipment to be used.

Question 6

What additional insurance do I need for pest and vermin control?

Accepted Answer

There are a few other types of insurance you may need as a pest and vermin controller. First, you should consider insurance for your tools. That way, if they are lost or stolen, you will be able to get them replaced quickly so you can get back to work.

You should also make sure you have proper vehicle insurance for your van, if you have one, as your personal car insurance won’t usually cover you for work.

If you have premises that you work from, you must make sure they are properly insured too. Finally, you may wish to consider insurance cover for things like jury service or legal expenses, which may otherwise result in a significant drain on you or your business’ resources.