Tradesman: Artexers Insurance

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Diamond Drillers Liability Insurance

Modern drilling machinery can cut through concrete, masonry and stone like a knife through butter without the vibration, noise and dust of conventional construction plant.

There are very few structures where you won't find evidence of diamond drilling works and the trade is often allied with the building and construction industry.

Diamond drilling contractors and sub-contractors work in every kind of environment: construction sites, offices, shopping centres, hospitals, hotels, schools, roads and docks.

Public Liability Cover

From small jobs such as wall chasing work in a shop premises to demolishing bridges or reinforcing sea walls, each job brings its own risk due to the potential for damage to property and injury to people in the vicinity.

Public liability insurance is designed to protect your business if you cause accidental injury to people or property at the sites you work on.

If you supply specialist drilling, sawing and demolition services then plant maintenance will be crucial to your success, as will strict adherence to health and safety considerations. Insurers do not cover claims due to negligence or deliberate harm.

Demanding Contractors

Often drilling contractors are given short notice of a contract start date - sometimes just 48 hours or less.

Special Considerations

Strict deadlines mean that failure of a concrete cruncher or robotic demolition machine could lose you the contract or incur heavy financial penalties, so it may be worth considering Performance Bond Insurance.

Check your policy for height and depth restrictions too. You'll probably need a hazardous location extension if you work in ports, docks, railways, etc.

If you're working in close proximity to other properties, it might be a condition of the policy that you take out insurance to cover damage to neighbouring buildings.

Diamond drillers can carry out complete demolition projects - so ensure the policy covers you for this as some insurers cover demolition works but only if they are part of a rebuilding contract.

You'll also probably rely heavily on subcontractors - gas and electrical contractors, waste disposal companies and skip hirers. Insurance clauses usually require you to check they have valid insurance otherwise you'll be in the frame if they make a mistake.

Employers Liability Cover

Employers liability insurance protects your business's legal liabilities to meet claims from employees made ill, are injured or die as a result of their employment. Employees include anyone who works for you, including contract workers and apprentices. Labour-only subcontractors are generally considered employees. If you hire bona fide sub-contractors ensure that the legal relationship between you and them is crystal clear, i.e. it is a contract for service as opposed to a contract of service.

Things that could go wrong:

• A worker is fatally injured when his clothing becomes entangled in a rotating drill rod
• A workman is left with serious first degree burns after drilling through a live underground power cable and nearby properties are left without power

The Ground Forum (GF)

The Ground Forum (GF) is the industry voice for ground engineering sector.

Members include British Drilling Association, British Tunnelling Association, Federation of Piling Specialists, British Geotechnical Association and Pipe Jacking Association.

The Drilling & Sawing Association represents the diamond drilling and sawing industry. drillandsaw.co.uk