Freelancer/Subcontractor Insurance

[skyhuck]

11 hours ago, openspaceman said:

Keeping this only to public and employers liability; what is actually covered if an employee, labour only or free lance employee or  sub contractor is injured or injures someone?

 

As I understand it for injuries at work the insurance only covers an employer for his negligence. So if an employee injures himself through no fault of the employer no payout. If the injury happens as a result of the negligence of another employer then it is settled by insurance.

 

I kept personal life insurance till my youngest child was 18 as well as mortgage insurance in case my injuries were my fault (they were).

IME, they will find a way of making it the employers fault.

 

I had a subbie groundie working for me. Only the third day he had ever worked for me. I was dropping a Pop on the boundary of a school playing field. Some branches went over the other side of a small fence, The lad climbed over the fence to retrieve the branches. Upon returning over the fence. Rather than throwing a leg over the fence and then swinging the other leg over, supporting his body with his hands on the top of the fence, as I would have done and did go on to do later. He stood on top of the fence, his trousers got caught in an upright, he fell forward and broke his leg. No-win-no-fee claim landed. It was decided I was 60% responsible for the accident, as I had failed to proved fence climbing training or a ladder.

 Whole thing cost £18K, I think he got £10K.

 

 My premiums did rise, but not massively. Although back then (2004 I think) there were very few insurance providers for our industry and prices were crazy. I think I was paying £6.5K for £150K turnover. 

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

3 hours ago, skyhuck said:

IME, they will find a way of making it the employers fault.

 

I had a subbie groundie working for me. Only the third day he had ever worked for me. I was dropping a Pop on the boundary of a school playing field. Some branches went over the other side of a small fence, The lad climbed over the fence to retrieve the branches. Upon returning over the fence. Rather than throwing a leg over the fence and then swinging the other leg over, supporting his body with his hands on the top of the fence, as I would have done and did go on to do later. He stood on top of the fence, his trousers got caught in an upright, he fell forward and broke his leg. No-win-no-fee claim landed. It was decided I was 60% responsible for the accident, as I had failed to proved fence climbing training or a ladder.

 Whole thing cost £18K, I think he got £10K.

 

 My premiums did rise, but not massively. Although back then (2004 I think) there were very few insurance providers for our industry and prices were crazy. I think I was paying £6.5K for £150K turnover. 

Only, 'as a matter of interest', was the fence mentioned / included in the site risk assessment as a potential hazard etc. and, if so, did that mitigate your responsibility at all? 

If not, coz it was bl**dy obvious, do you feel it may have helped your cause if it was included? (benefit of hindsight n all that) 

Thanks..

Paul

[skyhuck]

1 minute ago, AA Teccie (Paul) said:

Only, 'as a matter of interest', was the fence mentioned / included in the site risk assessment as a potential hazard etc. and, if so, did that mitigate your responsibility at all? 

If not, coz it was bl**dy obvious, do you feel it may have helped your cause if it was included? (benefit of hindsight n all that) 

Thanks..

Paul

Only 3 of us on site, so no written RA. If there had been one I could not have put “trained in fence climbing”🤣 He was not asked to climb the fence. 
 I’ve just come to accept that I’m responsible for the actions of anyone under my direction. The time of personal responsibility and common sense is long past. Just make sure your properly insured. Or better still just do everything yourself 🙂

[eggsarascal]

10 minutes ago, skyhuck said:

Only 3 of us on site, so no written RA. If there had been one I could not have put “trained in fence climbing”🤣 He was not asked to climb the fence. 
 I’ve just come to accept that I’m responsible for the actions of anyone under my direction. The time of personal responsibility and common sense is long past. Just make sure your properly insured. Or better still just do everything yourself 🙂

Shortage of common sense, surely not?

[Khriss]

Any and All site hazards should be identified. Work perimeter should be noted. Not sure if these arguements are on responsibility or decision to short cut. Either way it makes paperwork indefensible or a claim undefendable. K

[Paddy1000111]

57 minutes ago, skyhuck said:

Only 3 of us on site, so no written RA. If there had been one I could not have put “trained in fence climbing”🤣 He was not asked to climb the fence. 
 I’ve just come to accept that I’m responsible for the actions of anyone under my direction. The time of personal responsibility and common sense is long past. Just make sure your properly insured. Or better still just do everything yourself 🙂

Does someone offer a training course in "fence climbing". I would imagine it's a required qualification for house burglars and pursuing cops so it must exist 😂

 

Just goes to show though. I've never put in a claim for an injury at work. My friends have had car crashes before and their "Friends" that were in the car at the time put in injury/whiplash claims behind their back though. Its amazing how people change when they get a little whiff of cash.