Injury at Work – The Risk and Cost

Insuring your business and the people who work for you is just common sense. Besides, the obligation you have towards your employees, claims for compensation for sickness or injuries in the workplace, can be huge. But your employees may not be the only ones who work in your business premises. What about contractors and their subcontractors?

It Could Happen To You

Compensation to employees of contractors and their sub-contractors who are injured while working at site is a complicated and often contentious issue. The contractor may claim that all the required coverages are in place, but if an accident occurs and they are not, the liability could fall on you, and the primary employer. That is what happened recently at the new Tesla electric vehicle plant. A worker of a subcontractor working on the expansion of the factory was injured while on the job. It soon emerged that the subcontractor was in violation of employment laws and in breach of regulations regarding wages, overtime and workers comp.

Tesla had no knowledge of this, but when the facts came to light, they were dragged to court along with the subcontractor. The end result? The injured employee was awarded a $550,000 settlement.

Tesla is a huge organization with a vast amount of financial muscle. They will be able to absorb the monetary shock of the settlement. But what if something similar happened to you? The courts do not award settlement based on the ability of the employer to pay. It is on the basis of the amount of injury and the liability for it. In the Tesla case, the worker had fractured legs and ribs and a concussion. These are major injuries but, sadly, not uncommon in such cases. Would you be able to absorb a half million dollar payout? Or would that ruin you?

Get the Protection You Need

The vast number of insurance products available can be confusing to anyone who is not an insurance professional. Many business owners think they have the coverage they need when they do not. Part of the reason is the confusion that exists about coverage types. For example a person may read about employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) coverage and presume that since he has liability coverage, he is already protected. Not so. Liability coverage and EPLI are different and both are critical to protecting your business.

Remember that insurance is not a gamble, a luxury or just an expense. It is the shield that will protect you when you are faced with liabilities that could ruin you and your business.

When business imperatives demand that contractors need to be employed, the amount of paper work involved can be voluminous. Issues like workers compensation can easily fall through the cracks.Therefore, you as the principle employer must ensure that the contractors provide proof of their insurance coverage and that they add you as an additional insured party on the policy so that you are not in the firing line if things go wrong. In addition talk to your insurance agent to understand your possible liability and the claims that could be raised against you and get the insurance coverage you need to protect yourself and your business. If you do not have workers comp, liability coverages and EPLI you are leaving yourself dangerously exposed.