Q On Insurance, Not Usual Question

Mike(VA)

Ok, I tend to be a bit paranoid. Goes back to the days when I would occassionally set of smoke alarms in hotels at 2am doing pest control. Add to that my tendencies for safety after living on an aircraft carrier flight deck for a couple of years.

Anyway, my question for other GC's is this: Do you restrict access to job sites for people other than your covered employees and subs? For example, do you just assume that the following people have proper insurance? Subs coming to give estimates, archys and engineers, suppliers making deliveries, neighbors or friends of the ho, porta potty cleaner, and assorted others who may (justifiably) wander onto your site. I admit I do not ask suppliers and occassional others for certs. Any one of these people could get hurt and my insurance policy is murky on this.

Also, how far down the foodchain do you go to get certs? Subs of all tiers I understand but what about every supplier? I could assume that Stock Building Supply has all the proper insurance but who knows? A crane operator tips over onto a neighbors house, they sue them and find out their insurance lapsed last month? I know they are coming after me but is there something more I should have done than 'just assumed?"

Don't say "Welcome to the world of a GC, cause I know that I am the big target. I am just looking for advise on things I can or should be doing to minimize those exposures.

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I EXPECT THAT SOMEDAY I WILL SEE THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR. IS IT SOMEDAY YET?
Clifton, Great Falls, McLean, Fairfax Station, Manassas, Virginia Renovation Contractor

Chris Johnson

When I was working as a super, all subs had to submit all insurance certs, both WC and GL, the office would hound them 15 days prior to experation and do so daily until they received confirmation all was back in order. As for visitors and guests, subs giving estimates, whatever, someone would meet them at the front of the subdivision and have them sign a release of liability and hand them a hard hat.

You can't protect yourself 100%, but you can damn well try like hell to limit it the best you can. Being over cautious is better than losing everything. Your insurance broker is the best person for advice as to what you should or should not do.

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Chris