Get quotes for public liability, professional indemnity, tools and employers' liability insurance for UK scaffolders — quotes are provided directly by FCA-authorised insurers, not by us.
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Every trade faces unique risks. Here's what could go wrong and why the right cover matters.
A scaffold doesn't just put your own crew at height — it puts the public underneath, beside and sometimes inside it. The claims below are some of the most common and the most serious that scaffolders face.
Boards, poles, couplers and tools can fall from a working platform onto whoever or whatever is below, even with toe boards and netting in place. This is one of the most frequent sources of public liability claims in scaffolding, and severity can be high regardless of how the incident happened.
Erecting, altering and dismantling a scaffold all involve repeated work at height, often before edge protection is fully in place. Employers' liability cover responds if an employee or labour-only subcontractor you direct is injured this way.
Scaffolds are frequently erected over or beside a public path, meaning pedestrians pass directly underneath your work every day the structure stands. A licence from the local council may be needed for a footpath closure or hoarding, and public liability cover needs to reflect that the scaffold itself is the ongoing risk, not just the moment you're working on it.
An erected scaffold can give an opportunist access to upper-floor windows, balconies or roofs that would otherwise be out of reach. If a break-in happens via your scaffold, the property owner may look to you, which is why some sites — particularly occupied homes or higher-value premises — call for scaffold alarms or CCTV for the duration of the contract.
A strong policy covers the specific risks of your trade — from site accidents to equipment theft and client disputes.
Covers legal costs and compensation if a client or third party is injured or has property damaged during your work. Most builders and contractors require you to hold this before starting on site.
Covers your tools against theft from a van or site, and accidental damage. Tool theft is one of the most common claims for tradespeople — check the limit carefully.
Legally required if you employ anyone — including casual workers or labour-only subcontractors you direct on site. Minimum £5 million cover required by law.
Covers work in progress on site against damage from fire, flood, theft or accidental damage before it's handed over to the client. Essential for large or long-running jobs.
Covers owned or hired-in plant and machinery on site — diggers, cherry pickers, compressors and specialist equipment.
Covers legal costs for contract disputes, debt recovery, HMRC investigations and employment tribunal defence.
A few things worth checking before you buy, whichever UK insurer or broker you compare.
Check the limit matches what your contracts, landlord or clients require — common tiers are £1m, £2m, £5m and £10m depending on trade and risk.
Professional and liability covers are often "claims-made" — cover depends on holding a live policy when a claim is made, not just when the work happened.
Read what's excluded, not just what's covered. Sub-contractor work, specific activities, or work carried out overseas are common gaps.
Before buying, confirm any insurer or broker is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority — check the register at register.fca.org.uk.
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