Working as a contractor is just as rewarding as an office or a 9-to-5 job for some people. Contractors own their time and do not answer to a boss. Contractors run their own businesses. Even if they work with partners, they still have the freedom to work on their terms.
However, just like any business, a contracting company also has to ensure that it can pull in regular clients and attract new ones day in and day out. Owning a contracting business also means taking care of expenses and investments and ensuring that all assets, including its employees, are safe and in perfect condition. The contractor’s responsibility is to keep everyone protected from all the risks and dangers they may encounter while doing contracting work. It is vital for anyone in the contracting industry to have reliable contractor insurance.
With an insurance plan, contractors are guaranteed protection if anything untoward or unexpected happens during work hours and within the work premises. Contracting work is quite physical, so injuries and accidents are expected. However, the work hazards that contractors face daily are numerous and of a variety. Here are some of the most common contractor work hazards:
Natural disasters
Natural disasters are unpredictable. You never know when a hurricane, earthquake, tornadoes, or flooding will happen. If any of these occur during workdays, accidents and injuries are inevitable unless the entire workforce is safe and protected.
Equipment damage (such as displaced scaffoldings)
One of the most common causes of contractor workplace accidents and injuries is equipment or material damage. Some examples of this are displaced scaffoldings and damaged or wrong ladders. Over 4,000 contractor workers report scaffolding-related injuries every year, and ladders account for more or less 24,800 injuries annually.
Faulty or substandard work
Substandard work, especially in active construction sites, present risks to contractors. How many times have you heard of news reports about a contractor getting injured onsite because of loose wiring or faulty roofing?
Electrical hazards
Contractors working in construction sites are exposed to blasts, shocks, and other electrical hazards. Power lines should be kept at a safe distance to prevent such accidents from happening.
Vehicular hazards (i.e., forklifts, cranes, and any other heavy vehicles)
Contracting work often involves big moving vehicles like forklifts and cranes. If these vehicles are not properly operated and left unattended, they can cause serious accidents.
Falls
Falls probably cause more than 50% of contractor accidents and injuries. Although there is protective gear for workers, getting extra protection is essential to avoid such incidents from inflicting additional problems to contractors.
Hazardous materials (such as chemical spills and toxic materials)
Contractors are also often exposed to hazardous materials like chemical spills and toxic wastes. Aside from getting proper training for such dangerous situations, it is also essential for contractors to wear protective equipment. If the risks mentioned above are not enough to convince you to get contractor’s insurance, check out this infographic we prepared for you. Our illustrated discussion will show you more reasons why contractors should have insurance.
