Employers’ liability insurance is one of a few compulsory insurances. Companies that employ one or more members of staff, whether paid or volunteers, require this cover.
Employers’ liability policies cover claims made against your company in the event of accident, injury, or illness sustained by your staff at work or as a result of work.
Cover for employees
Cover for volunteers and work experience/interns
Cover for family members
The Alan Boswell Group Difference
Alan Boswell Group is one of the UK’s top independent insurance brokers and can offer your company impartial advice about the types of insurance your business needs and the appropriate levels of cover you should consider. Employers’ liability is a fundamental part of protecting your business and we will work with you to ensure this and all other relevant business risks are covered while providing a competitive service.
Very attentive service. Knowledgeable, friendly, efficient brokers.
Mr Moore - Combined Liability insurance
Key points
After purchasing an employers’ liability policy, your Certificate of Employers’ Liability Insurance must be displayed in a prominent position within each of your business premises. Alternatively, the certificate can be made available to employees in an electronic format. Please note that failure to display or produce the current certificate to either the Health & Safety Executive or Local Authority may result in your prosecution and a fine being imposed. There is no longer a legal requirement to retain old certificates, however we do recommend that you maintain a record of your employers’ liability history for reference purposes.
Following purchase of your employers’ liability policy you will be required to provide your ERN (Employer Reference Number) to your insurance provider in order to log your insurance details with the Employers Liability Trading Office database in order to make it easier for an employee to make a claim if required in the future.
If you are employing people and don’t take out employers’ liability insurance you could face a considerable fine for every day that you don’t have cover in place.
FAQs
£5,000,000 is the minimum legal requirement, although most policies will cover you for £10,000,000.
The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 requires all employers to have employers’ liability cover. There are some exemptions, such as publicly funded organisations, nationalised industries and certain family/individually owned businesses. Our experts will be able to advise you on the cover you require.
Employers’ liability insurance covers everyone who is defined as an “employee” under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. This definition is wider than you would normally define “employee” as because it will include work experience/interns and volunteers.
The following examples are scenarios that would be covered:
Scenario one: Employee who operates machinery injures themselves because incorrect protective clothing was issued.
Scenario two: Employee whose job involves heavy lifting hurts themselves because they have not received manual handling training.
Scenario three: Employee trips over some carpet that had come loose and breaks their arm. The employer knew about the carpet but it was not repaired.
Yes, no matter how long you employ staff for you must have employers’ liability insurance.
This varies according to the terms of their contract. If they are “labour-only” employees then you need employers’ liability insurance because they are working under your instruction, using your tools and materials. If they are “bonafide” and work under their own direction, using their own tools and materials, you should not need employers’ liability insurance.
Sean joined Alan Boswell Group straight from college at the age of 18, initially working in the claims department where he provided administration assistance to…
Richard has more than 25 years industry experience after working for a variety of insurance brokers and insurers in the region. He gained valuable insight…
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