Business Insurance for Tree Loppers

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Business Insurance for Tree Loppers and Arborists*

Tree loppers and arborists need business insurance , including public liability insurance as tree lopping and tree maintenance is high liability work ,with frequent accident on sites.

People and property on site may be hurt or damaged due to accidents involving tree lopping and tree maintenance work.

Working from heights over 5 and 10 meters , is particularly risky , and result in many claims against tree loppers for property damage or personal injury.

When working from heights, falling tree branches can damage power lines, vehicles ,houses or cause injury to a homeowner.

Fortunately, suitable business insurance for tree loppers and arborists may provide protection against financial hardships that could arise from accidents, property damage, or legal claims caused by your tree lopping business activities.

Tree lopping business and public liability insurance may cover property damage, injuries to third parties that are caused by your tree lopping equipment and work activities.

Many Business Owners are UNSURE if they are COVERED PROPERLY.
We help them find affordable and SUITABLE INSURANCE so they can run their business with CONFIDENCE.*

What Insurance Do I Need as a Tree Lopper or Arborist?*

Some of the major types of business insurance covers available to tree loppers and arborists in Australia are explained below and include:

  • Public Liability Insurance
  • Business Insurance Pack
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance
  • Personal Accident Insurance
  • General Property and Tools
  • Commercial Motor insurance
  • Plant and Equipment Insurance

Why do tree loppers and arborists need public liability insurance?*

Public Liability Insurance coverage is essential for all self-employed tree loppers and arborists.

Tree loppers need public liability insurance as tree lopping is high liability work ,with frequent accident on sites.

People and property on site may be hurt or damaged due to accidents involving tree lopping work.

When working from heights, falling tree branches can damage power lines, vehicles , houses or cause injury to a homeowner.

Protections offered to self-employed tree loppers by public liability insurance in Australia generally include:

  • Injury to other persons due to your tree lopping activities –Where a tree lopping business activity causes harm to a third-party person. For example, a client ignores your warnings to stay away from the site and injure themselves when they are struck by falling branches , trip on branches you have just cut , or fall over your equipment.
  • Damage to others property due to your tree lopping activities – Where a tree lopping business activity causes damages to a third- party’s property. For example, a tree lopper may accidently cause damage to a client’s home while performing work. When working from heights falling tree branches could damage power lines, vehicles , or the house.
  • Harm to other persons or other persons property due to your tree lopping business’s products – Where a tree lopping business’s products and goods supplied causes harm to a third party -person or a third- party’s property. For example, products a tree lopper or arborist has supplied, repaired, or manufactured cause harm, injure someone or cause property damage.

Public liability insurance coverage may protect tree loppers from claims that arise when others allege, they are negligent.

A tree lopper’s public liability policy may provide a defence against the ensuing lawsuit when needed and may pay the damages sought by the injured party.

Business insurance pack for tree loppers*

Tree loppers may be able to combine multiple covers in a single business insurance pack policy.

By ‘packaging’ your business insurance into a ‘business pack’ tree loppers can potentially cover many of the risks their business faces in the one policy.

For example, if a tree lopper has a commercial premises, a business insurance pack may provide cover for buildings and contents if they are accidentally damaged by a defined event, such as fire, storm, impact damage, accidental damage, vandalism, or malicious damage.

Other typical inclusions for tree loppers with a business insurance pack are Public Liability Insurance and Product Liability Insurance.

Optional inclusions for tree loppers with a business insurance pack are General Property, Contents, Machinery, Plant and Stock , Glass, Money , Business Interruption and Marine Cover.

Professional Indemnity Insurance for arborists *

Professional indemnity insurance is recommended for qualified arborists that provide advice about the management and care of trees for a fee.

For example,  a client may claim a tree died as a result of your advice . Professional indemnity may help pay for your legal costs to defend yourself .

Personal Accident Insurance for self-employed tree loppers*

As a self-employed tree lopper your personal safety is your livelihood.

Personal accident insurance for tree loppers may provide cover for 52 or 104 weeks and up to 85%* of weekly income at the time of the injury; depending on the amount of coverage agreed when the policy is taken out.

Time away from work from an accident will have a direct impact on a self-employed tree lopper’s income, and a long period away can negatively affect their savings, family, and lifestyle.

Personal Accident Insurance may help self-employed tree loppers pay for essential bills and other financial commitments if they have an accident.

General Property and Tools Insurance for tree loppers*

As a tree lopper, you are likely to have many tools and equipment that allow you to do your job, such as Chainsaws, Pole saws, Secateurs, Felling Bars and Climbing Gear.

If your property is damaged or stolen, your business cannot operate effectively.

General property insurance can help you keep operating effectively.

It can provide needed funds to replace your tools such as Chainsaws, Pole saws, Secateurs, Felling Bars and Climbing Gear ….and help keep you in business.

Commercial motor insurance for self-employed tree loppers*

Commercial motor insurance should be considered for tree loppers that drive their vehicle from site to site. Light trucks, vans and Utes may be covered.

Plant & Equipment Insurance for tree lopping businesses*

Plant & Equipment Insurance may provide cover for owners of small tree lopping businesses that operate equipment such as Wood Chippers, Stump Grinders, Trailers , Chainsaws, Pole saws, Secateurs, Felling Bars and Climbing Gear .

Cover may provide tree loppers with protection for theft, damage, consequential loss, liability, road risk and machinery breakdown.

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What are the costs of Tree Loppers Public Liability Insurance?*

How much does public liability insurance cost for self-employed Tree Loppers?*

Key factors in determining how much Public Liability insurance will cost a tree lopper include:

  • The nature and scope of the tree lopping For example, the type of work performed by the tree lopper.
  • The tree lopping business turnover and size. For example, is the tree lopper a sole trader that does 100% of the work themselves, or do they employee a team of 4 subbies?
  • Amount of insurance cover the tree lopping business needs. Liability starts with $5 million cover, $10 million is popular with many self-employed contractors, $20 million cover is needed for tree loppers that work for large companies, on commercial sites or have a team of employees.

Public liability insurance cost for a self-employed tree lopper with no previous claims, starts from around $1250* or $120 per month for $5 million Public Liability Insurance.

*** Please note ***: While cheap Public Liability Insurance can seem attractive on the surface it is important to ensure the policy covers you for the full business activities you undertake, and that the insurance policy and company will respond as intended when there is a claim. Costs may differ greatly from the above based on the tree lopping business size, clients, experience, and business activities. For many tree loppers, that work from heights , or that have employees, costs will be a lot higher.

Do I need business insurance to work as a self-employed tree lopper in Australia?*

Self-employed tree loppers, or owners of tree lopping businesses , subcontracting for builders will typically be required by the builder to obtain their own public liability insurance to get on site.  This is typical for contractors working for builders throughout Australia.

Many small business owners, and even retail clients, will also ask to see proof of a tree lopper’s insurance cover, called a certificate of currency, prior to awarding them work and ask for an update each year.

As a self-employed tree lopper, suitable business insurance may provide credibility and valuable protection against the cost of a claim too.

Key tree lopping and arborist activities that may be able to be covered include:*

  • Lopping limbs and branches
  • Maintaining trees
  • Removing dead or decaying trees
  • Advising on tree care

Why do tree loppers need tools insurance?*

Tree loppers need tool insurance as tools are the lifeblood of tree loppers.

They help tree loppers just like you to complete work on time, and to deliver quality workmanship.

Tree loppers have a large number of tools and equipment compared to many other trades. And good tools are expensive. If they break or are stolen, it can impact your ability to get the job done or cost you thousands to replace.

Without tool insurance, you may have to dig into your own savings or borrow money to get the tools replaced or repaired.

Why should tree loppers use an insurance broker in Australia?*

If you are a tree lopper deciding on whether to use an insurance broker for your business insurance, it is important to consider that brokers act in the interests of the self-employed tree lopper.

Direct insurers and agents act for the insurer. This can be important; especially if you need to claim.

Brokers can help tree loppers by sourcing competitive quotes on policy inception, negotiate with the insurance companies to prevent or limit increases on renewal, remarket your policy to other suitable insurance companies where appropriate, talk to underwriters about policy wordings, industry classifications and terms, talk to insurance assessors during the claims process and repairers where necessary.

How do I get a tree loppers or arborist insurance quote?*

Simply TALK to a SMART Business Insurance broker on 1300 542 573 or contact us online for suitable and affordable public liability and business insurance quotes for your tree lopping or arborist business.

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