Business Insurance for Tree Loppers

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.