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Can I get insurance for breaching health & safety law?
Whether you agree with it or not, the reality for everyone in the construction sector is that ensuring workplaces are safe is not negotiable. Unfortunately, despite the best intentions of employers, sometimes things happen. If an injury occurs and a WorkSafe NZ investigation determines that it could have been prevented, you could face a fine and/or prosecution. Under the current law workplace bullying is also considered a hazard, and failure to prevent it could be a breach of the law.
How can a contractor reduce the cost of not getting paid?
It’s been reported more than 20 building companies have collapsed in Christchurch this year. And nationwide every year hundreds of construction companies cease trading and don’t make the news. Businesses in all industries face the risk of not getting paid for what they do, so what are the tools and processes you can put in place to limit this risk?
LBP, RBW and RoW – what are you liable for?
The Building Act does not prevent building companies using (potentially) cheaper, lower-skilled labour for restricted building work (RBW); this must be signed off by an LBP to comply with the law. LBPs who contact us want to know what liability they’re taking on for signing off this work, and what insurance is available to protect them.
The Mainzeal collapse – one year on and what’s changed for sub-contractors?
Mainzeal Property & Construction Limited was placed into receivership on 6th February 2013. A year on from that and the situation is clearer and closer to a resolution for unsecured creditors, but not by much.
Construction/contract works insurance – common issues to be aware of
Whether you’re building new or doing an alteration, extension or renovation, your contract will require contract works insurance be arranged to cover the work. The policy provides cover for sudden and accidental loss or damage to the works specified in the contract.
Public liability insurance – what am I actually covered for?
Public liability insurance is one of the most important policies that a tradesman should have. It is intended to protect you from the cost of accidentally damaging other people’s property or causing them injury (for example where ACC doesn’t cover you).
Contract works (construction) insurance – more issues to be aware of
There are some common issues with contract works insurance (sometimes called builders all risk insurance by banks) that all builders should be aware of. This article outlines two more traps to watch out for.
Trade Payment Insurance could have saved Mainzeal subbies from loss
A leading provider of liability insurance to the New Zealand building industry is urging all sub-contractors to make sure they have payment protection insurance in place in the wake of the Mainzeal collapse.
Public liability insurance – what you’re NOT covered for (part three)
In part three, the final in our exclusions series, we explain in plain language the last of the most important exclusions for builders & tradespeople to be aware of.