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.

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.

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.

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 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).

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.

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.

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.

Public liability insurance is one of the most important policies that a tradesman should have. In part two of our exclusions series we explain, in plain language, some of the exclusions in public liability insurance policies that are more likely to affect builders & tradespeople.

Public liability insurance is one of the most important policies that a tradesperson should have. It is intended to protect you from the cost of damaging other people’s property and in some cases causing them injury. Like any insurance policy, there are exclusions to make clear the things that are not intended to be covered by the policy.

With the recent introduction of licensing, many builders and specialist tradespeople are wondering what additional liability they now face. They also want to know what liability insurance is available to protect them. Building professionals are beginning to appreciate that in today’s world, liability insurance is a cost of doing business.

Most public liability policies from mainstream insurance companies specifically exclude the very things that builders are most likely to need. This includes claims for damage caused by “faulty workmanship” (although resultant damage is covered) and cover for the building they’re working on, two of the most likely liability claims.