Insurance requirements for electrical subcontractors

What goes wrong

• Fire. A bad connection can start a fire months or years later.
• Shock and electrocution. Injuries to the sub’s workers and sometimes to others on site.
• Damage to other trades’ work. Cutting into walls, cutting a line, flooding a panel.

What to ask for

• General liability, with completed operations. Because problems can show up long after the job.
• Workers’ comp for everyone. Helpers, apprentices and laborers need to be on the policy.
• Commercial auto, if the sub drives to and from sites with tools and material.
• Additional insured, for ongoing and completed work, if your contract asks for it.

License matters here

Most states and many cities license electricians. A certificate of insurance says nothing about whether the person is licensed. Look the license up in your state’s lookup. In Texas, for example, electricians are licensed by the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulation. Check your own state’s rules.

Questions to ask

1. What’s your license number, and who holds it?
2. Are your helpers and apprentices on workers’ comp?
3. Is the additional insured endorsement for finished work too?

Not legal or insurance advice. This is general information. Your contract, your state and your policy decide what applies to you. Ask your broker or attorney.

Copy this into your bid request

Electrical subcontractor, please send before starting: a current certificate showing general liability with completed operations, workers’ comp, and auto if you drive to site. Also send the additional insured endorsement for ongoing and completed work and a waiver of subrogation if our contract requires it. Name [your company] as certificate holder. Limits are in our requirements page: [link].

Fill in your company name and link. Your broker sets the numbers. Build the page with the requirements builder.