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Does a tradesman really need insurance in the UK?

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Working as a tradesman can be quite a perilous career choice. After all, whilst you may choose to solely work on housing projects, if you go into public projects, you can face heavy equipment, electrical rerouting, structural problems and potential hazards that could actually become a public threat or cause an accident. That is why you truly need to consider how helpful Tradesman Insurance can be to make sure that you and your workers are fully covered during all of your present and future projects.

Non-Negotiable Insurance

Whilst you may not think that you or your workers need insurance, it is important to keep in mind that over 64,000 non-fatal injuries happend to trade workers each year in the UK. If you want to take this risk, then you do not have to buy insurance. However, the government has made it a legal necessity to always possess Employers Liability Insurance when you hire employees to work with you on your projects.

This insurance will make sure that your employees are fully covered if they are injured or become ill due to the work. This can be on or off site and you may even find that your former employees attempt to claim compensation for previous incidents. Not only can this save you from a hefty compensation bill, but it can also help you avoid the government from fining around £2500 a day for refusing to purchase this insurance.

Additional Insurance Options- Tradesman Insurance

Although you are only legally required to purchase Employers Liability Insurance, Tradesmen insurance ensures you’re covered whilst working and will give you peace of mind knowing that your finances will remain safe if you are asked for compensation. Your Tradesman Insurance can include:

  • An Employers’ Liability Extension
  • Tools and Equipment
  • Contract Works
  • Hire and Own Plant
  • Vehicle Insurance

If you are looking for a form of tradesman insurance which can be personalised to fit all of your business needs, why not start by looking online for an insurance comparison websites. Each of these websites will allow you to choose insurance policies that you can personally fit to your business.

Additional Liabilities

If you are looking for the essential insurances to include within your tradesman insurance, then you may also want to consider investing in Public Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Not only will these policies protect you from any accidents that may happen to the public or your clients whilst you are on the job, but should your clients accuse you of any damage or any additional problems that have come about as a result of your work, then you will be financially covered if these complaints become lawsuits.

How much insurance do I need?

The amount of insurance that you will need will depend on the level of any future jobs that you undertake either as a sole trader or through a company. Your cover should reflect how much risk your projects actually pose to you, your employees and the public. The more risk there is, the more insurance you should have.

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The Future Workplace: 4 Key Design Considerations

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Building a workplace fit for the current working landscape and beyond is certainly a design challenge, but one that’s inevitable considering the changing face of work in the modern era.

This post will explain some key design considerations that construction companies and designers should be aware of, to make sure that workplaces are fully optimised in the future.

Place eco-friendliness at the core

No ifs ands or buts – new buildings must be eco-friendly. Whether you’re using less carbon or even striving to carbon-neutral status, offices, like other buildings, need to be built in harmony with the environment. This will lead to businesses having less of an impact on climate change – as well as benefiting from lower energy bills.

From the construction stage onwards, there are numerous ways you can reduce your building’s impact. Modular construction techniques, for example, outsource a lot of the actual construction to factories, so the immediate impact on the site’s surrounding area is reduced. In terms of design, eco-friendly windows and ventilation can help workers to keep cool (and avoid overuse of air conditioning in the process).

Promote wellbeing amongst workers

Many studies have been conducted that conclude with the same uncomfortable fact – working in an office is not beneficial to our long-term health. In order to combat these scary stats, new office buildings must leave ample room for various features that’ll improve health and wellbeing amongst workers.

From a quiet room where workers can find respite from a busy sales floor to a shower and changing area where active commuters (either cyclists or runners) can get ready for the working day, there are possibilities galore. This room could also be used as a secure space to store commuters’ cycling equipment, reducing the risk of theft when cycles are parked on the street outside.

Make it a flexible space

The age of the wholly open-plan office is coming to an end, following a recent groundswell of opinion against such workspaces. What should replace the open-plan era? Something flexible that allows for collaboration as well as singular focus.

Designers should consider walls that can be rolled back at will, to allow the space to be adapted for different circumstances and applications. Are half the team swamped by a high-pressure project? Create a room so they can focus, while the rest of the office can collaborate on other important issues.

A flexible workplace needn’t necessarily have a standard array of desks – you could opt for a ‘coffee shop’ style atmosphere instead, with collaborative tables and moveable furniture to encourage the free exchange of ideas. Make sure there’s high-quality Wi-Fi up for grabs throughout the building, as well as plenty of power sockets so that laptop-bound workers’ flows aren’t interrupted by a lack of power.

Make it accessible & ergonomic

A purpose-built office shouldn’t feel cramped or suffer from poor sight lines or a lack of access for disabled workers. Make sure there’s plenty of room for wheelchair turning circles, and that multi-level areas have ramps rather than steps.

In the same vein, the office should also be welcoming and bright – so leave plenty of room for floor-to-ceiling windows that allow generous amounts of light.

Following these forward-thinking considerations will lead to a workplace that is functional and future-proof – a winning combination at the heart of every successful office development.

Author bio:
Alex Jones is a features writer for Start Fitness – providers of running, cycling, gym, football and outdoor products.

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Roof Safety and Access System Market Research Report 2018

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Roof Safety and Access System Market Report provides an analytical assessment of the prime challenges faced by this Market currently and in the coming years, which helps Market participants in understanding the problems they may face while operating in this Market over a longer period of time. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Continue Reading