Moving heavy machinery is one of the highest-risk moments in any construction or engineering project. The kit might be worth tens (or hundreds) of thousands of pounds, the lift plan is tight, and a single mistake—wrong sling angle, inadequate lashing, poor load distribution, or a sudden stop in transit—can cause serious damage.
That’s where machinery rigging insurance comes in. In simple terms, it’s cover designed for the “in-between” stage: when equipment is being lifted, positioned, secured for transport, and moved from A to B.
This guide explains what machinery rigging insurance is, how it fits into construction engineering insurance, what it typically covers, common exclusions, and how to set up your risk management so you can get better terms.
Machinery rigging insurance is a specialist policy (or extension) that covers physical loss or damage to machinery and equipment during rigging operations. “Rigging” can include:
It’s most relevant for contractors and specialist subcontractors involved in heavy moves, including:
A lot of claims happen before the vehicle even leaves the yard. Securing for transport is a technical task, not a quick tie-down.
Common failure points include:
Even if the machinery isn’t “dropped”, it can still be damaged by vibration, impact, or internal misalignment—especially for CNC machines, presses, compressors, generators, and medical/precision equipment.
Construction and engineering insurance is a broad category. Machinery rigging cover often sits alongside (or is added to) one or more of the following:
The key is understanding where one policy stops and another starts.
CAR/EAR is usually focused on the works and materials at the project site. It may not automatically cover specialist rigging operations, offsite moves, or transit-related damage—especially if the item isn’t part of the “contract works” yet.
Plant insurance can cover owned or hired-in plant against accidental damage, theft, and sometimes transit. But many plant policies have conditions around:
GIT is designed for goods being transported, but it may not cover the lifting, loading, securing, or unloading stages. It may also be written for general cargo, not heavy machinery.
A well-structured insurance programme makes sure there are no gaps across:
Cover varies by insurer, but common insured events include:
Depending on the wording, it may also include:
This is where most surprises happen. Typical exclusions/limitations can include:
Also watch for:
To price rigging risk, insurers want to know how controlled your operations are. Expect questions like:
If you can answer these clearly (with evidence), you’re usually in a stronger position for terms.
Insurance should be the backstop, not the plan. These practical controls can reduce incidents and help with premiums.
For complex lifts and moves, a written plan helps prevent “on the day” improvisation.
Include:
In the UK, lifting operations and work equipment are heavily regulated. Regular inspection, certification, and record-keeping matter.
Best practice often includes:
Remove or secure:
Use shock indicators or tilt indicators for sensitive loads where appropriate.
Insurers like:
If you subcontract cranes, transport, or specialist rigging, make sure contracts and insurance responsibilities are clear:
Here are realistic scenarios where rigging insurance can be relevant:
Even when nobody is injured, repair costs, specialist recalibration, and downtime can be significant.
When reviewing a rigging insurance option, look for:
If you’re unsure, it’s worth asking your broker to map the “risk journey” from lift to transit to install and show which policy responds at each point.
Not usually. Goods in transit focuses on the transport stage. Rigging insurance is designed for lifting, loading, securing, and positioning—often where GIT is limited.
It can, but it depends on the wording. If you regularly hire in kit (or move hired-in machinery), make sure the policy includes it and that hire agreements don’t create gaps.
Some policies exclude “inadequate securing” or defective workmanship. Others may cover accidental damage but could dispute claims if procedures weren’t followed. Documented checklists and competent supervision help.
Maybe. Plant insurance may cover accidental damage, but you need to confirm it includes specialist rigging and the securing/loading stages. Many businesses assume it does—until a claim is declined.
Yes. One-off high-value moves can be insured on an annual basis or sometimes arranged for a specific project, depending on the insurer and risk.
That’s usually handled under public liability/employers’ liability. Rigging insurance is primarily for damage to the machinery being moved, but programmes can be structured to work together.
Machinery rigging and securing for transport sits right at the intersection of construction engineering risk, logistics, and safety. The best outcomes come from two things working together: competent planning and the right insurance structure.
If you regularly move high-value equipment—or you’re taking on projects where you’re responsible for lifting, securing, and positioning—make sure your construction engineering insurance programme explicitly addresses rigging operations. It’s one of the easiest places for coverage gaps to appear.
If you’d like a quick review of your current construction engineering insurance and whether it properly covers machinery rigging and securing for transport, speak to a specialist broker. You’ll get clarity on where cover applies, what limits you need, and how to reduce the risk of costly claims.
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