Scaffolding companies rely on plant and equipment to deliver projects safely and on time. Even if your core “product” is access equipment and labour, your day-to-day operations often depend on a wider set of plant: telehandlers and forklifts for loading, trailers and lorries for transport, generators and lighting, compressors, small tools, and sometimes specialist access kit.
The problem is that plant is exposed to constant risk. It’s moved between sites, left outdoors, handled by multiple people, and used in harsh conditions. A single theft from a site compound or an accidental impact can cause expensive downtime, replacement costs, and contractual disputes.
Plant insurance (often called contractors’ plant insurance) is designed to protect scaffolding companies against these losses—whether the equipment is owned, leased, or hired-in.
In insurance terms, “plant” usually refers to machinery, equipment, and tools used to carry out work. For scaffolding companies, plant commonly includes:
Telehandlers, forklifts, skid steers and loading equipment
Generators, lighting towers, compressors
Hoists, winches and lifting accessories (where insurable)
Trailers, site boxes, storage containers
Power tools and hand tools
Survey and measuring equipment
Temporary site equipment used to support installation and dismantling
Scaffold tubes, fittings and boards may be treated differently depending on the insurer. Some policies can include them as “plant” or “materials,” while others expect them to be insured under a separate materials or stock section. It’s important to clarify this upfront so you don’t assume cover exists when it doesn’t.
Plant cover is rarely one-size-fits-all. Most scaffolding firms will consider a combination of the following.
This covers plant and equipment that your business owns. It typically protects against:
Theft
Accidental damage
Fire
Flood and storm damage
Vandalism
Policies can be arranged on an “all risks” basis (covering most sudden and unforeseen events) or on a more restricted “named perils” basis.
If you hire equipment from plant hire companies (for example, a telehandler for a large project), the hire agreement usually makes you responsible for loss or damage while it’s in your custody.
Hired-in plant insurance covers your liability to the hire company for:
Theft from site
Accidental damage during use
Fire or vandalism
This is a major gap for scaffolding companies that hire plant occasionally and assume their standard business insurance will respond.
Some scaffolding businesses hire out access equipment or related plant to other contractors. If that’s part of your model, you may need hired-out plant cover to protect your assets while they’re in someone else’s custody.
This can be more complex because insurers will want to know:
Your hire terms and conditions
Whether you operate with or without an operator
How you vet customers
How you manage deposits, contracts, and recovery
Portable tools are high-theft items and often have different conditions, limits and security requirements. Tools cover may include:
Hand tools and power tools
Battery kits and chargers
Small items stored in vans or lockups
Because scaffolding work is mobile, tools cover that follows you between sites can be crucial.
Some plant policies include or can add breakdown cover—protection against mechanical or electrical failure.
This is especially relevant for:
Generators
Compressors
Hoists
Lifting equipment
Breakdown cover can reduce the financial shock of sudden failure, but it’s not a substitute for maintenance and inspection regimes.
Most contractors’ plant policies are designed to cover sudden, unforeseen physical loss or damage. Common covered events include:
Theft (often with conditions)
Fire and explosion
Accidental damage (drops, impacts, collisions)
Flood, storm, and weather-related damage
Vandalism and malicious damage
Damage during loading/unloading (depending on wording)
This is where claims often fall apart. Typical exclusions include:
Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, rust or corrosion
Lack of maintenance or poor workmanship
Faulty design or manufacturing defects (sometimes limited)
Theft from an unattended vehicle unless specific security is met
Unexplained disappearance (items “missing” with no evidence)
Damage caused by using equipment outside manufacturer specifications
Damage to tyres (often limited), tracks, or certain consumables
The key is to align your operational reality with the policy conditions. If your teams regularly leave tools in vans overnight, you’ll need a policy that allows it—and you’ll need to meet the required security standards.
A good plant policy should match how scaffolding companies actually operate.
Most claims happen on site. Insurers will often ask:
Are sites fenced and secured?
Is there a locked compound?
Are items immobilised or locked away?
Do you use tracking on high-value plant?
Some policies require plant to be stored in a locked compound outside working hours. If you can’t guarantee that on every site, you need to negotiate wording that reflects reality.
Plant is frequently damaged during transport or loading. In-transit cover may include:
Accidental damage while being transported
Theft from vehicles (subject to security)
If you use your own vehicles, confirm whether the plant policy covers transit or whether it’s handled under your motor policy.
Your yard can be a theft target. Insurers may require:
Perimeter fencing and gates
CCTV and lighting
Intruder alarms
Locked containers for tools
If you store high-value items at your depot, make sure the sum insured and security conditions match what you actually have.
Plant insurance is usually arranged with either:
A schedule of items (each with a value), or
A blanket sum insured (a total limit for all plant)
Some policies settle claims on a replacement basis, others on market value. For scaffolding companies, replacement cost is often the safer option because it reflects what you’ll actually pay to get back to work.
If your plant is worth £200,000 but you insure only £120,000, insurers may apply “average,” reducing claim payments proportionally.
A practical approach is to:
Keep an updated asset list
Review values quarterly (especially if you buy new equipment)
Include hired-in plant limits that reflect peak project demand
Depending on your contracts and risk profile, consider:
Continuing hire charges: pays hire costs while hired-in plant is being repaired after insured damage
Loss of hire (for hired-out plant): covers income lost while your plant is out of action
Road risks (if plant is used on public roads): may be needed for certain vehicles or self-propelled plant
Temporary replacement hire: helps you hire substitute equipment to keep projects moving
Overnight security extensions: for tools in vans or plant left on site
Scaffolding companies typically need a broader insurance package. Plant cover sits alongside:
Public liability insurance: injury or property damage to third parties
Employers’ liability insurance: required if you employ staff (including labour-only subcontractors in many cases)
Contractors’ all risks (CAR): covers contract works and sometimes materials on site
Professional indemnity: if you design scaffolds, provide calculations, or advise on access solutions
Commercial motor insurance: vehicles, vans, lorries
Plant insurance is not a replacement for these. It’s a specific solution for the physical assets you rely on.
Insurers price scaffolding risks differently because of the environment and the work.
Construction sites are high-theft environments. Scaffolding businesses are exposed because:
Equipment is stored outdoors
Sites change frequently
Multiple contractors may have access
Theft prevention is one of the biggest levers for premium control.
Common damage scenarios include:
Forklift impact when moving pallets
Drops during loading/unloading
Damage from reversing vehicles
Weather damage when equipment is left exposed
Plant can fail due to:
Overloading
Incorrect operation
Poor maintenance
Harsh weather and site conditions
Insurers will look favourably on documented maintenance schedules and operator training.
Scaffolding companies can often reduce premiums by improving risk controls and presenting them clearly.
Maintain an up-to-date plant register with serial numbers and photos
Use immobilisers and tracking on high-value items n- Store plant in locked compounds or secured yards
Fit CCTV and lighting at depots
Use lockable tool vaults in vans
Implement sign-in/out processes for tools
Train staff on loading, lifting and securing plant
Record inspections and maintenance (and keep evidence)
Even small operational changes can make a meaningful difference to insurer confidence.
To get accurate terms, be ready with:
A plant list (owned items, values, serial numbers)
Maximum value of hired-in plant at any one time
Where plant is stored overnight (site, yard, vehicles)
Security measures (fencing, alarms, CCTV, trackers)
Claims history (last 3–5 years)
Nature of work (domestic, commercial, industrial, infrastructure)
Geographic area of operation
The more precise you are, the less likely you’ll face restrictive endorsements later.
When something goes wrong, speed matters. A few practical steps help:
Report theft to the police immediately and get a crime reference number.
Notify your insurer as soon as possible.
Provide proof of ownership and value (purchase invoices, photos, asset register).
Preserve evidence (CCTV footage, site logs, witness statements).
Don’t authorise repairs or replacements without insurer approval unless the policy allows emergency mitigation.
Good documentation turns a messy incident into a straightforward claim.
If you own or hire equipment, plant insurance is strongly recommended. Without it, theft or damage can create major cashflow strain and project delays.
Sometimes. Tubes, fittings and boards may be treated as materials or stock rather than plant. Always confirm how your insurer defines scaffolding materials.
Often yes, but usually only if security conditions are met (locked compound, immobilisers, evidence of forced entry, etc.).
Some policies do, but many require the van to be locked, alarmed, and parked in a secure location. Check the wording and any endorsements.
Owned plant is equipment you own. Hired-in plant is equipment rented from a hire company, where you’re liable for loss or damage under the hire agreement.
Most “all risks” plant policies cover accidental damage, subject to excess and exclusions.
Not always. Breakdown cover is often an add-on or separate engineering policy.
Use an accurate plant register and insure at realistic replacement values. Include a hired-in plant limit that matches peak project needs.
It can. Insurers look at frequency and severity of claims. Strong risk controls can help reduce the impact.
Yes—most policies are designed for mobile contractors. Just ensure the “territorial limits” and storage conditions match your operations.
For scaffolding companies, plant insurance isn’t just about replacing stolen tools—it’s about protecting your ability to deliver projects, meet deadlines, and maintain cashflow.
If you want a quote, the fastest route is to prepare a plant list, confirm your maximum hired-in exposure, and be clear about where equipment is stored overnight. With the right structure, plant insurance becomes a practical safety net rather than a box-ticking exercise.
Call to action: If you run a scaffolding business and want help arranging plant insurance alongside public liability, employers’ liability, and contract works cover, speak to a specialist broker who understands construction and engineering risks.
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