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A Complete Insurance Checklist for Engineering & Manufacturing Businesses
Engineering and manufacturing businesses face some of the most complex insurance exposures in the UK commercial market. High-value machinery, technical liability, fire risk, contractual obligations, supply-chain dependency and long-tail product claims mean that “standard business insurance” is rarely sufficient.
This Engineering Manufacturing Insurance Checklist has been created by Insure24 to help business owners, directors, and operations managers understand the key insurance areas they should review. Whether you operate a small specialist workshop or a multi-site manufacturing operation, this checklist helps identify gaps, underinsurance, and common oversights that can cause serious issues at claim time.
Use this page as a working reference when reviewing your existing policies, tendering for new contracts, or preparing for renewal.
How to Use This Insurance Checklist
- Review each section against your current insurance policies
- Identify areas where cover may be missing or inadequate
- Check contract requirements against policy limits and wording
- Use it as a renewal or tender preparation guide
- Discuss any gaps with a specialist engineering insurance broker
1. Business & Premises Insurance Checklist
- Do you insure the full rebuild cost of your premises (not just market value)?
- Are trade fixtures, fixed plant and fitted services included?
- Is fire risk correctly disclosed (hot works, electrical testing, welding)?
- Are flood, storm and escape of water risks reviewed?
- Is accidental damage cover included where appropriate?
- Have you considered alternative premises costs after a major loss?
2. Plant, Machinery & Equipment Checklist
- Are all major machines listed and correctly valued?
- Is replacement on a new-for-old basis included?
- Is machinery breakdown cover in place?
- Does breakdown cover include electrical and electronic failure?
- Are critical spares and tooling covered?
- Have maintenance and inspection records been documented?
3. Stock, Materials & Work-in-Progress Checklist
- Are raw materials insured at peak values?
- Is work-in-progress correctly declared?
- Are customer-supplied materials covered?
- Does cover include damage during testing or finishing?
- Are finished goods awaiting dispatch insured?
- Have seasonal or contract-driven peaks been allowed for?
4. Business Interruption Checklist
- Is business interruption included (not just property damage)?
- Is the indemnity period long enough to rebuild and restart?
- Are increased costs of working covered?
- Does cover extend to machinery breakdown?
- Is loss of key suppliers or utilities considered?
- Are contract penalties and lost orders factored in?
5. Employers’ Liability Checklist (Legal Requirement)
- Do you employ staff, apprentices or labour-only workers?
- Is Employers’ Liability in place at the correct limit?
- Are manual handling, machinery and lifting risks declared?
- Does cover include work away from your premises?
- Are temporary or agency staff included?
- Are health & safety procedures documented?
6. Public & Products Liability Checklist
- Is public liability included for visitors and third parties?
- Does cover include work on client sites?
- Is products liability included for manufactured goods?
- Are overseas exports declared?
- Are batch claims and recall risks considered?
- Are policy limits aligned with contract requirements?
7. Installation & Commissioning Risk Checklist
- Do you install or commission equipment on-site?
- Is contract works / installation all risks cover in place?
- Does insurance cover testing and trial operation?
- Are you insured until final handover or sign-off?
- Are subcontractor interfaces considered?
- Do contracts transfer risk appropriately?
8. Professional & Contractual Liability Checklist
- Do you provide design, drawings or specifications?
- Is professional indemnity required by contract?
- Are financial loss claims covered?
- Does PI align with installation and commissioning risk?
- Are contractual indemnities reviewed?
- Are limitation of liability clauses used where possible?
9. Cyber, Data & Systems Checklist
- Do you rely on CAD, CNC, PLC or production software?
- Is cyber insurance in place?
- Does cyber cover include business interruption?
- Are client drawings and IP protected?
- Are invoice fraud and ransomware risks considered?
- Are backups and recovery plans documented?
10. Review, Renewal & Risk Management Checklist
- Are sums insured reviewed annually?
- Are new contracts disclosed to insurers?
- Are risk improvements communicated at renewal?
- Is claims history accurately presented?
- Do you review policy wording, not just price?
- Is advice taken from a specialist broker?
Why Use Insure24?
- Specialist engineering & manufacturing insurance expertise
- Support with complex, contract-driven risks
- Access to insurers who understand manufacturing
- FCA-regulated UK brokerage
- Proactive claims and renewal support
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
+-Is this checklist suitable for small manufacturers?
Yes. The checklist applies to small workshops through to large manufacturing operations.
+-Does this replace professional advice?
No. It is a guide to highlight issues, not a substitute for broker advice.
+-How often should this checklist be reviewed?
At least annually, and whenever your business, contracts or premises change.
+-Can Insure24 review our current policies?
Yes. We regularly audit existing insurance arrangements for engineering businesses.
+-Is underinsurance common in manufacturing?
Yes. Machinery, stock and business interruption are frequently under-declared.