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Why Use a Metal Fabrication Insurance Checklist?
Metal fabrication businesses face a combination of property, liability, fire, pollution and operational risks that are often underestimated by standard insurance policies. Welding, cutting, grinding, heavy machinery, high-value stock and site-based work all introduce exposures that can leave serious gaps if cover is not structured correctly.
This checklist is designed to help workshop-based and site-based fabricators review their insurance arrangements, identify common omissions, and prepare the right information for insurers. It can be used before a renewal, when changing brokers, or when expanding into new types of work.
1. Business Activities & Disclosure
Clear disclosure is critical. Many claims problems arise because insurers were not given a full picture of how a fabrication business actually operates.
- Have you fully disclosed welding, cutting, grinding and hot works?
- Do you work on client sites as well as your own workshop?
- Are you involved in installation, erection or structural steelwork?
- Do you carry out any design, specification or advisory work?
- Are subcontractors used (labour-only or bona fide)?
- Have turnover split and activity percentages been declared accurately?
2. Public, Products & Third-Party Liability
Liability claims can arise from injuries, property damage, defective fabricated items or fire caused by hot works.
- Is public liability in place at an appropriate limit (£2m–£10m typical)?
- Does the policy explicitly accept welding and hot works?
- Is products liability included for fabricated items after handover?
- Are contractual liability requirements met?
- Does the policy respond to site-based work?
3. Employers’ Liability & Workforce Risks
Employers’ liability insurance is compulsory in the UK and particularly important in fabrication environments where injury risk is higher.
- Is employers’ liability in place at £5m+?
- Are all employees, apprentices and labour-only subcontractors included?
- Do job descriptions reflect real duties?
- Are welding fumes, dust and noise risks assessed?
- Are training and competency records maintained?
4. Property, Machinery & Business Interruption
Fire, theft or flood can stop fabrication operations overnight. Property and interruption cover protects the assets and income you rely on.
- Are buildings insured on a reinstatement (rebuild) basis?
- Are contents, machinery, extraction and compressors fully valued?
- Is stock insured at peak levels?
- Is tools and portable equipment cover included?
- Does business interruption reflect realistic restart times?
5. Environmental, Fire & Air Quality Risks
Pollution, fumes, dust and fire-related claims are increasingly scrutinised by insurers and regulators.
- Are pollution exclusions understood in your liability policy?
- Is environmental liability needed for your operations or location?
- Are hot works permits and fire watch procedures in place?
- Is fume extraction / LEV installed and maintained?
- Are spill response and waste controls documented?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Why do fabricators often have insurance gaps?
Gaps often occur because welding, hot works, site work or environmental risks were not fully disclosed or understood when cover was arranged.
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How often should this checklist be reviewed?
At every renewal, and whenever you change activities, take on larger contracts or invest in new equipment.
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Can Insure24 review my existing policies?
Yes. We regularly review existing fabrication insurance arrangements and identify gaps, overlaps and improvement opportunities.