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EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY INSURANCE THAT KEEPS YOUR WORKSHOP MOVING
Why Employers’ Liability Matters in Metal Fabrication
Metal fabrication is a high-risk trade. From welding and cutting, to grinding, lifting, operating presses, handling sheet steel, and working around forklifts or cranes, the day-to-day hazards are real. If an employee is injured at work (or becomes ill due to occupational exposure), you can be held liable for compensation, legal costs and damages.
Employers’ Liability (EL) Insurance is designed to protect your business if a current or former employee alleges that your negligence contributed to their injury or illness. It can respond to claims arising from accidents in your workshop, while working off-site, or even from long-tail occupational diseases that surface years later.
If you employ anyone in the UK - including apprentices, part-time staff, temporary workers, or labour-only subcontractors under your direction - you will almost certainly need Employers’ Liability insurance. Insure24 arranges specialist EL for metal fabricators, structural steelwork firms, bespoke manufacturers, prototype workshops, and site-installation teams.
EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY COVER BUILT AROUND REAL FABRICATION RISKS
What Does Employers’ Liability Insurance Cover?
Employers’ Liability insurance generally covers your legal liability for injury or illness sustained by an employee arising out of and in the course of their employment. For metal fabrication businesses, claims typically fall into a few categories: accidents (sudden events), repetitive strain injuries, exposure-related illnesses, and alleged failures in training, supervision, or safe systems of work.
A good EL policy can pay damages/compensation, claimant costs, and your legal defence costs. In many cases it also provides access to specialist claims handlers who understand liability, evidence, and how to manage the claim from first notification through to settlement or defence.
Typical Employers’ Liability Claims in Fabrication Workshops
Every fabrication business is different, but the claims patterns are often similar. Underwriters and claims teams look closely at the underlying cause: guarding and maintenance of machinery, manual handling controls, hot works supervision, PPE compliance, and whether training and risk assessments are in place.
- Cuts and lacerations from sheet metal handling, sharp edges, or grinders
- Burns from welding, hot works, slag, sparks, or heated components
- Eye injuries from grinding, welding arcs, debris or inadequate eye protection
- Crush injuries involving presses, rollers, guillotines or moving machinery
- Forklift / vehicle impacts in workshops and yards
- Manual handling injuries (back/shoulder) from lifting steel or awkward assemblies
- Falls from height during installation, gantry work, or mezzanine access
- Fume exposure allegations (welding fumes, grinding dust, solvents, coatings)
- Noise-induced hearing loss claims over time
- Hand-arm vibration and repetitive strain allegations
Do Metal Fabricators Legally Need Employers’ Liability Insurance?
In the UK, Employers’ Liability insurance is generally a legal requirement if you employ staff. The key point for fabrication firms is that “employee” can mean more than just PAYE payroll staff. If you have apprentices, casual labour, temporary workers, or subcontractors working under your supervision or control, you may still need EL.
Many contracts - particularly construction, infrastructure, OEM supply chains, and facilities management - will also specify minimum EL limits and require evidence such as a certificate of insurance. If you’re installing metalwork on site, principal contractors often request EL, Public Liability, and evidence of relevant risk management controls.
Insure24 helps you arrange EL that fits your real working model: workshop fabrication, on-site installation, mobile welding, emergency repairs, and mixed teams.
People Typically Requiring EL Cover
- Workshop fabricators, welders, polishers and finishers
- CNC operators (plasma, laser, press brake, machining)
- Forklift drivers, yard staff, stores teams
- Installation teams and site supervisors
- Apprentices and trainees
- Office staff and estimators
- Temporary workers / agency labour
- Labour-only subcontractors under your direction
Common Contract Requirements
- Minimum Employers’ Liability limit (often £10m)
- Evidence of cover (certificate) before works start
- Health & safety documentation (RAMS / risk assessments)
- Training records for welders, plant and lifting ops
- PPE policies and enforcement
- Hot works controls and permits where required
- Subcontractor verification and insurance checks
What a Strong Employers’ Liability Policy Should Look Like for Fabricators
Employers’ Liability might sound like a simple legal requirement, but the detail matters - especially in metal fabrication where off-site work, higher hazard processes, and mixed labour models are common. The “right” EL policy for your business depends on your activities, team structure, and contract profile.
A well-placed policy should align with how you actually operate: who you employ, where they work, what tasks they perform, and what hazards are present. It should also dovetail with your other core covers such as Public Liability, Product Liability, Contractors All Risks (where relevant), Tools & Machinery, and Business Interruption.
Policy Features to Consider
- Appropriate limit of indemnity (often £10m as a baseline)
- Cover for temporary staff / labour-only subcontractors (where applicable)
- Territorial scope if staff work abroad (even briefly)
- Defence costs in addition to the limit (where offered)
- Support for claims evidence gathering and incident response
- Clear description of “business activities” (workshop + site work)
- No hidden exclusions that conflict with hot works / fabrication processes
Operational Controls That Improve Terms
- Documented risk assessments and safe systems of work
- Training records (welding, plant, lifting, abrasive wheels)
- Machine guarding, maintenance logs, and inspection schedules
- PPE issuance records and supervision
- Extraction/ventilation controls for fumes and dust
- Manual handling controls and lifting aids
- Near-miss reporting and corrective actions
Deep Dive: High-Risk Areas in Metal Fabrication Employment Claims
Employers’ Liability claims are often won or lost on evidence. Underwriters price EL by assessing the probability and severity of workplace injury or illness. In metal fabrication, the hazards are not just “accidents” - longer-term exposures can create claims years later. Below are some of the major risk areas that influence both pricing and the likelihood of a claim.
Welding & Hot Works
Welding introduces risks of burns, eye injury, and fume exposure. Claims can arise where PPE is inadequate, supervision is weak, or extraction controls are missing. Hot works can also lead to secondary incidents such as fires and smoke inhalation.
- Face/eye protection and correct lens shading
- Fire watch and hot works procedures
- Fume extraction and airflow control
- Training and competency management
Cutting, Grinding & Abrasive Wheels
Abrasive wheels and grinders are a common source of lacerations and eye injuries. Insurers often look for evidence of training, guards in place, and control of consumables such as discs and blades. Dust exposure can also create longer-term respiratory allegations.
- Abrasive wheel training and inspection records
- Machine guarding and safe use procedures
- Respiratory PPE and dust extraction
- Tool maintenance and correct specification
Manual Handling & Lifting Operations
Steel is heavy, awkward, and often sharp-edged. Back injuries remain one of the most frequent EL claim types across industry. In fabrication, manual handling hazards increase when lifting assemblies, moving sheets, or repositioning parts during build and weld.
- Use of lifting aids, cranes, hoists, trolleys
- Team lifts and safe lifting training
- Clear storage and layout to reduce awkward moves
- Job design and workflow planning
Forklifts, Vehicles & Yard Movements
Yard claims can be severe, including crush injuries and serious harm. Insurers pay attention to traffic management, segregation between pedestrians and vehicles, training/authorisation, and equipment maintenance.
- Segregated walkways and designated crossing points
- Forklift training, authorisation, and refresher programmes
- Speed controls and site rules
- Planned loading/unloading procedures
Noise, Vibration & Long-Tail Illness
Noise-induced hearing loss and vibration-related allegations can emerge long after employment. Good records make a significant difference. Insurers will often ask about hearing protection, health surveillance, and how exposure is assessed and managed.
- Noise assessments and hearing protection enforcement
- Vibration assessments for tools and processes
- Health surveillance records where appropriate
- Rotation of tasks to reduce exposure
Off-Site Installation Work
If your team installs fabricated metalwork on site, EL exposure increases due to working at height, interacting with other trades, and operating in dynamic environments. Your EL policy must reflect off-site work and site activities to avoid coverage disputes.
- Work at height controls and training
- Hot works permits and site rules compliance
- Tool and equipment safety checks
- Clear method statements and supervision
How to Get Employers’ Liability Insurance for Your Fabrication Business
The fastest route to the right cover is to provide clear information about your workforce, activities and contracts. Underwriters want to understand what you do, who does it, and where. The better the picture, the more accurate the terms - and the fewer surprises at claim time.
- 1. Share workforce details (headcount, roles, apprentices)
- 2. Confirm activities (workshop only vs installation/site work)
- 3. Outline key processes (welding, cutting, press work, CNC)
- 4. Provide claims history and risk management controls
- 5. Receive tailored quotes and expert guidance
Insure24 helped us put Employers’ Liability in place that covered both workshop fabrication and our installation teams on-site. The advice on what insurers needed to see made the process straightforward.
Managing Director – Structural & Architectural MetalworkPROTECT YOUR PEOPLE & YOUR BUSINESS
- Cover for employee injury and occupational illness claims
- Legal defence costs and damages you become legally liable to pay
- Policies aligned to workshop and on-site fabrication exposures
- Support to meet contract requirements and evidence needs
- Access to insurers experienced in engineering and manufacturing
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Is Employers’ Liability insurance legally required for metal fabricators?
In most cases, yes - if you employ staff in the UK, Employers’ Liability insurance is typically a legal requirement.
It can also apply where you use labour-only subcontractors working under your control.
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What limit of indemnity do I need?
Many businesses purchase £10m as a baseline, and some contracts require this minimum. The right limit depends on workforce size,
hazard level (hot works, site work, lifting), and contract requirements.
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Does EL cover apprentices and trainees?
Yes - apprentices, trainees and work-experience placements are typically included as employees, and the policy should reflect this.
Make sure you disclose headcount and roles accurately to avoid issues at claim time.
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Does EL cover employees working off-site on installations?
Usually yes, provided your business description includes installation/site work and you’ve declared those activities.
If your teams work at height, weld on-site, or use lifting equipment, this must be disclosed.
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Are welding fumes and dust-related illnesses covered?
EL is designed to respond to allegations of occupational illness, including exposure-related claims.
Insurers will look closely at extraction, PPE, training, and records. Your policy wording and disclosures matter.
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Do I need EL if I only use subcontractors?
It depends. If subcontractors are genuinely independent (with their own insurance and control), your need may differ.
If they are labour-only and you direct their work, you may still require Employers’ Liability. We’ll help you assess the setup.
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What affects the premium for Employers’ Liability in fabrication?
Key factors include workforce size, roles (welders vs office staff), hazard level, site work, claims history,
and the strength of your health & safety controls (training, guarding, PPE enforcement, extraction, supervision).
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Does Employers’ Liability cover stress or mental health claims?
Some EL policies can respond to allegations relating to workplace stress, but terms vary and evidence is important.
The best approach is to discuss your management practices and any exposures during quotation.
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Do I need to display my Employers’ Liability certificate?
In many cases, you must make the EL certificate available to employees (historically displayed in the workplace,
now often provided electronically). Keep records and ensure staff can access it.
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Can Insure24 place EL alongside my other fabrication covers?
Yes. We can arrange Employers’ Liability as part of a wider metal fabrication insurance package including
Public & Products Liability, Professional Indemnity, Tools & Machinery, Property/Stock, Transit and Business Interruption.