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LIABILITY INSURANCE BUILT FOR REAL-WORLD FABRICATION RISKS
Why Public & Third-Party Liability Insurance Is Essential
Metal fabrication businesses operate in environments where the risk of third-party injury or property damage is ever-present. Sparks from welding, falling steel sections, sharp edges, mobile equipment and on-site activities can all lead to costly claims.
Public and third-party liability insurance is designed to protect your business if someone alleges that your work caused injury or damage to their property. This includes legal defence costs and compensation awards, which can easily reach six or seven figures on complex fabrication or construction-related claims.
Insure24 arranges liability insurance specifically for metal fabricators, ensuring welding, cutting, grinding and site-based activities are correctly declared and underwritten.
What Does Public & Third-Party Liability Insurance Cover?
Public liability insurance protects your business against claims made by third parties (clients, members of the public, other contractors) who allege injury or property damage arising from your activities.
- Third-Party Injury – claims for bodily injury caused by your fabrication or site activities.
- Third-Party Property Damage – damage to buildings, plant, machinery or other property.
- Legal Defence Costs – solicitors, experts and court costs.
- Welding & Hot Works Activities – where declared and accepted by insurers.
- Site-Based Work – cover for work carried out at client premises or construction sites.
- Products Liability – often combined to cover damage caused by fabricated items after handover.
- Contractual Requirements – limits aligned with principal contractor and client demands.
Common Public Liability Claims in Metal Fabrication
Public liability claims often arise from routine work rather than major incidents. Understanding these risks helps ensure your policy responds when needed.
- Injury to third parties from sparks, hot metal or falling materials
- Damage to client property during welding, cutting or installation
- Trips, slips or access-related injuries on sites
- Fire damage caused by hot works activities
- Impact damage from plant, equipment or steel sections
- Claims arising from temporary works or barriers
- Allegations of negligence following an incident
Choosing the Right Liability Limits
The correct level of public liability cover depends on the severity of potential losses, not just the likelihood. Fabrication businesses often work on high-value premises or alongside other contractors, increasing exposure.
Typical Public Liability Limits
- £1m – small workshops with limited site exposure
- £2m–£5m – most fabrication and site-based contractors
- £10m+ – large projects, principal contractor requirements
Factors That Influence Your Required Limit
- Contractual requirements from clients or principal contractors
- Type of sites you work on (industrial, commercial, residential)
- Extent of welding and hot works exposure
- Value of third-party property at risk
- Claims history and risk profile
Why Choose Insure24
Liability insurance for metal fabrication is not one-size-fits-all. We help you arrange cover that reflects how you actually work, not a generic trade description.
- Specialist advice for fabrication and welding businesses
- Access to liability insurers that accept hot works risks
- Contract-ready limits and wording
- Fast quotations and clear documentation
- Claims support and insurer liaison
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Is public liability insurance legally required?
Public liability insurance is not legally required in the UK, but it is essential for most fabrication businesses and often contractually required by clients and principal contractors.
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Does public liability cover welding and hot works?
Yes, provided welding, cutting and hot works activities are declared and accepted by the insurer. Failure to disclose these activities may invalidate cover.
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What’s the difference between public and products liability?
Public liability covers injury or damage occurring during your activities. Products liability covers injury or damage caused by fabricated items after handover.
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Will public liability cover subcontracted work?
Cover can apply depending on whether subcontractors are bona fide or labour-only and how your policy is structured. Always disclose subcontractor use when arranging cover.
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How much public liability cover do fabricators need?
Many metal fabricators carry between £2m and £10m public liability depending on contract requirements and exposure.