Height limits and manual work

Work at height business insurance

Insurance for contractors, installers, maintenance firms and other businesses that work at height and need liability, employers' liability, tools, plant or contract works reviewed.

Unusual trades New ventures Imports and exports Prior disclosures

Who this page is for

Targets SquarePegs' work-at-height appetite and practical contractor referral searches.

Height exposure can change insurer appetite quickly. The insurer needs to understand maximum height, access equipment, roof work, edge protection, training, subcontractors and the type of property or site involved.

Who we can help

  • Contractors and installers working above standard height limits.
  • Cleaning, maintenance, roofing, signage, solar, glazing and external repair firms.
  • Businesses using ladders, towers, scaffolds, MEWPs or rope access.
  • Employers needing to explain staff training, risk assessments and site controls.

What insurers usually need

  • Maximum working height and typical height.
  • Access method, equipment, training and supervision.
  • Roof work, fragile surfaces, public access, site type and contract conditions.
  • Employee, labour-only subcontractor and bona-fide subcontractor exposure.

Placement notes

  • A stated height limit should match real jobs, not only ideal jobs.
  • Insurers often distinguish occasional ladder work from routine roof or scaffold work.
  • Employers' liability and public liability both matter where height work is involved.

Why disclosure matters

  • A worker falls from access equipment and the claim focuses on training, supervision and the chosen method of work.
  • A tool or material falls and injures a member of the public below the work area.

Related non-standard insurance pages

Non-standard business insuranceSpecialist business insurance for UK firms that do not fit standard online schemes, including unusual trades, new ventures, prior financial issues, imports, exports and work at height. Hard to place business insuranceBusiness insurance for UK SMEs that have been declined, referred or restricted by standard markets because of trade, claims, disclosures, premises or unusual activities. Unusual trades business insuranceInsurance for unusual trades, niche SMEs and businesses that combine activities standard insurer trade lists do not describe accurately.

Common questions

Does public liability insurance cover work at height?

It depends on the policy and height limits. Some policies restrict or exclude work above certain heights.

What height details do insurers need?

They usually ask for maximum height, typical height, access equipment, roof work, training, subcontractors and the type of sites involved.

Is employers' liability important for height work?

Yes, where staff are employed. Height work can create serious injury exposure, so insurers will want to understand controls and training.

Need a quote for a non-standard business?

Tell us what the business really does, what has made it hard to place, and what cover you need. We will review the details and route the enquiry to suitable commercial insurance markets where possible.

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