Riggers Liability Insurance
Riggers liability insurance covers the liability of contractors and businesses that lift, move, or rig property belonging to others using cranes, hoists, derricks, and similar equipment. When a rigger is responsible for moving another party's equipment, machinery, or materials and that property is damaged in the process, the rigger faces significant liability that standard general liability policies typically exclude through care, custody, and control exclusions. Riggers liability fills this gap by specifically covering damage to third-party property in the rigger's care during lifting and movement operations.
What Riggers Liability Covers
A riggers liability policy covers:
- Third-party property damage — damage to property owned by others that occurs while the property is being rigged, lifted, or moved
- Dropping and collision — losses resulting from dropped loads, crane or hoist failures, and collisions during movement
- Improper rigging — damage resulting from rigging that fails to properly secure or support the load
- On-premises and off-premises operations — coverage typically applies both at your facility and at job sites where you are performing rigging work
The Care, Custody, and Control Exclusion
The most important reason riggers need specialized coverage is the care, custody, and control exclusion in standard commercial general liability policies. This exclusion eliminates coverage for damage to property that is in the insured's care — which is precisely the situation a rigger faces when moving a client's equipment. Without a riggers liability policy, there is typically no coverage for the most common and costly claims a rigging contractor can face.
Industry Considerations
Riggers liability is relevant to a range of businesses beyond what might be immediately obvious. Crane operators, rigging contractors, machinery movers, millwrights, steel erectors, and industrial equipment installers are the most direct users of this coverage. However, the need can also arise for general contractors who perform lifting operations, manufacturers who move heavy equipment for customers, and businesses that use overhead cranes in their own facilities to handle customer property. The value of the property being handled, the complexity of the lifts performed, and the types of equipment used all influence how riggers liability coverage should be structured. Etowah Insurance Group can help identify the right coverage approach for your operation.
