Building Cleaning And Maintenance Services Insurance Policy Information
Building Cleaning And Maintenance Services Insurance. Building cleaning services clean the interior of premises for commercial clients, especially offices and retail shops. Some provide exclusive services to one client only, while others have a number of regular clients or offer services to the public on an "as needed" basis.
Typical services include the removal of trash from all areas of the premises, cleaning restrooms, dusting, and regular vacuuming, mopping or sweeping of floors. Other services may include cleaning carpets, draperies, or eating areas, polishing floors, and window washing. Some provide cleaning services for properties up for sale or after criminal activity.
As a building cleaning and maintenance service company, you work with a variety of clients. From corporate offices to academic institutions, it's likely that clean and maintain several types of businesses.
You also face a number of different risks, some of which are risks that businesses in all industries face; employees could sustain work-related injuries or your equipment could be stolen from a jobs site. Some of the risks that you face are unique to your specific line of work.
For example, if you're tasked with cleaning and maintaining delicate and expensive diagnostic imaging machinery, an employee could potentially break it; or, if you're polishing the hardwood flooring of a historic building, the solution you're using could damage it.
These are just some of the incidents that could arise, and any of them could result in serious financial implications. This is why you should have building cleaning and maintenance services insurance to protect your business.
building cleaning and maintenance services insurance protects your janitorial company from lawsuits with rates as low as $47/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.
Below are some answers to commonly asked building cleaning and maintenance insurance questions:
- What Is Building Cleaning And Maintenance Insurance?
- How Much Does Building Cleaning And Maintenance Insurance Cost??
- Why Do Building Cleaning And Maintenance Services Need Insurance?
- What Type Of Insurance Do Building Cleaning Services Need?
- What Does Building Cleaning And Maintenance Insurance Pay For?
What Is Building Cleaning And Maintenance Insurance?
Building cleaning and maintenance insurance is a type of insurance that protects building owners and cleaning and maintenance companies from financial losses incurred due to damage to a building or the cleaning and maintenance equipment used in the building.
This insurance covers the costs associated with repairing or replacing damaged equipment, as well as the cost of repairing any damage to the building. Additionally, it may also provide coverage for any liability claims that may arise from accidents or injuries that occur during cleaning and maintenance activities.
This type of insurance is often required by building owners as a condition of contract with cleaning and maintenance companies, as it provides protection for both parties.
How Much Does Building Cleaning And Maintenance Insurance Cost?
The average price of a standard $1,000,000/$2,000,000 General Liability Insurance policy for small building cleaning and maintenance businesses ranges from $47 to $59 per month based on location, size, payroll, sales and experience.
Why Do Building Cleaning And Maintenance Services Need Insurance?
Of course, providing proper training and ensuring that you and your employees are following all protocols can help you avoid certain situations. However, regardless of how well-trained your staff is and how much you adhere to protocols, accidents do happen and emergencies can arise.
When they do, you can be held liable. The cost associated with repairing or replacing damaged property and medical bills can be exorbitant. If a client or an employee ends up filing a lawsuit, you'll also have to deal with legal expenses.
The bottom line: if something goes awry, you could be responsible for some hefty fees, the cost of which could potentially put you in financial ruin.
What's the best way to protect your business, your clients, your employees - and yourself - from liabilities and the associated financial responsibilities?
Insurance. With the right type of building cleaning and maintenance services insurance coverage, you won't have to cover the cost of damages and litigation out of your own pocket. Instead, your insurance carrier will handle these expenses for you. In other words, having insurance can save you from serious financial turmoil.
What Type Of Insurance Do Building Cleaning Services Need?
Since there are so many risks associated with operating a Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services company, there are several types of coverage that you should carry. Some types of insurance coverage are compulsory, while others are elective:
- Commercial General Liability - This type of coverage is mandatory and protects you from third-party claims; for example, if a vendor slips and falls while making a delivery, commercial general liability insurance will cover the cost of any associated medical care. If the client files a lawsuit, it will also cover the cost of litigation.
- Workers' Compensation - Whether you employee a staff of 1 or 500, workers comp coverage is legally required in most states. Should an employee slip and fall while waxing a floor and suffers a compound fracture, it will cover any medical bills, as well as lost wages.
- Commercial property insurance - Another mandated form of coverage, commercial property insurance protects the physical property of your business, as well as anything within it; machinery, supplies, office equipment, etc. If the building and contents are damaged in a fire or vandalized, for example, commercial property insurance will assist with the cost of repairing or replacing anything that's damaged or lost.
- Inland Marine - Commercial property insurance only protects those items that are housed within the physical structure of your business' property. That means that any machinery - floor buffers, for example - that aren't on your property won't be covered by your policy when they're in transit or on a job site. For that, you'll need inland marine insurance. If that buffer is stolen, vandalized, or damaged because a fire breaks out in the building you're cleaning, this type of policy will cover the cost of repairing or replacing it.
- Commercial Auto - If you use any vehicles for work-related reasons, you'll also want to carry commercial auto insurance. If the driver of the vehicle is involved in an accident, commercial auto will go into effect.
Building Cleaning & Maintenance Services Risks & Exposures
Premises liability exposures are slight at the building cleaner's premises due to lack of public access to the premises, but moderate away from the premises due to hazards at the job site. When cleaning building interiors, there is some potential for slip and fall injuries to the client's employees or customers due to wet, slippery floors, spills and equipment and supplies impeding access.
The absence of basic controls (e.g., scheduling to minimize any work done while the premises are open for business, proper caution signs, the use of non-slip finishes, etc.) may indicate a morale hazard. There is also the risk of injury or damage to customers' property from spills, marring, scratched surfaces, and the upset or dropping of breakables. Many of these fall under the care, custody and control exclusion, and should be covered under inland marine bailees' forms. All agreements regarding responsibility for the property in the insured's care need careful review and evaluation.
Cleaning services typically employ casual labor and have high turnover, with minimal time or budget for training, which can increase the loss potential. Pre employment background checks and reference checks should be a part of the hiring process in order to protect clients. A major concern is failure to secure the premises during cleaning and especially upon completion of the work. This hazard increases with high employee turnover.
The cleaning service should have specific procedures addressing lockup and key control that include a final checklist by the supervisor of a particular client when the job is completed. Some areas of the customers' premises may need to remain closed because they contain property susceptible to damage or contamination, dangerous materials, or confidential information.
Personal injury exposures include invasion of privacy and even assault to the customers' employees. Failure to run background checks and review references on employees increases the hazard and reduces available defenses.
Workers compensation exposure can be high. Casual labor, high turnover and minimal training time are all factors affecting losses. Work is frequently performed under time constraints, which can encourage workers to cut corners. Lung, eye, or skin irritations and reactions can result from cleaning chemicals. Slips and falls can occur during cleaning operations. Back injuries, hernias, sprains and strains can result from lifting.
Employees can be assaulted while working "off hours" in empty buildings. Close supervision is needed. Workers may be injured in auto accidents during transportation to and from job sites.
Property exposures at the cleaner's premises are usually limited to an office and storage of equipment, supplies, and vehicles. Cleaning supplies may contain flammable chemicals that require proper labeling, separation, and storage in approved containers and cabinets to reduce the potential for fire. There may be a garage area for vehicles transporting equipment and crew to job sites.
Crime exposure is from employee dishonesty, including theft of customers' goods. Background checks, including criminal history, should be performed on all employees handling money. All ordering, billing and disbursement should be handled as separate duties with reconciliations occurring regularly. Supervision and monitoring are important to control losses.
Inland marine exposure includes accounts receivable if the building cleaner offers credit to customers, contractors' equipment for cleaning supplies and equipment, such as vacuum cleaners, taken to the customer's premises, and valuable papers and records for customers' and suppliers' information. Some cleaners may store some of their equipment on the customer's premises; others do their work with equipment provided by the client.
There may be a bailees' exposure for customers' property in the cleaner's care, custody and control. Damage to high-valued items like carpeting and draperies could result in a sizable loss since a small spill or other damage could result in the entire item being unusable.
Business auto exposures are generally limited to driving to and from clients' premises with crew, equipment, and supplies. All drivers must be well trained and have valid licenses for the type of vehicle being driven. MVRs must be run on a regular basis. Random drug and alcohol testing should be conducted. Vehicles must be well maintained with records kept in a central location.
If employees provide their own transportation to worksites, the exposure is limited to non-owned for workers running work-related errands. If workers transport coworkers in personal autos, the cleaning service should verify that personal automobile insurance has been purchased.
What Does Building Cleaning And Maintenance Insurance Pay For?
Building cleaning and maintenance services can be sued for various reasons, including:.
- Slip and fall accidents: If a customer or employee slips and falls on a wet floor or other hazardous surface, they may sue the cleaning and maintenance service for negligence.
- Property damage: If a cleaning or maintenance service damages a customer's property during the course of their work, the customer may file a lawsuit to recover the cost of repairs or replacement.
- Breach of contract: If a cleaning or maintenance service fails to fulfill the terms of their contract with a customer, the customer may sue for breach of contract.
- Employee injury: If an employee of a cleaning or maintenance service is injured on the job, they may file a workers' compensation claim or sue the employer for negligence.
- Discrimination or harassment: If an employee or customer of a cleaning or maintenance service experiences discrimination or harassment, they may sue the company for damages.
Insurance can protect building cleaning and maintenance services in several ways:.
General Liability Insurance: This insurance policy can cover claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by the cleaning or maintenance service. If a customer or employee is injured or their property is damaged, the insurance company can cover the costs of legal defense and any settlements or judgments awarded..
Professional Liability Insurance: This insurance policy can protect against claims of negligence or errors and omissions. If a customer sues for breach of contract or claims that the cleaning or maintenance service did not fulfill their duties, the insurance company can cover the costs of legal defense and any settlements or judgments awarded..
Workers' Compensation Insurance: This insurance policy can cover medical expenses and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job. If an employee sues the employer for negligence, the insurance company can cover the costs of legal defense and any settlements or judgments awarded..
Employment Practices Liability Insurance: This insurance policy can protect against claims of discrimination or harassment. If an employee or customer sues for damages, the insurance company can cover the costs of legal defense and any settlements or judgments awarded..
Overall, insurance can help building cleaning and maintenance services manage the financial risks of lawsuits and protect their business from potential liability.
Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification
- SIC CODE: 7349 Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
- NAICS CODE: 561720 Janitorial Services
- Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 9014 Janitorial Services by Contractors - No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers, 9015 Building or Property Management - All Other Employees
7349: Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
Division I: Services | Major Group 73: Business Services | Industry Group 734: Services To Dwellings And Other Buildings
7349 Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified: Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing building cleaning and maintenance services, not elsewhere classified, such as window cleaning, janitorial service, floor waxing, and office cleaning. General contractors and special trade contractors primarily engaged in building repair work are classified in Division C, Construction.
- Acoustical tile cleaning service
- Building cleaning service, interior
- Chimney cleaning service
- Custodians of schools on a contract or fee basis
- Floor waxing service
- Housekeeping (cleaning service) on a contract or fee basis
- Janitorial services on a contract or fee basis
- Lighting maintenance service (bulb replacement and cleaning)
- Maid service on a contract or fee basis
- Maintenance, building: except repairs
- Office cleaning service
- Service station cleaning and degreasing service
- Telephone booths, cleaning and maintenance of
- Venetian blind cleaning, including work done on owners' premises
- Window cleaning service
Building Cleaning And Maintenance Services - The Bottom Line
To learn more about the different types of janitorial policies you should invest in and how much coverage you should carry, speak to a reputable insurance broker.
Additional Resources For Contractors & Home Improvement Insurance
Learn about small business contractor's insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs - and how commercial insurance can help protect your contracting business from lawsuits.
- Air Conditioning Systems Installation Repair
- Appliance Repair & Service
- Blacksmith & Metal Workers
- Boat Repair & Dry Docks
- Boiler Contractors
- Builders Risk
- Building Cleaning & Maintenance Services
- Cabinet Installer
- Cable And Satellite TV Installer
- Carpentry
- Chimney Sweep
- Cistern Contractors
- Contractor Liability
- Curtain Cleaners
- Deck Builders
- Door And Window Installers
- Dryer Vent Cleaning
- Drywall Contractor
- Electrical Contractors
- Environmental Remediation Contractors
- Fence Installation
- Fire Sprinkler Contractors
- Fire & Water Restoration Contractors
- Flooring Contractor
- Furniture Repair
- Garage Door Installer And Repair
- General Contractors
- Glass Contractor
- Glazier Insurance
- Gutter Installation And Repair
- Handyman
- House Cleaning
- HVAC Contractor
- Insulation Contractor
- Janitorial Cleaning Services
- Landscaping
- Lawn Care
- Lawn Irrigation Sprinkler System Installation
- Locksmith
- Oil And Gas Well Drilling Contractors
- Painters
- Paperhanging Contractors
- Plastering And Stucco Contractor
- Plumbing
- Pressure Washing Contractors
- Propane And Fuel Dealers
- Rug, Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning
- Sandblasting Contractors
- Security Alarm
- Septic Tank Cleaning
- Siding Contractor
- Sign Installation & Repair
- Solar Panel Installers
- Snow Plow
- Stone And Tile Installer
- Subcontractor
- Surety Bonds
- Swimming Pool Contractor
- Swimming Pool Service And Maintenance
- Tank Cleaners
- Tool Grinding And Repair
- Tree Surgeon
- Tree Trimming
- Upholstery Shop
- Waste Haulers & Garbage Collection
- Water Well Drilling
- Welding Contractor
- Wildlife & Pest Control
- Window Cleaning
- Specialty Contractors
The contracting industry is a field that involves a lot of risks, both for the contractor and for the clients they work for. This is why commercial insurance is so important for contractors. Insurance can protect contractors from a variety of potential losses, such as:
Liability: If a contractor causes damage to a client's property or if a client is injured while on a job site, the contractor could be held legally responsible. Liability insurance can cover legal fees and any settlements or judgments that may be awarded.
Property damage: Contractors often use a lot of expensive equipment and tools, and there is always a risk that this equipment could be damaged or stolen. Commercial property insurance can help cover the cost of replacing damaged or stolen equipment.
Business interruption: If a contractor is unable to work due to an unforeseen event, such as a natural disaster, insurance can help cover their lost income during this time.
Workers compensation: If a contractor or one of their employees is injured on the job, worker's comp can help cover medical expenses and lost wages.
Overall, commercial insurance is an important risk management tool for contractors. It can provide financial protection against a wide range of potential losses, helping contractors to stay in business and continue serving their clients.
Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Business Personal Property, Employee Dishonesty, Contractors' Equipment and Tools, General Liability, Employee Benefits Liability, Umbrella Liability, Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.
Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Building, Business Income with Extra Expense, Earthquake, Flood, Leasehold Interest, Real Property Legal Liability, Accounts Receivable, Builders Risk, Computers, Goods in Transit, Installation Floater, Valuable Papers and Records, Cyber Liability, Employment-related Practicesand Stop Gap Liability.
