Public liability and employers’ liability cover built for scaffolders, including the higher limits this trade typically needs given the height and collapse risks involved.
Public liability and employers’ liability cover built for scaffolders, including the higher limits this trade typically needs given the height and collapse risks involved.
Collapse & falling itemsWorking at heightThe scaffolding itself
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Scaffolding insurance is a combination of covers built around erecting, altering and dismantling scaffold, public liability for injury or damage, employers’ liability if you have staff, and cover for the scaffold structure itself. Because a collapse or fall can affect your own workers, other trades on site, and members of the public below, this trade typically needs higher liability limits than most.
Scaffolding often stands over a public pavement or road, that means members of the public are at risk every day it’s up, not just while you’re working on it.
Scaffolding insurance can include:
Public liabilityEmployers’ liabilityScaffold structure coverProfessional indemnity (if you design)Hired-in scaffold coverBusiness van insurance (separate policy)
Public Liability
Covers claims if your business injures a customer or damages their property.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ any staff, even casual help.
Professional Indemnity
Covers claims that your scaffold design was negligent.
Business Contents
Protects scaffold stock and equipment kept at a yard.
Tools & Equipment
Covers your smaller tools against theft from the van or yard.
How much public liability cover does scaffolding need?
How much public liability cover does scaffolding need?
A collapse or fall can affect workers, other trades and the public below, many scaffolders carry higher limits than the £1-2 million common elsewhere.
A collapse or fall can affect workers, other trades and the public below, many scaffolders carry higher limits than the £1-2 million common elsewhere.
| Level of cover | Typical for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
£2 million | Small domestic scaffold jobs | May be too low for main contractor work |
£5 million | General scaffolding contracts | A common minimum for commercial contracts |
£10 million | Larger commercial or public-facing sites | What many main contractors require |
Beyond £10 million | Major contracts or specified requirements | Usually only needed if the contract specifies it |
Top Tip
Check what your main contractor requires before choosing a limit, scaffolding standing over a public pavement often needs a higher minimum than other trades on the same site.
There’s no fixed price. It depends on the type and scale of scaffolding you erect, whether you own or hire stock, whether you have staff and your claims history.
Type of scaffolding work
Commercial and public-facing work carries more risk than small domestic jobs.
Level of cover
Higher public liability limits, common in this trade, increase your premium.
Number of staff
More employees increase your employers’ liability exposure.
Height and duration
Taller structures and longer-standing scaffold affect your risk profile.
Owned vs hired stock
Owning scaffold stock adds equipment risk on top of your liability cover.
Claims history
A clean claims record helps keep premiums down at renewal.
How to get scaffolding insurance
How to get scaffolding insurance
Getting scaffolding insurance takes four steps: tell us about your work, choose your cover level, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting scaffolding insurance takes four steps: tell us about your work, choose your cover level, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Tell us about your work
The type of scaffolding you erect, and whether you have staff.
Choose your cover level
£2 million up to £10 million or more, based on your contracts.
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
Get covered and working
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
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Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Scaffolding insurance guides
Scaffolding insurance guides
Practical advice on cover levels, structures and staying protected.
Practical advice on cover levels, structures and staying protected.
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Scaffolding insurance FAQs
Scaffolding insurance FAQs
Straight answers on cover levels, structures, public risk and cost.
Straight answers on cover levels, structures, public risk and cost.
Scaffolding insurance is a combination of covers built around erecting, altering and dismantling scaffold: public liability for injury or damage, employers’ liability if you have staff, and cover for the scaffold structure and stock itself.
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