Chemical applicators work in various industries and professions, including agriculture, aquatics, household and exterior cleaning, janitorial services, landscaping, pest control, and more. Insurance for chemical applicators is important for your clients to meet state requirements. In many situations, there is a legal requirement to hold insurance, given the risks of chemicals being used incorrectly or inadvertently causing harm.
Some clients may be under the impression that their general liability insurance will be sufficient in chemical application situations. It is important for them to carefully look at their coverage, as many insurers do not automatically include insurance for chemical applicators. In fact, it may be an exception within their general policy.
Chemical applicators working as contractors for others also need to check their own coverage. There is a strong likelihood that applicators will not be personally covered under someone else’s policy. Your clients should be wary of assuming there is adequate coverage only to find out there is no insurance when it is too late.
Examples of What Insurance for Chemical Applicators Covers
Having this specific coverage is critical as chemical applicators face risk and liability in several areas. For example, herbicide applicators may be held liable if their application drifts and damages crops elsewhere. Even if that damage is unintentional, the liability and risk still exist, and insurance is crucial to cover any potential claims.
Chemical applications sometimes happen in the wrong place. A landscaper, for instance, might spray the wrong part of a property, or the wrong property entirely. If it’s the right place, it could be the wrong chemical or mix, or the application could be delivered improperly. Insurance for chemical applicators can help with claims in all these situations and more.
In one example of a chemical applicator lawsuit, a farmer sued an aerial pesticide applicator for dousing him with pesticides while he was working. The farmer said he became ill from the pesticides, which were supposed to be treating the neighboring farm. The lawsuit sought more than $50,000 in damages including lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
In another suit, a man sued a pest management company after his wife died of cardiac arrest shortly after the home was sprayed with pesticides. The man sued the company for $2.5 million, alleging negligence on the part of the technician. It was settled out of court.
Risk Management for Chemical Applicators
There are steps chemical applicators can take to reduce risk and promote safety for operators and others involved. Typically, the biggest risks occur during mixing and loading of chemicals for application, as chemicals are often undiluted at these stages. Chemicals should only be used for prescribed purposes and mixed in prescribed manners.
During application, risks to manage include drift, equipment failure, and spills. It is important for chemical applicators to ensure safety and application procedures are followed and that conditions are appropriate for application. Anyone in the area should be aware of no-entry periods. Protective clothing and equipment must be used as needed and as recommended at all stages of working with chemicals. Environmental contamination is also a concern, so the surrounding environment must be protected as much as possible too.
At Prime Insurance Company, our in-house risk management team is well-versed in all these considerations and more. We work with insurance producers and their clients to fully understand the risks they will face, providing advice and plans for mitigating that risk. This reduces the frequency and severity of claims, which is beneficial for everyone involved.
Working with Prime Insurance Company for Chemical Applicator Insurance
We are experienced in and dedicated to finding solutions for high risks. Even if your clients have been turned away by other insurance companies, we will provide coverage if it is possible. This keeps you competitive as an insurance producer and able to work with clients who need insurance that they cannot find elsewhere.
We handle claims quickly and fairly. Producers and clients alike benefit from our direct service initiative. We are all about flexibility, problem-solving, and getting extraordinary results.
No matter what is going on in the world, Prime Insurance Company is here with a stable market for unique insurance needs, including insurance for chemical applicators. If your clients are looking for insurance for chemical applicators, or you simply want to add on to your insurance offerings, let’s talk.
You can use our online application to begin the process quickly. If you have other questions or need more information, give Prime Insurance Company a call at 800-257-5590, email us at info@primeis.com, and find us on social media through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
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Authored by Rick J. Lindsey, CEO, President, and Chairman of Prime Insurance Company
Rick J. Lindsey hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. He began working in the mailroom of his father’s Salt Lake City insurance firm, getting his introduction to the business that became his lifelong career. Lindsey quickly rose through the ranks while working in nearly every imaginable insurance industry job. As an entrepreneur, specialty lines underwriter, claims specialist, risk manager, and a licensed surplus lines broker, Rick Lindsey is highly skilled in all levels of leadership and execution. As he progressed on his career path, Rick discovered an urgent need for insurers willing to write policies for high-risk individuals and businesses. He was frequently frustrated that he could not provide the liability protection these entities desperately needed to safeguard their assets. He also formed the belief that insurance companies acted too quickly to settle frivolous claims. Lindsey decided to try a different approach. He started an insurance company and became the newly formed entity’s CEO. This opportunity has enabled Rick to fill a void in the market and provide a valuable service to businesses, individuals, and insurance agents who write high-risk business. Prime Insurance also specializes in helping individuals and businesses who live a lifestyle or participate in activities that make them difficult for traditional carriers to insure. If you’ve been denied, non-renewed, or canceled coverage, don’t give up quite yet. Chances are Prime Insurance can help.
