The downturn in the construction industry has lead to a situation where many contractors who up to recently employed one or more electricians, have now reduced their operation to a one man band.
They work on the basis that if a job arises which requires additional help, they can quite easily find other electricians who will join up with them on a sub contract basis for the duration of the project.
In many cases the contractor will have dispensed with Employer’s Liability Insurance when he let his staff go and may not have paid sufficient attention to ensuring that another electrician employed on a subcontract basis has adequate or indeed any insurance cover.
If a contractor intends to operate in this manner, he should ensure that the incoming subcontractor has insurance cover which adequately covers any liability which will arise from work carried out by him or injuries suffered by him. Alternatively the contractor should arrange with his own insurers to have his insurance extended to cover his liability to and for subcontractors.
It is frightening to see how many contractors are leaving themselves wide open to personal liability because of the inadequacy of their insurance cover and it is a well known saying in the industry that most insurances are fine until you seek to claim from them.
Please ensure that your insurance is adequate to cover not only the work you are doing but also work being done for you by others.