General Contractors

"How to Insure" Training Courses
The "How to Insure" Online Training Courses are a practical hands-on program that explores the insurance needs of a customer. Each course follows a producer as he or she uses the Risk Evaluation System to work with a client in a specific industry. These courses are risk-specific, not coverage-specific and are designed to be introductory, not in-depth. They can help a producer, CSR and others in an agency gain the confidence necessary to pursue and work with a different industry niche.
Throughout this course, we will be providing regular updates on how our agent is progressing with the customer. At these updates, we will take time to review the course material with a short quiz. After you answer 10 quiz questions, the correct answers will be shown before going on to the next 10.

#1 - Risk Overview

#2 - General Information

#3 - Business Personal Auto

#4 - Inland Marine

#5 - Employee Dishonesty

#6 - General Liability

#7 - Contractual Exposures
Is Additional Insured Status Just A Technicality?
An insurer denied coverage for a contractor. The carrier held that the contractor was not owed coverage as it was not explicitly shown under a written agreement to be an ADDITIONAL insured. The contractor, seeking reimbursement after being sued by a city for negligent work, sued the insurer for recovery.
Click here to see whether the courts agreed that the contractor was eligible for coverage.

#8 - Commercial Umbrella

#9 - Business Auto

#10 - Workers Compensation

Employee or Independent Contractor
Classifying a worker as either an “employee” or “independent contractor” is problematic for more than just workers’ compensation. In an attempt to minimize the problems and confusion, the Department of Labor has proposed the codification of five tests to help in classifying a particular worker as an employee or independent contractor. Although not necessarily developed for the insurance industry, these tests can be used for workers’ compensation clients.

#11 - Surety Bond Requirements

#12 - Builders Risk

Quick Warning for Contractor Risks!
Warning! Warning!
Many commercial contractors have a residential exclusion endorsement attached to their commercial general liability (CGL) policy. If such an endorsement is attached, the contractor has no liability coverage for any work done on residential properties.
Query your commercial construction contractors regarding any work on the residential side. Remind them of the exclusion; and if possible, have the exclusion removed if the insured is performing residential work. Read the article

Commercial General Liability & Business Auto Policy Quiz

GC vs Subcontractor Quiz

Certificate of Insurance Questions and Answers

Tutorial en español

Is Additional Insured Status Just A Technicality?
An insurer denied coverage for a contractor. The carrier held that the contractor was not owed coverage as it was not explicitly shown under a written agreement to be an additional insured. The contractor, seeking reimbursement after being sued by a city for negligent work, sued the insurer for recovery.
Click here to see whether the courts agreed that the contractor was eligible for coverage.

Examining A Risk In More Detail
Another important reason is to gain enough knowledge to decide where the broader risk is still acceptable. Asking the right questions of a prospect or current client is a critical way to be aware of the total exposure presented by its operations. Ignorance of what risks are created by a client’s work is not a shield against legal responsibility for injury or damage caused to others. So, ask plenty of questions.
Click here to see how a questionnaire permits exploration for information that helps identify contractual risks that may need to be addressed. It’s from the Risk Survey – Commercial.

Academy Skills Test
Welcome to the Academy of Insurance Skills Test. These exams were designed to help you pinpoint areas of interest for possible training opportunities.
Each of these skills tests is designed to be completed in two hours.

Commercial Property
Take the Skills Test
This skills test focuses on commercial property topics, including;

Commercial Property Policy Provisions
CPP Coverage Limits
CPP Causes of Loss
CPP Definitions
Business Income / Extra Expense (Including Endorsements)
Ordinance or Law Endorsement
Utility Service (CP 04 17) Endorsement
Spoilage Coverage (CP 04 40) Endorsement
Leasehold Interest Coverage
CPP General Endorsements

Commercial General Liability
Take the Skills Test
This skills test focuses on commercial general liability topics, including;

CGL Definitions
CGL Coverage Trigger
CGL Exclusions & Exceptions
CGL "Insured" Status
CGL Coverage Limits
CGL Endorsements
Business Auto Coverage (BAC) Symbols
BAC Insured Vehicles
BAC Insured Status
BAC Coverages & Exclusions
BAC Valuation
BAC Endorsements
BAC Rating

General Contractors