Pollution Liability Insurance

We specialize in providing different types of customized pollution liability insurance in Ontario, Canada.

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As a top-notch and award-winning commercial insurance brokerage firm in Ontario, Contractors Insurance is trusted by numerous businesses for their insurance needs. We provide personalized insurance bundles that will help bring your business to a secure future, which includes pollution liability insurance.

If your business regularly works inside client properties, excavates soil, works near bodies of water, handles waste disposal, or works on any project that potentially causes environmental damage (i.e., affects air quality), we highly recommend pollution liability insurance.

With our track record of success and long-term relationships with many satisfied clients, you can be sure your business is in good hands with Contractors Insurance.

What Is Pollution Liability Insurance?

Pollution occurs when a solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal irritant, contaminant, or pollutant is released or discharged into an indoor or outdoor environment. This affects soil, water, or air quality and could lead to diseases in residents living nearby.

Given the dangerous nature of pollutants, it’s easy to see why businesses often purchase pollution liability coverage. It protects them from risks caused by environmental pollution by covering legal fees, cleanup costs, and emergency response costs as needed.

The following are covered under pollution liability insurance:

Third-Party Bodily Injury

If a client suffers from an illness due to a pollutant suddenly released by your business, pollution liability insurance can help pay for costs related to bodily injury claims, including medical fees and legal expenses.

Property Damage

Your pollution liability coverage can also help pay for costs in case you or your employees cause damage to a person’s property near your job site. This could also include property damage due to faults in a completed project.

Pollution Cleanup Costs

Your pollution liability insurance can also help pay for clean-up or remediation costs as a direct result of your business operations. This helps take the financial burden off your shoulders while ensuring the pollutants don’t contaminate a larger area.

Business Interruptions

Your specialized pollution liability insurance could also include business interruption coverage, which ensures your business’s finances are secured in case operations come to a halt due to environmental damage.

Who Can Benefit From Pollution Liability Insurance Coverage?

Pollution liability insurance will benefit you if:

You work inside clients’ homes and private properties
You handle projects involving fixtures or appliances that come in contact with water
Your operations can affect the air quality of a given structure or space
You excavate soil or work with underground tanks and similar equipment
You do work near bodies of water
You handle potentially toxic substances or potential pollutants
Your business regularly disposes of waste materials

It’s worth noting the above qualifiers indicate you are at risk of causing or aggravating environmental pollution. Pollution liability or environmental claims can cost you thousands or even millions of dollars, depending on the extent of the damage to the surrounding environmental area. So, if you would wisely like to secure pollution liability insurance to protect your business, Contractors Insurance is here to help.

Why Is It Important for Ontario Contractors to Have Pollution Liability Insurance?

Extensive legislation exists to protect Canada’s natural environment. If your business is found responsible for causing environmental liabilities, you could face fines and penalties on top of the cleanup and/or emergency response costs.

However, it’s not only the environment at stake when talking about pollution liability claims. Even enclosed structures can be subjected to pollution, which could still lead to costly lawsuits. This is why pollution liability insurance is more crucial than ever before.

Pollution Liability Claims Examples

Claims Example #1

You work as a paving contractor and were recently hired to apply a coat of asphalt on a new road. Suddenly, heavy rain washes the substance into a nearby body of water, causing a significant impact on wildlife. The incident was reported a day later.
Pollution liability insurance will cover needed cleanup costs, potentially amounting to $2,000 as well as the environmental penalty of $100,000.

Claims Example #2

You installed an air conditioning unit in a building which has since had 10 cases of legionnaire’s disease.
It was later proven that the air conditioning units you installed were contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Pollution liability coverage will help pay for the settlement fees amounting to $250,000.

Claims Example #3

The home you renovated has since had an infestation of mould, and the homeowner sues your business for not cleaning up thoroughly.
Your insurance coverage can help cover settlement fees amounting to $5,000.

Leading Provider of Pollution Liability Insurance in Ontario

Contractors Insurance is committed to excellence in terms of how well we respond and adapt to our client’s unique needs. We’ve set ourselves apart from other insurance brokers in the market by offering these valuable benefits:

Personalized Insurance Plans

Say goodbye to costly riders. We tailor our plans so you get specialized coverage that targets your needs directly, helping you save on premiums in the long run.

Utmost Transparency on Coverage and Limitations

You’ll know everything about your coverage limit, what triggers a claim, and its exclusions. This is the level of proactive transparency you can expect from us.

Thorough and Straightforward Insurance Education

We treat our clients like partners. If you ever need to make tough decisions on your contractors’ pollution liability insurance or risk management, we make our insights and expertise readily available for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pollution Liability Insurance

Environmental impairment liability insurance costs depend on several factors, including the size of the business and the nature of the industry. Average costs are around $150 per month for a coverage limit of approximately $1 to $2 million.

No, it’s not currently required in Ontario. However, environmental claims against a business can lead to steep civil fines and penalties, which is why companies exposed to such risks opt for liability insurance.

Ready to Get the Coverage You Need?

Contractors Insurance is an Ontario-based, award-winning insurance brokerage firm. We have helped numerous clients with their unique needs.

Our personalized insurance bundles and dedicated assistance will help you run your business worry-free. For detailed inquiries about our pollution liability insurance, contact us today or get started with a quick quote!