Which insurance policies protect railway contractors? A guide to rail contractor and rail engineer insurance

Caunce O’Hara are specialists for insuring UK rail contractors and specifically rail engineers. Our insurance scheme is widely regarded as one of the best in the market while also being one of the most competitive for premiums.

General acceptable criteria for cover include:

• Turnover or fee income of less than £250,000 per annum (pa).
• A maximum of 5 employees.
• No claims, or circumstances that could give rise to a claim, in the last 3 years.
• Need to be a UK-based company.
• All UK-based work – no overseas exposure.
• No previous insurance cancelled or declined.
• Work as part of a team, with no sign-off responsibility for work undertaken.

Caunce O’Hara’s rail insurance scheme offers cover including:

• Public Liability Insurance – up to £5 million (with the option for £10 million of cover, which is referred to our underwriters and is dependent on the level of risk)
• Professional Indemnity Insurance – up to £5 million
• Employers Liability Insurance – up to £10 million
• Personal Accident & Sickness Cover
• Tax Enquiry & Legal Expenses Insurance
• IR35 Contract Reviews for only £60.00 (available when purchased with the Tax Enquiry & Legal Expenses policy)

How does each policy help you?

• Public Liability Insurance – covers you for the cost of a public liability claim from a third party, such as a member of the public (not an employee), that has suffered injury (or death) or property damage caused by you or your employees in the course of your business activities.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance – (also known as PI insurance or professional liability insurance) is widely regarded as an essential business insurance if you provide advice, designs or a professional service to your customers. PI will also provide cover for legal costs and expenses in defending a claim as well as compensation payable to your client for loss or damages, making it a valuable business insurance policy for all sizes of business.
• Employers Liability Insurance – it is a legal requirement if you employ staff. It will provide cover for claims made against a business by employees who have suffered injury or disease as a result of their work.
• Personal Accident & Sickness Insurance – can provide cover for your loss of earnings while you are unable to work due to a work-related accident or illness caused by your work.
• Tax Enquiry & Legal Expenses Insurance – provides you with cover (in any one claim) for legal representation costs in the event of an investigation brought against you. The policy can provide cover for the following issues: employment disputes and compensation awards; employment extra protection; property, landlord and tenant disputes; criminal defense; tax protection; regulatory compliance; court attendance costs and jury service; identity theft; and contract disputes.
• IR35 Contract Reviews – will provide you with a clear explanation of your status in the eyes of the HMRC and help determine whether you are working Inside IR35 or Outside IR35.
• Combined Liabilities Insurance – combines public liability, employers liability, office contents cover (including portable equipment), and directors and officers insurance in one package that offer high value to any business.

Click here for a quick online railway contractor business insurance quote

Coverage is available for a wide range of rail professionals and is based on one of three levels of risk: Green indicates a low level of risk, Amber indicates a moderate level of risk and Red indicates the high risk rail professions. The level of premium for coverage will depend on which category your profession falls into.

The professions and categories can be seen below.

Green – lowest risk

• Alternative transport officer
• Area controller
• Asset engineer
• Cartographer
• Catering logistics officer
• Closed circuit tv CCTV operator
• Communications and control systems engineer
• Crew manager
• Customer service attendant
• Depot manager
• Duty officer
• Engineering technicians and draftspersons
• Environmental scientist
• Environmental engineer
• Estimator
• Facilities management officer
• Freight liaison officer
• Geotechnical engineer
• Human resources HR officer
• ICT manager and ICT project manager
• Industrial relations workplace relations officer
• Learning and development officer
• Marketing officer
• Multimedia specialist
• Operations and service delivery staff
• Payroll officer
• Property manager
• Purchasing officer
• Rostering officer
• Scada engineer
• Station manager master
• Stores clerk
• Train monitoring officer
• Train planner
• Training officer
• Transport officer

Amber – moderate risk

• Chief engineer
• Civil and structural engineering associate
• Civil engineer
• Civil engineering draftsperson
• Civil engineering technician assistant
• Civil engineering technologist
• Construction project manager
• Design engineer
• Electronics and communications technician
• Electronics engineer
• Engineering manager
• Engineering assistant
• Fire officer
• Investigations officer
• Network controller
• Operational engineer
• Project manager
• Project planner
• Protection engineer
• Radio communications technician
• Setting out engineer
• Structural engineer
• Systems control engineer
• Technical officer
• Technical surveyor surveying technician
• Telecommunications and control systems workers

Red – highest risk

• Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic
• Assistant engineer
• Boiler maker
• Brake mechanic
• Cable jointer
• Construction workers
• Electrical engineer
• Electrical linesperson
• Electrician
• Electrolysis technician
• Fitter and turner
• Maintenance engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Mechanical signaler
• Mechanical trades
• Metal fabrication trades
• Panel beater
• Rolling stock engineer
• Sheet metal worker
• Signal box manager
• Signalling engineer
• Substation electrician or technician
• Track engineer
• Vehicle body builder

If you don’t see your rail profession in our list, that doesn’t mean we can’t provide insurance cover for you. Call our friendly award-winning team for assistance and a competitive quote on 0333 321 1403 or click the green button below.

Click here for a quick online railway contractor business insurance quote

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