If you own a janitorial company, it’s important to have janitorial insurance. This term covers many different types of coverage and insurance policies. When it comes to janitorial insurance, should workers’ compensation be thrown into the mix? The answer is, yes!
Having workers’ compensation is essential to protecting your business in the event that an employee becomes sick or injured as a result of their job. Not having this coverage could result in thousands of out-of-pocket expenses and even bankruptcy for your business.
Here’s everything you need to know about janitorial insurance and how to protect your cleaning business.
Janitorial Insurance: Liability vs Workers’ Compensation
When considering janitorial insurance, it can be confusing to differentiate between various types of coverage. Two coverages that often get confused are liability and workers’ compensation coverage.
Let’s break down a few key characteristics.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is a type of insurance that provides coverage in the event of accidental property damage or client injury during cleaning. For instance, if one of your employees knocks over a vase as they’re cleaning, liability insurance would help pay for a replacement vase or replace the cost.
Similarly, if a client gets injured as a direct result of your cleaning, like slipping on a wet floor, liability coverage helps pay for their expenses.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
It’s important to note that liability coverage does not protect your employees. This is where workers’ compensation comes in handy. Workers’ comp covers your employee’s medical expenses if they’re injured or contract a disease from their job.
While liability insurance is important, you need workers’ compensation insurance to fully protect your janitorial business as well.
Do You Need Workers’ Compensation for Your Janitorial Insurance?
If you’re wondering whether you need workers’ compensation as a part of your janitorial insurance, the answer is yes. Workers’ compensation helps pay for medical expenses if an employee gets injured or sick as a result of their job.
Let’s consider this example. One of your employees is mopping the floor when they slip and fall. They sustain a leg fracture and pretty serious bruising during the injury. A workers’ compensation policy covers their medical expenses, including emergency room visits, any trips to the doctor, treatment, medications, physical therapy, and more.
Without this policy, your business would likely be responsible for their medical expenses out-of-pocket. Even with the best employee safety training for janitors like a how-to course for mopping properly, injuries are always possible.
This is why workers’ compensation is essential for your business! Plus, most states will require your janitorial business to have workers’ compensation coverage.
How the State Classifies Janitorial Companies
Most states require you to have workers’ compensation as a part of your janitorial insurance. It’s important to know the class codes they use to classify janitorial companies. Especially to make sure you are covered correctly and aren’t overpaying. The two main codes are 9170 and 9014.NCCI determines class codes and provides more information. It is important to make sure your insurance provider classifies your business correctly. It is also important to keep them up to date on your business to make sure your business has the right class codes assigned.
Janitorial Insurances & Class Code 9170
This is your general janitorial service provided by contractors. Note: this also includes window cleaning above ground level.
Janitorial Insurance & Class Code 9014
Get the Most Out of Your Janitorial Insurance with Direct Work Comp
You deserve the best workers’ compensation coverage for your janitorial business. Luckily, when you work with the professionals at Direct Work Comp, you can enjoy peace of mind! Let our experts do the hard work to help you navigate the ins and outs of workers’ compensation. You can get a quote today to see different options.
