A Recent HSE Case Shows The Risks
The Health and Safety Executive recently wrote an article about fines for two companies after a worker fell through a fragile rooflight. Beyond the human cost, the case highlights how poor safety management can trigger investigations, prosecutions, fines, and civil claims. In some situations, directors and senior managers can face personal liability. Incidents like this are exactly why robust safety, accurate insurance, and regular reviews go hand in hand.
Safety Is Not Optional
Strong health and safety processes do more than prevent accidents. They influence how insurers price your programme, what conditions they apply, and how claims are handled. Employers’ Liability and Public Liability respond best when there is clear evidence of risk assessments, training, method statements, and permits to work.
For Contractors Combined and Property, insurers look closely at work at height controls, protection around fragile surfaces, site security, and hot works procedures. Management Liability matters too, because investigations and certain claims can target individuals, not just the company. Serious incidents can also disrupt operations, which is where accurate Business Interruption values and realistic indemnity periods are essential. Many contracts now require proof of both safety standards and insurance, so gaps can cost you work as well as claims.
What Insurers Typically Look For
Underwriters assess paperwork and culture together. They expect current risk assessments and method statements for high-risk activities, documented training and competency records, sensible supervision, and a functioning permit to work system for roof access, hot works, confined spaces, or live services.
Maintenance logs for plant and safety equipment, contractor vetting with clear responsibility splits, and near-miss reporting all point to a business in control. Clean records and a tidy, well-managed site reduce uncertainty, help settle claims faster, and often support better terms at renewal. Java Insurance Brokers helps you present this clearly, so your cover reflects how you actually operate.
