Insurance for Janitors: What Type of Insurance Does a Janitor Need?

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What Liability Risks Do Janitors Face?

Whether working independently or running a cleaning crew, janitors operate on the front lines of high-traffic, high-stakes environments – where a single misstep can lead to costly liability. The risks they face are as constant as the job itself, from protecting people’s safety to preserving property.  These risks may include: 

• Slip-and-Fall Accidents. Injuries to customers or passersby who slip, fall, and are injured on wet floors or trip over an extension cord connected to a vacuum or industrial floor cleaner.

• Third-Party Property Damage. Accidentally damaging customer property or items while cleaning, dusting, or using chemical cleansers.

• Accusations of Theft. Janitors working in unsupervised areas may be accused of theft if an item goes missing.

• Allegations of Breach of Contract. Customers may allege a janitor failed to deliver a service as promised or performed substandard work and failed to fulfill their contractual obligations.

• Equipment Breakdowns. Sudden, unexpected equipment malfunctions caused by internal or electrical failures.

• Auto Accidents. Janitors log a lot of kilometres travelling to various customer sites and could be involved in a car accident.

• Damage to Business Property. Fire, extreme weather, break-ins and theft, or vandalism could damage a janitor’s office or warehouse.

Janitorial Business Insurance – What Does It Include?

Business insurance for janitors may include the following types of coverage:

• General Liability Insurance: Sometimes called ‘slip-and-fall’ insurance, general liability insurance for janitors covers third-party bodily injuries or property damage claims caused by your operations or that occur on your business property.
  
  For example, if, after mopping a floor in a customer’s office building, someone slips, falls, and is injured, they could pursue legal action against you. General liability insurance may pay for their medical expenses and your legal defence fees if sued.

• Tools and Equipment Insurance: Tools and equipment insurance for professional janitors pays to repair or replace your tools and equipment if lost, stolen, vandalized, or damaged by fire, flood, or an extreme weather event.
  
  It protects everything from brooms, mops, and buckets to vacuums and heavy cleaning equipment, whether in use, storage, transportation from one site to another, or storage at a client’s location.

• Commercial Property Insurance: If you own, lease, or rent an office, warehouse, or other commercial space from where you run your janitorial business, commercial property insurance is necessary to repair or replace damaged property, business contents, and inventory caused by fire, water, natural disasters, theft, and vandalism. 

• Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance: Also called professional liability insurance, E&O insurance for janitors covers customer accusations of negligence, misconduct, errors in your service, giving incorrect advice, or failing to deliver a service as promised.
  
  Commercial Auto Insurance: Janitors should have commercial auto insurance for their vehicles to transport equipment and materials and travel from one customer location to the next.
  
  Commercial auto insurance for janitors covers any vehicle (including trailers) that is used to transport materials, tools and equipment, packaged goods, or people. Most private-passenger car insurance policies do not cover vehicles used for commercial purposes. 

• Commercial Crime Insurance: Commercial crime insurance for janitorial businesses protects against financial losses stemming from internal theft, forgery, fraud, and employee dishonesty. It covers temporary, full-time, and part-time staff. This coverage can be added to your existing insurance policy or bought separately.

There may be other types of coverage that business insurance for janitors should include, such as pollution liability insurance if toxic or aggressive chemical cleansers are used at customer sites. It covers sudden or gradual environmental damages or third-party bodily injuries caused by your cleaning agents.

Sometimes, a professional janitor may require a commercial insurance bond. 

Professional janitors, cleaning companies, and independent cleaners may require a fidelity bond to protect customers from theft or damages caused by their services or employees. If you require more information on commercial bonds, speak to a Zensurance broker.

5 Tips for Professional Janitors to Prevent Accidents and Incidents

Here are five tips for professional janitors to consider to help prevent accidents, injuries, or unintentional damage to customer properties:

1. Wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

Janitors should always wear PPE, including gloves, masks, safety glasses, and footwear, to avoid injury on the job.

2. Use Wet Floor Signage

Always place caution signs in appropriate areas to warn others when mopping and waxing floors or cleaning up spills. Also, secure electrical cords and keep them away from areas where others are walking.

3. Be Cautious Mixing Chemicals

Janitors should always follow chemical manufacturer instructions for using and diluting cleaning products and work in well-ventilated areas. Never mix chemicals such as bleach and ammonia. Also, seal and store cleaning chemicals in safe areas after using.

4. Maintain Cleaning Equipment

Inspect and conduct routine maintenance on cleaning equipment, such as vacuums, buffers, and other machines, to prevent damages, injuries, and equipment breakdowns.

5. Use Ladders Correctly

If cleaning high-reach places, like air ducts and light fixtures, follow the instructions on setting up and using a ladder safely to avoid tipping over.

Get Low-Cost Professional Janitor Insurance In a Few Clicks

Zensurance is Canada’s leading small business insurance provider, helping more than 350,000 Canadian small business owners and independent professionals protect their finances and careers, including professional janitors, with janitor liability insurance.

Fill out our online application for a free quote in just a few clicks.

Our knowledgeable team of experienced insurance brokers will get the low-cost coverage you need from one of our 50 insurer partners in our network, tailor it to suit your requirements and budget, answer questions, and issue policy documents and a certificate of insurance in 48 hours or less.