Construction Insurance Brokers
Protect your construction business with tailored insurance solutions designed for builders, tradies, contractors, and construction companies across Australia.
Plant & Equipment
Contract Works
Public Liability
Workers Compensation
Construction Occupations that we can insure
Construction Insurance for Builders – Builders have a large insurance exposure, from large building projects, expensive machinery, exposure to hazardous worksites, and an increased risk to injury to your workers, contractors and members of the public. Builders also have a large financial risk as they can deal on credit terms from their customers which could expose them to months of outstanding invoices as a result of an insolvency.
Plumbers have numerous hazards that they need to consider mitigating by insurance to protect their business. From injury from slips, trips, falls, injury from machinery, damage to machines, burns, biological hazards such as chemical exposure, all the way to envirconmental pollution exposure. Insurance is available to assist with the unforeseen costs as a result of the above risks.
Electricians should consider quite a few insurance policies to best protect their business. Public Liability Insurance is priority on the needed covers as injury to third parties (including other contractors on site and your engaged subcontractors) is quite high due to electrocution risk, fall from heights. and working with hazardous materials and equipment that results in injury.
Other insurance such as machinery & tool cover are also an important consideration.
Concreting businesses have a large workers compensation, public liability and machine & equipment including vehicle exposure. This is due to the nature of the work being so phsyical. Heaving lifting, bending, exposure to chemicals and duts, use of heavy machinery are all large exposures to staff, and to others on site.
Bricklayers have a large exposure for public liability insurance claims and also Workers Compensation claims due to the physical injury from strain from repetitive motions and heavy lifting. This is a bricklayers largest exposure.
Carpenters can be exposed to hazardous work enviornments, risk of injury to themselves, their staff, and members of the public, risk of damage or theft of their tools and equipment. Fortunately, insurance can mitigate these risks.
Formworkers have a few key exposures being Public Liability risk which would protect your business from claims brought against you for injury as a reuslt of your work, or damage caused by your activities. Workers Compensation is also a large risk due to the nature of the work being so physical, working from heights, and the equipment that is used. Weather and rain also pose a risk to the work and therefore a contract works policy could be suggested to mitigate this.
Earthmovers and excavators, as well as machinery operators have two major exposures;
Public Liability – a risk of injury to a third party as a result of your works, or damage to property such as damage to underground services or damage to surrounding structures as a result of the use of your equipment (think structural problems due to vibration etc)
Damage to Machinery – damage to machinery is easily mititgated with a comprehensive plant and equipment policy. It can cover for theft, damage, and even breakdown cover (upon request)
Roofing is deemed to be one of the most dangerous occupations due to the increase risks of falling from roofs, ladders, and scaffolding. Items also falling from heights causes a large risk for the roofing company if a third party is injured. Public Liability and workers compensation is extremely important as injury claims and even death claims from heights are extremely costly. Roofers also have an increased exposure to workplace fines and penalities by statutory bodies – fortunately, depending on your state, these can be insured.
As Glaziers are working with glass, this can result in an increased exposure to glass breakages which could injury workers and members of the public. Exposures to sealants and adhesives, along with machinery and tools used in cutting glass can result in injury which could lead to insurance claims.
Painters have a large exposure to falls, trips and the risk of injury when working at heights. Falls from scaffolding, ladders and roofs can be common but can be deadly and costly to your business. Damage to third party property from paint spills is also very common but with a comprehensive public liability policy, you can be properly protected.
What is Construction Insurance?
Construction Insurance is a broad term to define tailorable insurance covers to protect your construction business. It can cover insurances such as public liability insurance, workers compensation, personal accident and illness cover, motor vehicle, plant & equipment, tool cover, and contract works policies.
What does Construction Insurance Cover?
Construction insurance covers the key risks involved in building and trade work. It typically protects the project under construction, your liability to others, and the tools, equipment and machinery you rely on. Depending on the policy, construction insurance can include:
• Contract Works Insurance
Covers accidental damage to the project during construction, including fire, storm, vandalism, theft of materials, and on-site incidents.
• Public Liability Insurance
Protects you if your work causes injury to another person or damage to third-party property while on-site.
• Tools & Equipment Insurance
Covers theft or damage to portable tools, stock, and job-site equipment.
• Plant & Machinery Insurance
Protects excavators, bobcats, trailers, cranes and other machinery used in construction.
• Commercial Vehicle or Ute Insurance
Covers vehicles used for work such as utes, vans and small trucks.
• Professional Indemnity (for consultants)
Covers designers, project managers and construction professionals for errors in advice or design.
How Morgan Insurance Brokers can help
Obtaining Construction Insurance is quick and easy when you have Morgan Insurance Brokers to assist. We are able to source policies that can cover a single project, or all of your projects. We get to know you and your business so we can provide you with a tailored insurance product to protect your business and all of your future projects.
Public Liability Insurance for Construction Businesses
Public Liability Insurance is the most critical insurance that a construction business should insure for. It’s a cover that protects your business for when claims are brought against you for negligence, or even alleged negligence for damages to third party property, or injury to third parties that are not your employees. Public Liability and Workers Compensation are considered the 2 non-negotiable insurances as the likelihood of a claim occurring are higher in this industry than others.
Construction is considered a high-risk industry. According to Safe Work Australia, construction consistently records one of the highest numbers of serious workplace injury claims, with falls, slips and trips among the leading causes of injury. These types of incidents don’t just affect workers, they can also involve clients, subcontractors or members of the public on site.
Apart from protecting your business and also the directors and employees again big financial trouble if something did happen, it also allows you to get work. For example, many residentials, larger companies that you may subcontract to, councils etc will request to see a copy of your public liability insurance before they will either award you the work or allow you to go on site to start work.
Contract Works Insurance which protects the Project Itself
While Public Liability Insurance protects against third-party injury or property damage claims, Contract Works Insurance covers the physical construction project itself while it is being built.
As construction insurance specialists, we regularly assist clients with contract works claims. For example, during the November 2025 hail storm, Lauren Spice personally managed a builders claim process, working with the insurer to assess damage and ensure the builder’s financial exposure was minimised where severe hail damage impacted a newly installed roof on a residential property under construction. Because the builder was responsible for the works at the time of loss, the policy responded to cover the damage.
Extreme weather events, including hail and storm damage are one of the most contract works claims that occur in Australia. In 2025, severe weather events triggered nearly 264,000 insurance claims across Australia and billions in insured losses, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
This is exactly why Contract Works Insurance is critical for builders and trades who are responsible for materials, labour and project risk during construction. Without the right cover in place, unexpected events such as storm damage, theft or vandalism can result in significant financial loss.
Professional Indemnity Insurance which is For Advice, Design, and Errors
Professional Indemnity Insurance for the construction industry is an emerging insurance. Usually, we would think that professional indemnity insurance is for occupations such as insurance brokers, lawyers, accountants, etc however it is highly relevant to construction businesses that provide advice, design input or professional services as part of their role.
In construction, Professional Indemnity Insurance or Design and Construct Insurance responds in two main parts, depending on the policy type that has been organised. Please note that Design and Construct is not automatic under all professional indemnity insurance policies for the construction industry.
The first relates to claims arising from your own professional services, for example, project management advice, specification errors, or a breach of professional duty that leads to financial loss to a client, or third party.
The second involves claims connected to subcontracted design or advisory services. Builders can be drawn into disputes as a primary or secondary party where design consultants, engineers or other subcontractors have made errors that result in financial loss or rectification costs.
It is important to note that even if you haven’t signed a D & C Contract, this does not mean that you don’t have an exposure.
Workers Compensation Insurance
If you employ staff, Workers Compensation Insurance is mandatory in Australia. This insurance cover protects employees who suffer a work-related injury or illness and require time away from work.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance typically covers a portion of the employee’s lost wages during their recovery period, as well as reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses associated with the injury. This may include hospital treatment, specialist consultations, physiotherapy and approved rehabilitation programs.
While the primary purpose of Workers’ Compensation Insurance is to protect employees, it also safeguards business owners and directors from significant financial exposure. Without this cover in place, an employer could be personally liable for wages, medical expenses and associated costs following a workplace injury.
The construction industry remains one of the highest-risk sectors for workplace injury in Australia. According to Safe Work Australia , there were 146,700 serious workers’ compensation claims lodged nationally, with construction accounting for approximately 12% of those claims, making it one of the leading contributors to serious workplace injuries.
Tools and Equipment Insurance
Tool theft is one of the most common claims we see within the construction industry. As insurance brokers specialising in construction businesses, we regularly assist clients who have suffered losses due to stolen tools or damaged equipment.
For example, Lauren Spice recently managed a claim involving $25,000 worth of tools stolen from a construction company employee’s vehicle, despite the tools being secured inside a locked toolbox. The claim was lodged promptly and paid within two days, allowing the client to replace their equipment immediately and avoid significant disruption to their business operations.
Unfortunately, this type of incident is not uncommon. According to Australian crime statistics, theft from motor vehicles remains one of the most frequently reported property offences nationally, with tens of thousands of incidents recorded each year.
Theft from vehicles, including tradespeople’s tools and equipment stored on-site or in work vehicles contributes significantly to property crime in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 72,000 experienced motor vehicle theft in 2023–24
Tradespeople, whose vehicles often store high-value tools overnight, are particularly exposed to this risk.
Tools and Equipment Insurance can respond not only to theft but also to damage caused by insured events such as storm, fire and, in some cases, flood. Having the appropriate cover in place helps ensure that unexpected losses do not halt a project or create substantial out-of-pocket expenses for the business.
Plant and Machinery Insurance – For Larger Equipment
For businesses that own or hire significant machinery — such as excavators, loaders, or cranes — Plant and Machinery Insurance is often required.
This cover can protect against:
- Accidental damage
- Breakdown
- Theft
- On-site and off-site risks
Many hire agreements also require proof of insurance before equipment is released.
Management Liability Insurance – Protecting Business Owners
Construction business owners and directors face increasing exposure to regulatory investigations, employment disputes, and management-related claims.
Management Liability Insurance can provide cover for:
- Employment practices claims
- Workplace bullying or unfair dismissal allegations
- Regulatory fines and investigations
- Director and officer liabilities
As construction businesses grow, this type of cover becomes increasingly relevant.
