Janitorial insurance is a type of business insurance that is designed specifically to protect cleaning professionals from the various risks and liabilities that can arise in their line of work. For these types of workers, this insurance can offer reassurance that they are safe on the job. Conversely, neglecting to have this type of insurance can place a cleaning professional at great safety risk when on the job. If you are a janitorial professional or are the employer of one, take a look at this guide that describes the risks of disregarding janitorial insurance.
What is Janitorial Insurance?
Janitorial insurance protects cleaning professionals from mishaps that can occur while they perform their duties. Although this type of insurance is not one of the more well-known policies, it is considered essential for institutions that regularly hire janitors to maintain cleanliness in their spaces.
Risks of Disregarding Janitorial Insurance
There are several risks involved in disregarding janitorial insurance for your cleaning professionals. Some of the following are considered some of the riskiest elements of ignoring the need for janitorial insurance:
You Will Be Liable for Any Mishaps Related to Equipment
Janitors often employ many complex pieces of machinery to perform industrial and commercial-level cleaning activities. Just like any piece of equipment, these pieces of machinery are liable to occasionally malfunction and perform incorrectly, which can cause damage to the property that they are being used on. Janitorial insurance can help protect your workers from being liable for any damage done to this kind of property.
Your Employees Will Not Be Protected from Physical Injury
Janitorial work might not seem like the most nail-biting job, but janitors are vulnerable to injury during work. With janitorial insurance, they will be protected from the following mishaps:
- Falls: Cleaning staff often work on slippery surfaces that can make them vulnerable to slipping and falling.
- Lifting strain: Janitorial staff frequently have to lift heavy equipment, which can strain their physiques.
- Bodily injury: Janitorial staff can be vulnerable to receiving cuts, bruises, and other injuries due to frequent encounters with hazardous materials like broken glass.
- Repetitive motion injury: Many cleaning professionals perform repetitive tasks that can induce repetitive motion injury over time.
Professional Mishaps Hit Harder
Cleaning professionals often care for very valuable or sentimental pieces of private property. Although this might be rare, on occasion, a cleaning professional might perform the wrong procedure or function or even provide substandard work in a setting where perfection is expected.
Janitorial insurance can protect your organization from the financial consequences of claims that are filed against a single employee who may have performed their duties at a less-than-desirable professional standard. This can save all parties from incurring large expenses related to these experiences.
You May Pay More if the Equipment Breaks
Many of the pieces of professional cleaning equipment that cleaning professionals frequently utilize are very expensive to repair or replace in case of damage or destruction. Janitorial insurance can give you a slight buffer in case of equipment breakdown in terms of recouping the costs. In addition, having coverage can assist you with renting temporary equipment to use while you look for a replacement.
Your Workers May Be More Vulnerable to Illness
Janitorial workers are exposed to a high amount of pathogens and biochemical materials. The source of these hazards can range from contaminated materials to human waste. Sometimes, consistent exposure to these hazardous elements can lead a janitorial employee to develop serious health consequences.
To combat this, you must educate your employees about the importance of wearing proper protective equipment. Especially when they work with hazardous materials. But even with this, there is some level of risk. This is why it is important to have insurance protection in case your employee incurs medical expenses due to exposure to hazardous materials.
California’s Insurance Expert
Safecal is a trusted expert in offering various clients business insurance of all kinds. If you want to outfit your cleaning team with top janitorial insurance, contact us today to discuss your options.