What Pollutants Could Harm Your Company?
There are countless possible pollutants, environmental conditions and contaminants in any building or property, and more could be discovered at any time. Many claims that insurance companies classify as pollution-related are ones that you may think would be covered under your commercial general liability (CGL) policy. Due to the sweeping pollution exclusion on these standard policies, you may find yourself surprised when a claim is classified as pollution and not covered.
The following are just a sampling of possible pollutants that may affect your company:
- Chinese drywall (defective drywall containing unsafe levels of sulphur that has been released into the air)
- Toxic mould, fungus or other bacterial contamination
- Silt runoff from construction sites into public water sources (liability for both contractor and property owner)
- Certain green construction techniques that can cause unforeseen pollutants
- Nanotechnology
- Asbestos
- Lead-based paint
- Any contaminants or chemicals that could be released into the air or public water supply (this list could be endless, including solvents, degreasers, paints, cleaning products, fuels, pesticides, herbicides, etc.)
- Aboveground or underground storage tanks
- Improper waste disposal (including medical waste)
- Building or car exhaust/fumes
- Malfunctioning of HVAC or ventilation equipment
- Malfunctioning, crumbling or leaking of older buildings and pipes, causing contamination
Pollutants are unpredictable, a costly exposure that your business needs to consider as part of its risk management program. While a lot of pollution-related incidents can be prevented, there is always the possibility for an unexpected spill, contamination or environmental condition to occur or surface. That is why pollution insurance is absolutely vital to protect your company. Call an ALIGNED Insurance Advocate today to learn more about pollution coverage.
More About ALIGNED Insurance
ALIGNED specializes in delivering insurance and risk management solutions exclusively to Canadian businesses. Through our 18 points of differentiation and expertise, we deliver unmatched value to our growing portfolio of clients from all industries that range from small to large organizations.
We offer all of the following products:
Management Liability:
Board Insurance / Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance
Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance
Fiduciary Liability Insurance
Other:
Property Insurance- Including Business Interruption & Extra Expense
Machinery Breakdown/Boiler & Machinery Insurance
Course of Construction(COC)
Wrap-up Liability Insurance
Commercial General Liability / CGL Insurance
Pollution Liability Insurance
Commercial Automobile & Fleet Insurance
Umbrella Liability Insurance
Cyber, Hacking & Privacy Liability Insurance
Crime/Fidelity/Employee Theft Insurance
Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance
Kidnap & Ransom Insurance
Representations & Warranty Insurance
Trade Credit
Surety & Bonding
To learn more about our insurance products visit us at www.alignedinsurance.com
