The short version
- Most firms take insurance on trust.
- An uninsured subcontractor can become your problem.
- Make it a routine step, so it is never personal.
On most small sites, insurance runs on trust. 'Yeah, I'm covered, mate.' Nobody wants to be the one who asks.
Then a ceiling comes down, or somebody falls. You find out the policy lapsed in June, or it never covered that kind of work.
Make it boring
Put it on a checklist. Ask everyone, including people you have known for twenty years. Once it is routine, nobody can take offence.
Check the dates, the limit and the trade description. Keep a copy. And remember that a subcontractor's self-employed label does not settle who is responsible for them. HSE is clear that the real relationship is what counts.1
Sources
- Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969: a brief guide, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 11 November 2026.
General information only. This is not legal, insurance or financial advice. Your own policy wording decides what is covered.