The short version
- Look for a specialist policy with suitable height limits.
- Your liability continues while the scaffold stands.
- Tube, fittings and boards need property cover.
Most trades finish a job and leave. Scaffolders put up a structure that others then rely on for weeks. That changes the risk.
Why specialist cover matters
Everyday trade policies often limit working height. A scaffolder needs terms written for the work. Ask directly: erecting, altering and dismantling must all be included.
The law on height
HSE's order of priority is to avoid work at height where reasonably practicable, then prevent falls, then minimise the distance and consequences of a fall.1 Falls caused 31 worker deaths in 2025/26.2
The cover to look at
- Public liability. Main contractors commonly ask for high limits, so check the contract.
- Employers' liability, with at least the £5 million legal minimum.3
- Cover for your tube, fittings and boards, on site and in the yard.
- Lorry and goods-in-transit cover.
- Hired-in plant if you use it.
Paperwork that protects you
- Handover certificates for each structure.
- Inspection records.
- A clear record of who can alter the scaffold.
- Photos at handover and strike.
Sources
- Work at height, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969: a brief guide for employers, 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.