Contractors Are Focused on Getting the Job Done — Not Their Insurance Fine Print
Most contractors are focused on finishing the jobs, keeping their crew moving, and delivering quality work, not the hidden traps buried in their insurance policies. However, one exclusion could be a financial time bomb: the Total Pollution Exclusion Endorsement.
This little clause is quietly being added to more policies — often at renewal — without much fanfare. If you’re not watching closely, or your agent isn’t, you could be exposed to a major uninsured loss.
What’s an Endorsement, Anyway?
An endorsement is a document added to an insurance policy that modifies coverage. It can expand, reduce, or flat-out eliminate protection, overriding the base policy. That means what you thought you were covered for… You might not be.
Real-World Risk
Claims that used to be covered under a standard commercial general liability (CGL) policy — like spills, runoff, or even fumes from products — may now be denied if the Total Pollution Exclusion is attached. No coverage. No payout. Period.
It’s Not Always About Premiums
Fixing this doesn’t always mean paying more. Sometimes, it just means switching to a carrier that doesn’t automatically add the exclusion. That’s precisely why we recently stopped writing new business — and even pulled renewals — from carriers that were slipping this exclusion into policies.
Bottom Line
If you’re not reviewing your exclusions, especially those regarding pollution and environmental impairment, you’re playing with fire. Let us help you find a policy that protects all the work you do—not just the obvious stuff.
