Need advice on whether one needs to take workers comp insurance for casual jobs

ameyas7 on 21/04/2017 - 00:53

hi OZBargainers,

we are planning to move house soon and I need to get some paint + gyprock job done. as i don't have a first-hand experience in either, i was planning to post it online on say airtasker or other similar sites.
i was keen to know what are the liabilities of job posters w.r.t. such casual jobs? i.e. whether or not one should consider taking some kind of insurance cover or whether tradies will have their own for workers comp etc cases?
looking at airtasker's insurance FAQ it seems like their insurance policy will cover the liability of the worker but it will not cover the liability of the job poster.

kindly advise or share your experiences.
thanks in advance.

PS: i did try to go through this old OZBargain thread but couldn't conclude much and couldn't succeed to resurrect it hence posting a new one.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • mskeggs on 21/04/2017 - 06:33
    +2

    Check your home insurance. Most cover you for liability.

    • ameyas7 on 21/04/2017 - 21:31

      @mskeggs:
      Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, not just yet. As we were planning to move-in in about 2 weeks time, I thought Ill take the insurance around that date. As the unit will be vacant for few days, I was planning to squeeze-in the paint job.

  • derpdeder on 21/04/2017 - 06:47
    +1

    What specific event/s are you trying cover yourself for as a job poster? What instances do you think you are legally liable for injury for work performed on your property?

    Have a look at your home insurance in the first instance as they generally include some level legal liability. For example my Suncorp policy has $10m legal liability - however it does not apply if the work being performed is over $50k.

    I am reasonably confident that workers comp insurance is not the right type of insurance, you would be looking to public liability. Workers comp covers your employees and contractors who act as employees, neither of which usually apply in the situation you mention above.

  • ameyas7 on 21/04/2017 - 21:54

    @derpdeder:
    Thanks for the advice. I haven't taken home & contents insurance just as yet as we will be moving in about 2 weeks time. As the unit will be empty for few days, I was thinking to squeeze in the paint job.
    I'm more concerned around any liabilities towards 3rd party injuries either to tradies or any passerby. As we have no idea on what are various gotchas / liabilities in such scenarios, we just wanted to make sure we have covered ourselves.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2017 - 10:45
      +1

      You need to take out the home and contents insurance or risk losing it all if the dude slips over.

      • ameyas7 on 24/04/2017 - 18:09
        +1

        everything is in place now :)
        thanks though.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join