Insurer appetite varies, but some environmental activities commonly require additional information or specialist underwriting.

Examples can include:

• Contaminated land assessment
• Remediation advice
• Managing or supervising remediation
• Asbestos or silica work
• Mould and hazardous-material work
• Pollution response or monitoring
• Soil and groundwater contamination
• Occupational hygiene
• Clearance or compliance certification
• Environmental engineering
• Dangerous goods consulting
• Radiation consulting
• Mining and mine-safety work
• Oil and gas
• Waste management
• Heavy industry
• Major infrastructure
• Expert witness work
• Reports relied upon in property transactions or financing
• Responsibility for physical contractors
• Overseas projects

These activities are not necessarily uninsurable.

However, insurers may:

• Request additional information
• Apply a higher excess
• Restrict particular activities
• Apply a sub-limit
• Include specific exclusions
• Require specialist policy wording

What information can be required? #

This can include:

• Detailed service descriptions
• Qualifications and experience
• Client industries
• Project values
• Percentage of income from the activity
• Sample reports or procedures
• Contracts
• Subcontractor details
• Claims history
• Risk management procedures
• Quality assurance processes

Contractual responsibility also matters.

A consultant may accept obligations that extend beyond their ordinary professional duty, including responsibility for remediation outcomes or the work of other parties.

Contact our team before accepting a materially different or higher-risk environmental project.