Mining contractors may operate on surface or underground, maintain plant, drill, blast, construct infrastructure or supply components. Mine-site rules and the principal’s insurance requirements do not remove the need to examine the contractor’s own cover.
We consider the specific methods, sites and contractual requirements of this occupation before approaching available markets.
What changes the insurance assessment
Commodity and site type, above/below ground split, actual services, haulage, explosives, plant and maintenance, mine principal’s indemnities, number of sites, subcontracting, high-value assets and claims history.
Covers to discuss
Public/products liability, plant and motor, professional indemnity for engineering/design, contract works, pollution and management liability where relevant. Check mining and underground-work exclusions, care/custody/control and damage to the principal’s property.
Mining contractor scope
Separate surface operations, underground work, plant maintenance, drilling and shutdown activities. Provide the mine type, locations, operating environment, annual site days and whether the work involves explosives, confined spaces, autonomous equipment or critical production systems. Mine operators often impose detailed insurance schedules and indemnities; send the actual contract instead of quoting only its headline limit.
Review public and products liability, plant, pollution and professional indemnity where technical advice or design is supplied. Ask about care, custody and control, property being worked on, underground operations and consequential loss. A production interruption claim can be much larger than the physical damage that triggered it, and the policy response depends on its wording.
Information to prepare
Provide a clear description and turnover split of your activities, locations, project values, required liability limits, licences, subcontractor arrangements, current policy and claims history. Include relevant contracts and methods for the higher-risk work. We will identify any further information underwriters need.
Questions contractors ask
“Does the mine principal’s policy cover contractors?” Obtain the wording and contract before relying on it. “Can a civil policy extend to mine sites?” Only after the activities and site exposures are accepted.
Public and products liability guide · Contract works · D&C PI
Talk through your work and contract
Call 1300 310 467 or send an enquiry. Cover and availability depend on insurer terms and the full risk details.