Insurance in Missouri

Missouri does not impose a blanket liability-insurance minimum on every trade, but the Statewide Electrical Contractor license requires a Certificate of Insurance, workers' compensation is mandated for construction employers, and the commercial market expects higher limits than the state minimums. 1. Workers' compensation. Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 287 generally requires employers with five or more employees to carry workers' compensation, but any employer in the construction industry employing even one employee must carry coverage. Coverage through an authorized carrier, a group trust, or approved self-insurance is required. Source: Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations — Division of Workers' Compensation (https://labor.mo.gov/DWC). 2. General liability. Missouri's Statewide Electrical Contractor license requires proof of at least $500,000 in liability insurance on file with OSEC (Missouri Revised Statutes section 324.920). Typical commercial job requirements for any trade are $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. Source: Missouri Revised Statutes section 324.920 (https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=324.920). 3. Commercial auto. A personal auto policy almost certainly excludes business use. Hired and non-owned auto coverage protects against claims arising from employee-owned vehicles used on company business. 4. Tools and equipment (inland marine). Homeowners and auto policies exclude business tools beyond small dollar limits. Inland marine is the contractor-specific tool coverage. 5. Umbrella. A $1M or $2M umbrella is inexpensive relative to what it protects and is commonly required on commercial GC paperwork. 6. EPA Section 608. HVAC technicians who handle regulated refrigerants must hold current EPA Section 608 certification under 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F. Insurers and employers increasingly ask for proof. Shop the market. Trade association programs (ABC, AGC, PHCC, MCA, NECA) often have group insurance programs that beat street-rate premiums for the trade. Never let coverage lapse during an active job. A one-day gap on a multi-month project is enough to void a claim if something happens during the gap.