Insurance is one of the clearest ways to tell a properly qualified environmental consulting company apart from one that isn’t — because insurers only issue certain coverage after putting a company through their own qualification process. A company that carries it has effectively already been vetted; many companies that apply are turned down. Here’s exactly what ABM Environmental carries, and why each type matters.
General Liability Insurance
Covers physical damage or injury that could occur while ABM Environmental staff are on your property performing an assessment or remediation. This is standard coverage that most legitimate companies carry, but it’s still worth confirming — some smaller operators skip it.
Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) Insurance
Covers the assessment and report itself — protecting clients if an error in the inspection, testing, or interpretation of results leads to a loss. This coverage is not automatic: insurers put companies through a qualification process before issuing it, and many companies that apply are unable to qualify. A company carrying professional liability insurance for its assessments has effectively already been vetted by an insurer as capable of doing the work correctly. ABM Environmental carries this coverage for all inspection, testing, and assessment work.
Environmental Pollution Liability Insurance
Covers mold remediation and other remediation work specifically — separate from, and in addition to, general liability. This coverage is costly and difficult for a company to qualify for, and many remediation contractors in BC operate without it, leaving clients exposed if something goes wrong during the work itself. ABM Environmental is one of the few mold remediation companies in BC that holds this coverage.
WorkSafeBC Coverage
ABM Environmental is registered and in good standing with WorkSafeBC, BC’s workers’ compensation and workplace safety authority. This protects clients from liability if a worker is injured on their property during an assessment or remediation project — a real exposure when hiring a company that isn’t properly registered.
Why this matters when choosing a company
Many companies in this industry don’t mention insurance on their website at all, or only carry the minimum general liability coverage. Professional liability and pollution liability insurance in particular are worth asking about directly, since they’re the two most likely to be missing — and, because insurers vet companies before issuing them, they’re also the most reliable signal of who’s actually qualified to do the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance does ABM Environmental carry?
General liability insurance, professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance covering our assessments and reports, Environmental Pollution Liability Insurance covering our mold remediation work, and WorkSafeBC coverage.
Why does professional liability insurance matter for a mold inspection or testing company?
Insurers only issue professional liability (errors & omissions) coverage after putting a company through their own qualification process. A company that has obtained it has effectively already been vetted as capable of doing the work correctly — and many companies that apply are turned down.
What is Environmental Pollution Liability Insurance, and why don’t all remediation companies carry it?
It’s coverage specifically for mold remediation work, separate from general liability. It’s costly and difficult to qualify for, so many remediation contractors in BC operate without it — leaving clients exposed if something goes wrong during the work.
Why does WorkSafeBC coverage matter to me as a client?
If a worker is injured on your property during an assessment or remediation project, WorkSafeBC coverage protects you from liability for that injury. Hiring a company that isn’t properly registered can leave you exposed.
How can I tell if an environmental consulting company is properly insured?
Check whether the company states its coverage on its website. If it doesn’t mention insurance at all, or only mentions general liability, ask directly whether it carries professional liability (for assessments) or pollution liability (for remediation) — these are the two types that require an insurer’s qualification process, and the ones most likely to be missing.
Call (604) 568-5177 for a free phone consultation, or fill out our online assessment form for a quote or to book.