Risk & Business Magazine CMW Insurance Fall 2015

Home Reno and Construction Your Responsiblities When Hiring Workers and Contractors BY: DONNA-LEA BILLESBERGER, CLIENT EXECUTIVE, V-P FOR PRIVATE CLIENT SERVICES, CMW Did You Know? Anytime you hire people to work at your home, you are a residential employer and may have certain responsibilities under the Workers Compensation Act. If you are employing construction workers or contractors, you are required to register for WorkSafeBC insurance. One exception is if the hired companies have their own Workers Compensation coverage for employees. Otherwise, should a worker be injured on the job, your home insurance can exclude coverage and you could be responsible for reimbursing WorkSafeBC for medical costs and lost wages. Acting as the General Contractor If you are building your own home and acting as the general contractor, registration is mandatory. If you are subcontracting work out, ensure the companies are in good standing by requesting a clearance letter from WorkSafeBC. You could still be required to register even if they have their own insurance. In order to protect yourself and ensure adequate coverage, do the following before starting any renovations or construction: • Ask for a certificate of insurance from any contractors, engineers, architects, etc. to confirm liability coverage. • Confirm Workers Compensation coverage for any person working at your home. Contact your broker when undertaking projects so they can advise you on what you need to be compliant. Donna-Lea Billesberger is Client Executive, Vice President for Private Client Services at CMW. Donna-Lea provides custom insurance solutions to high net worth clients. With 27 years of specialized experience in personal insurance, DonnaLea works one on one with clients to create comprehensive, customized solutions that protect their valuable assets. RISK & BUSINESS MAGAZINETM FALL 2015 25

Risk & Business Magazine CMW Insurance Fall 2015 | Page 25