Workers' Comp Insurance for Trades Employers
Workers' comp for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors — with clean class-code splits, residential-vs-commercial premium strategy, and apprentice coverage.
Top Trades Workers' Comp Exposures
We write coverage built around the injuries and claims that actually happen in hvac, plumbing & electrical — not generic small-business policies.
- electrocution
- falls from ladders
- heat/cold stress
- burns and scalds
- hand injuries from tools
Audit Traps We Watch For
Most hvac, plumbing & electrical premium surprises come from the same handful of audit findings. Here's what we help employers catch and dispute:
- residential and commercial jobs at the same rate
- apprentices in journeyman code
- truck-time commutes included in payroll
- dispatcher and office in service-tech rate
- uncertified subs on punch-list jobs
Class codes most common for hvac, plumbing & electrical: NCCI codes 5183 (plumbing), 5190 (electrical), 5538 (HVAC)
Trades Workers' Comp by State
State-specific hvac, plumbing & electrical guides with local rules and class codes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are residential and commercial trade jobs rated differently?
Often yes. Some NCCI codes split residential from commercial work because the risk profile and claim severity differ. If you do both, separating your payroll by job type — not just by employee — can meaningfully affect your premium. Your policy language and state rules decide what splits are allowed.
What about apprentices?
Apprentices are still your employees for WC purposes and usually share the journeyman's class code unless your state has a separate trainee code. Worth asking your broker whether your state offers an apprenticeship credit — several do, but most employers don't claim it.
Do I need WC if my only 'employees' are licensed subs?
If they're truly independent subs with their own licenses, their own WC (or a WC waiver if allowed in your state), and current COIs on file — no. If any of those pieces is missing, their payroll comes onto your audit at your trade's class rate. Certificate tracking is the most important administrative task in this business.
Get a trades-focused policy review
We'll pull your current policy, audit exposure, and class codes apart and tell you exactly what we'd change and why. No pressure, no pitch.
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