Workers' Comp Insurance for Painters

Painters and painting contractors face various risks on the job, including exposure to toxic chemicals, climbing, and balancing on sometimes uneven or unsteady surfaces. Due to the dangers present in the work environment, workers' compensation insurance is an essential coverage for painters and painting businesses. This coverage can reimburse injured or ill workers who suffer due to a work-related incident. It can also exempt your business from related employee lawsuits.

Luckily, a local independent insurance agent can help get your painting business equipped with the right workers' comp insurance. They'll make sure you get set up with the ideal amount of painters workers' comp insurance coverage. But first, here's a closer look at workers' compensation for painting contractors, what it covers, and why it's necessary.

Why Do Painters Need Workers' Comp Insurance?

Workers' comp is a critical component of business insurance for painters. Painting contractors and businesses alike must be covered with enough workers' comp insurance for a few reasons. These include the following:

To protect against losses due to work-related injuries and illnesses

Painters and painting contractors can easily get injured or ill due to their job duties or the work environment. Working with toxic chemicals, climbing up and down ladders throughout the day, staying balanced on various surfaces, and maintaining precision at great heights are all tasks that can pose a huge risk. A painter could easily slip and fall and sustain an instant injury, or they could develop an illness over time due to the nature of their work.

Workers' comp can reimburse employees for costs associated with work-related injuries and illnesses. It can pay for medical bills, prescription medications, rehabilitation costs, and more. 

Workers' comp can also provide partial wage replacement, typically up to two-thirds of a painter's typical salary, during time off work needed to recover. It can also provide disability benefits if a disability develops due to their job. In the extreme case of death caused by the job, workers' comp can provide death benefits to a beneficiary. 

To exempt the painting business from lawsuits

Having workers' comp insurance exempts a business from employee lawsuits for covered incidents of work-related injuries, illnesses, disabilities, or fatalities. If a worker dies due to a covered incident, their surviving family members are also exempt from suing the painting business. Without workers' comp, just one employee lawsuit could set a business back tens of thousands of dollars or even more.

To comply with local regulations

Workers' compensation is legally required in most states for many types of businesses that have at least one employee. Requirements vary by industry and employee status. Be sure to research the workers' comp requirements in your state as they pertain to painting businesses and contractors.

What Does Painters Workers' Comp Insurance Cover?

Workers' compensation for painters is designed to cover many different expenses associated with injuries or illnesses arising from job duties or the work environment. Workers' comp can provide reimbursement for the following:

If the painting business must replace an employee due to a covered incident, workers' comp can help pay for the costs of hiring new talent. An independent insurance agent can help your painting business get set up with all the necessary workers' comp.

What's Not Covered by Painters Workers' Comp Insurance?

Workers' comp insurance for painting businesses and contractors is only designed to cover injuries, illnesses, disabilities, and fatalities that arise from work-related accidents, job duties, or the workplace. It won't cover any non-work-related injuries, illnesses, etc. 

A painting contractor would need to go through their private health insurance to get coverage for an injury, illness, or disability that developed due to something other than their job. Keep in mind that health insurance won't cover work-related incidents, which is why having workers' comp insurance is critical.

How Much Does Workers' Comp for Painters Cost?

The cost of workers' compensation insurance for painters can vary based on a few different factors, such as the business's location. However, workers' comp for a painter with an annual salary of $50,000 is available for around $240 per month. 

The cost of your painting business's coverage can depend on the following:

An independent insurance agent can help you find affordable workers' comp insurance for painters.

Painting Class Codes for Workers' Comp

Painting businesses must classify their employees according to those set by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). Employees must be categorized according to their job duties and employment status, such as seasonal, part-time, or full-time. Some states exempt businesses from workers' comp requirements if they only hire seasonal or part-time employees, but you'll need to review your local regulations to be certain. 

The NCCI's class codes are used to determine your business's workers' comp premium rates. The main painting workers' comp class code is 5474. This code is also used as the interior painting workers' comp class code, as well as for painting contractors who work on exterior surfaces. Be sure to properly classify all your business's painters and other employees to avoid penalties like fines.

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An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Find Workers' Comp for Painters

When it's time to find the right workers' comp insurance for painters or painting businesses, no one's better equipped to help than an independent insurance agent. These agents have access to multiple workers' comp insurance companies, so they're free to shop and compare policies and rates for you. 

They'll get you matched to a policy that offers the best blend of coverage and cost. And down the road, your agent will still be there to help update your coverage as your business's needs evolve and can even file workers' comp claims for you.