Insurance for sandblasting and surface prep contractors.

General liability, workers’ comp, auto, equipment, and pollution coverage, for abrasive blasting and surface prep on buildings, tanks, and equipment, rated on the media and containment you use.

What blasting contractors usually carry

General liability, $1M / $2M
Workers’ comp
Commercial auto
Compressors, blast pots, and trailers
Contractor’s pollution liability
Umbrella

Watch for these in a blasting policy

Silica sand as mediaMany carriers decline blasting with silica sand, and silica claims are often excluded. The media you use is one of the first questions an underwriter asks.
Drift onto cars and buildingsAbrasive and old coating drifting onto nearby cars and buildings is the most common blasting claim. Containment and wind rules are what underwriters look for.
Old coatingsBlasting off old paint releases lead and other heavy metals, which most policies exclude. Jobs on old coatings may need pollution coverage.
Etched glass and pitted brickBlasting that etches glass or pits soft brick can fall under the exclusion for property you were working on. Test a small area first.
Shop and field blastingBlasting in your own booth and blasting on site are rated differently. If you do both, both need to be on the policy.

What GCs and plant owners ask blasting contractors for

Pollution liabilityIndustrial owners and GCs often require contractor’s pollution liability for coating removal.
Additional insuredFor ongoing and completed operations, naming the owner and the GC.
Waiver of subrogationOn every line, commonly required by plant owners.
UmbrellaIndustrial and tank work often calls for $2M to $5M above primary limits.

Questions blasting contractors ask

Straight answers.

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

Does the blast media I use change my insurance?

Yes. Silica sand narrows the carriers willing to write you. Other media, like garnet, crushed glass, soda, or dry ice, and wet blasting generally rate better.

Is abrasive dust on nearby cars covered?

Usually, as property damage, unless the policy excludes overspray or blasting drift. Report it right away and document the containment you had up.

Do I need pollution coverage for coating removal?

Usually yes. Lead and other metals in old coatings are pollutants under general liability, and many industrial contracts require a contractor’s pollution policy.