Tree Lopper Insurance

Contractor Plant and Machinery Insurance may cover physical loss of or damage to declared equipment such as wood chippers, stump grinders, elevated work platforms and other larger machinery used in tree lopping. It may be relevant where machinery is owned, financed, leased or hired by the business.

Portable chainsaws and rigging kits may be considered under Tools and Equipment Insurance, while larger powered plant commonly requires a separate assessment. Tree loppers should not assume a chipper or stump grinder is included simply because tools are insured.

Cover may include:

• Accidental damage, theft, fire, storm or vandalism affecting insured plant, where covered.
• Owned and hired-in plant, where declared and accepted.
• Tow-behind and tracked wood chippers, stump grinders, elevated work platforms and other declared machinery.
• Insured attachments, accessories and associated equipment.
• Plant used on site, in transit or in storage, where included.
• Registered or unregistered plant, depending on the policy and equipment.
• Wet hire and dry hire arrangements, where disclosed and accepted.
• Recovery expenses or continuing hire charges following insured damage, where available.
• Machinery breakdown cover, where available as an extension.

Contractor Plant and Machinery Insurance may be considered by tree removal and stump grinding businesses operating their own processing or access machinery. Machinery breakdown, wear and tear, unattended theft and particular working environments may have restrictions or exclusions.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Tools and Equipment Insurance, sometimes called General Property Insurance, may help cover eligible portable tools and equipment used by tree loppers against insured events such as theft or accidental damage.

A tree lopper may move several chainsaws, pole saws, ropes, lowering equipment and protective gear between vehicles and job sites each day. The policy should reflect the types and values of tools held, where they are stored and how they are used.

Small Contractors 1 to 5 Employees

For sole traders and small crews, Tools and Equipment Insurance may cover accepted portable items kept in vehicles, trailers, garages, workshops or at job sites.

Covered items may include:

• Chainsaws, pole saws and portable cutting equipment.
• Climbing ropes, harnesses and related equipment, where used and accepted.
• Rigging ropes, lowering devices, pulleys and portable rigging kits.
• Hedge trimmers, blowers and other declared hand-held equipment.
• Hand tools, battery-powered tools, batteries and chargers.
• Portable measuring or tree assessment equipment, where accepted.
• Work laptops, tablets and electronic devices, where included.
• Tools stored in vehicles or trailers, subject to policy security conditions.

Larger Contractors

For tree lopping businesses running multiple ground or climbing crews, cover may need to reflect equipment allocated across several vehicles, depots and worksites.

Cover may be arranged for:

• Multiple chainsaw and portable tool kits used by different crews.
• Insured equipment stored in workshops, depots, vehicles and work locations.
• Portable cutting and rigging equipment used across multiple contracts or states.
• Scheduled high-value chainsaws, specialist lowering equipment and portable safety items.
• Hired-in or borrowed equipment, where available and accepted.

Theft from unattended utes, open trailers or unlocked storage can be restricted or excluded. Some policies require forcible entry or particular security measures, and item limits may apply.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance may cover eligible vehicles used to transport tree lopping crews, tools and materials. Vehicles may include utes, vans, chip trucks, tippers and declared trailers, depending on the chosen policy.

Tree loppers also use vehicles to tow chippers or stump grinders and transport logs, cut branches and green waste. Drivers, towing arrangements, vehicle modifications and business use should be accurately disclosed.

Small Contractors 1 to 5 Employees

For sole traders and small crews, Commercial Vehicle Insurance may cover accepted vehicles used to travel between jobs and carry or tow tree lopping equipment.

Cover may include:

• Declared utes, vans, chip trucks and tipper trucks.
• Trailers and accepted vehicle modifications.
• Accidental vehicle damage, fire and theft, depending on the selected cover.
• Third-party property damage liability arising from insured vehicle use.
• Business use, declared towing arrangements and travel between sites, where accepted.
• Finance clauses or interested-party endorsements, where required and available.

Larger Contractors

Fleet insurance may provide one policy arrangement for eligible vehicles operated by several tree lopping crews, drivers and supervisors.

Fleet cover may help manage:

• Multiple eligible vehicles under one policy arrangement.
• Vehicle additions and removals as the fleet changes.
• Trucks, utes, vans, tippers, trailers and other declared work vehicles.
• Different drivers and vehicle-use arrangements, where accepted.
• Vehicles used across several contracts, sites or states.
• Finance and leasing requirements.
• Claims administration and support across insured vehicles.

Chainsaws, cut timber, wood chippers and other equipment carried or towed by a vehicle may need separate insurance or specific acceptance. Commercial Vehicle Insurance is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Contract Works Insurance may be relevant if a tree lopping business has responsibility for insurable works in progress or project materials under a wider construction, landscaping or reinstatement agreement. Routine branch trimming, tree removal and stump grinding do not automatically require this type of cover.

For example, a tree contractor working under a landscaping or development contract may have responsibilities beyond removing trees, such as site reinstatement or accepted landscaping works. Existing trees, live vegetation and timber being removed should not be assumed to fall within a standard Contract Works policy.

Cover may include:

• Accepted construction, landscaping or reinstatement works in progress.
• Declared project materials stored on site, where accepted.
• Theft, vandalism, fire or storm damage to insured works.
• Project-specific or annual policy arrangements.
• Materials in transit or temporary storage, where included.
• Principal-supplied materials, where covered.
• Existing property or other project extensions, only where expressly agreed by the insurer.

Builders, developers or principal contractors may request Contract Works Insurance under a project agreement. The parties insured, policy period, work values and activities depend on the contract and insurer acceptance.

Contract Works Insurance does not automatically cover trees being cut, every existing property item, defects, delay or contractual obligation. Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Professional Indemnity Insurance may be relevant where a tree lopping business also provides formal tree assessments, professional advice, specifications, written reports or consulting services. Ordinary cutting and removal work does not, by itself, mean that a business provides professional arboricultural advice.

The distinction matters when a client alleges that a written tree risk assessment, tree retention recommendation or professional plan was incorrect or negligent. Tree loppers performing physical work only may have different insurance considerations from qualified arborists providing professional services.

A tree lopping business may consider this cover if it:

• Prepares formal tree condition or risk assessments.
• Provides arborist reports for councils, property owners or developers.
• Makes documented professional recommendations about retaining or removing trees.
• Prepares tree protection or vegetation management plans.
• Provides professional opinions about tree health, structure or hazards.
• Provides verbal or written professional advice or recommendations about tree health, safety, retention, pruning or removal.
• Offers professional consulting or supervision services.
• Advises on the effects of construction on existing trees.
• Inspects, certifies or signs off specialist tree work, where appropriately qualified.
• Must hold Professional Indemnity Insurance under an accepted contract.

Cover may include:

• Legal defence costs for insured claims.
• Claims alleging breach of professional duty.
• Claims connected to covered advice, reports, plans, recommendations or documentation.
• Retroactive cover for eligible past professional services, where included.

Professional Indemnity Insurance is separate from Public Liability Insurance. Public Liability Insurance may respond to certain third-party injury or property damage claims; Professional Indemnity Insurance may respond to certain claims involving insured professional services.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions, retroactive dates, notification requirements and insurer acceptance. A new policy cannot be assumed to cover previously known claims or circumstances.

Personal Accident and Illness Insurance may be considered by sole traders and tree lopping contractors who are not covered by Workers Compensation Insurance. It can provide financial support if you are unable to work due to an insured injury or illness, subject to the policy wording.

Tree lopping work can involve climbing trees, lifting and carrying branches, operating chainsaws, handling heavy timber, using powered equipment and working on uneven ground. If you are self-employed and cannot work, your income may be affected.

Cover may include:

• Weekly benefit payments while recovering from an insured injury or illness
• Lump sum benefits for serious injury, where included
• Optional illness cover
• Optional capital benefits
• Optional medical cost benefits, depending on the policy

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Workers Compensation Insurance is generally required when a tree lopping business employs workers covered by the applicable state or territory legislation. Whether an employee, apprentice, casual, working director, labour hire worker or subcontractor is treated as a worker depends on the jurisdiction and circumstances.

All Trades Cover may be able to arrange Workers Compensation Insurance for eligible businesses in Western Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. In New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, businesses generally need to use the relevant state scheme or an authorised provider.

Depending on your location and circumstances, we may be able to help with:

• Workers Compensation Insurance setup and placement, where available.
• Wage estimates and annual declarations.
• Worker classification information for apprentices, casuals and working directors.
• Subcontractor and labour hire considerations.
• Principal’s Indemnity, where required and available.
• Claims lodgement support.
• Return-to-work coordination.
• Insurer correspondence and paperwork.
• Claims history reviews and renewal discussions where previous claims affect premiums.

Workers Compensation Insurance may be relevant for tree lopping businesses employing ground workers, climbers, machinery operators, drivers and supervisors. An ABN or a subcontractor’s Public Liability Insurance does not settle their status under workers compensation law.

Requirements and available assistance vary between states and territories. Cover is subject to workers compensation legislation, scheme requirements, policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Business Package Insurance can combine several selected business insurance sections under one policy. For a tree lopping company with an office, yard, workshop or storage facility, the selected sections may address property, liability and interruption exposures.

For tree lopping businesses operating from a depot, yard, workshop or office, a Business Package may include:

• Public and Products Liability.
• General Property cover for insured portable tools and equipment.
• Property cover for offices, workshops, depots and storage facilities.
• Insured stock, consumables and spare parts, where included.
• Theft and vandalism cover for insured property.
• Business Interruption cover following a qualifying insured event.
• Money, glass and electronic equipment cover, where relevant.
• Machinery breakdown or other optional sections, where available.

Business Package Insurance may be considered by businesses storing cutting equipment, spare chains, fuel containers or office equipment at permanent premises. Larger mobile plant, vehicles and equipment used away from those premises may need separate policies.

Each policy section has its own insured events, limits and exclusions. Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Management Liability Insurance may help cover certain claims involving business management, governance, employment practices and regulatory investigations, depending on the selected policy sections.

Tree lopping businesses with several crews may need to manage employees, WHS responsibilities, subcontract climbing teams, payroll, machinery operators and service contracts. Claims arising from these management activities can involve issues separate from damage caused during tree cutting.

A policy may include:

• Directors and Officers Liability, within a Management Liability policy or arranged separately.
• Employment Practices Liability for certain dismissal, discrimination or harassment claims.
• Statutory Liability for eligible defence or investigation expenses, where available and legally permitted.
• Crime or fidelity cover for specified internal or external fraud or theft.
• Tax audit and regulatory investigation costs, where covered.

This type of insurance may be considered by tree lopping companies managing staff, contract obligations, subcontractors and multiple worksites.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance. Fines or penalties cannot be insured where legislation prohibits it.

Tax Audit Insurance may cover certain professional fees incurred when an insured business responds to an audit or review by the Australian Taxation Office or a state revenue authority. Eligible expenses may include fees charged by accountants, bookkeepers or tax advisers, where covered.

A tree lopping business may need to supply records relating to business income, GST, wages, subcontractor payments, fuel, vehicle costs, machinery purchases or depreciation.

Cover may include:

• Accounting or tax adviser fees connected to an insured audit or review.
• ATO reviews involving income tax, BAS or GST, where covered.
• Payroll tax and superannuation reviews, where covered.
• State revenue office reviews, where included.
• Professional costs of reviewing records and preparing responses, where included.

Tax Audit Insurance generally does not pay outstanding tax liabilities, amended assessments, penalties, fines or interest.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Cyber Insurance may cover certain expenses or liabilities arising from an insured cyber incident, including ransomware, phishing, data breaches and business email compromise.

Tree lopping companies may rely on digital quoting systems, booking software, online invoices, electronic payments, customer address records and payroll platforms. A cyber incident affecting those systems may create expenses outside the scope of ordinary property cover.

Cover may include:

• Cyber incident response costs.
• Restoration of insured systems and data.
• Business Interruption losses after an insured cyber event.
• Legal, forensic and notification expenses for an eligible data breach.
• Ransomware and phishing response assistance.
• Invoice redirection or social engineering losses, where available.
• Certain third-party liability for covered exposure of customer or employee information.

Cyber policies may require specified security controls, including multi-factor authentication, software updates and backups.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Business Interruption Insurance may cover certain lost business income and additional costs when an insured event disrupts a tree lopping business. This cover is commonly purchased through a Business Package Insurance policy or alongside other insured property.

For example, insured damage to a depot, workshop or office could interrupt administration, equipment storage or normal operations. The underlying cause generally must be insured under the relevant policy section.

Cover may include:

• Loss of insured gross profit, revenue or income during an applicable indemnity period.
• Additional reasonable operating expenses incurred after an insured interruption, where covered.
• Continuing fixed business expenses, subject to the selected basis of cover.
• Temporary premises, equipment hire or relocation costs, where included.
• Claim preparation costs, where included.
• Specified supplier, customer, utility or access extensions, where available.

Business Interruption Insurance should not be assumed to respond merely because heavy rain postpones tree lopping, unsafe winds prevent climbing, a job is cancelled or a chipper breaks down. Cover generally depends on a qualifying insured event and the relevant limits, waiting periods and other conditions.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Corporate Travel Insurance may cover specified risks during eligible work-related travel by directors, employees or other insured people. It may be relevant for tree lopping businesses travelling to remote projects, training courses, equipment demonstrations or work interstate or overseas.

Individual trip or annual arrangements may be available, subject to travel purposes and insurer acceptance. Some policies provide limited leisure extensions, where included.

Cover may include:

• Overseas medical and emergency assistance expenses, where covered.
• Cancellation, alteration and additional travel expenses following insured events.
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal effects, subject to item limits.
• Business equipment carried during an insured trip, where included.
• Specified personal accident benefits, where available.
• Rental vehicle excess, where covered.
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses, where included.

Tree climbing, chainsaw operations, operating machinery and other manual work may be restricted under a business travel policy. Destinations, pre-existing medical conditions, trip durations and permitted activities also need to be checked.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Marine Transit Insurance may cover physical loss of or damage to insured goods, tools, materials or equipment while in transit. Depending on the policy, eligible transport may be by road, rail, air or sea.

Tree lopping companies may transport chainsaws, rigging kits, spare parts, hired equipment or project materials between depots and sites. Logs, mulch and green waste should be separately disclosed if insurance is requested for these goods.

Cover may include:

• Accidental loss of or damage to insured property during transit.
• Transit using owned vehicles or third-party carriers, where included.
• Loading and unloading exposures, where covered.
• Temporary storage incidental to an insured transit, where included.
• Single-transit or annual arrangements.
• Domestic and international transit, where declared and accepted.

Cover for theft from unattended vehicles, high-value plant, used equipment, delay or consequential loss may be limited or excluded. The type, value and securement of the property transported should be declared.

Marine Transit Insurance is separate from Commercial Vehicle Insurance and may overlap with or differ from transit provisions in a plant or tools policy.

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.

Contract-specific endorsements and extensions are changes or additions to existing insurance wording that a council, commercial client, developer or principal contractor may request. They are not a standalone insurance policy.

Tree lopping contracts may specify requirements beyond a standard liability policy. The insurer must assess those requests against the activities disclosed, the policy and the particular contract.

Common tree lopping contract requirements may include:

• Principal’s Indemnity, where required and accepted by the insurer.
• Cross Liability wording.
• Waiver of Subrogation, where required and available.
• Contractual Liability extensions, where available.
• Contract- or site-specific Certificates of Currency, where available.
• Interested-party or financier noting, where appropriate and accepted.
• Contract-specific limits and excess arrangements.
• Council, principal contractor or other party wording, where agreed by the insurer.
• Requirements concerning climbing, roadside cutting, stump grinding, crane-assisted removal or utility clearance.

All Trades Cover may be able to review a contract’s insurance schedule, identify wording that differs from an existing policy and ask the insurer whether amendments are available. Insurer approval is required before an endorsement or amended Certificate of Currency can be issued.

A policy or Certificate of Currency should not be assumed to satisfy every council requirement, contract, tender or site-access condition. Noting an interested party does not automatically make them an insured party. Legal advice may be needed where a contract transfers additional liability to a tree contractor.

Cover and endorsements are subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions and insurer acceptance.