Treatment Risks: The Gap in Standard Public Liability

If you ask most cleaners what their insurance covers, they'll say: "If I break something, it pays for it."

This is not always true.

There is a massive gap in many standard Public Liability policies called the "Damage to Property Worked Upon" exclusion. In the insurance world, this is often covered under an extension known as Treatment Risk.

The "Standard" Cover

Standard Public Liability is designed primarily for third-party injury and accidental damage to surrounding property.

• Covered: You are cleaning a window, step back, and knock over a vase on a table behind you. The vase is covered because you weren't working on it.
• NOT Covered: You are cleaning the vase itself, and it slips out of your hands. Because you were "working on" the item, a standard policy excludes it.

Why This is Dangerous for Cleaners

As a cleaner, your entire job is "working on" property. You are scrubbing floors, wiping worktops, polishing mirrors, and dusting electronics.

If your policy excludes "Damage to Property Worked Upon," you have effectively no cover for the very task you are paid to do. If you scratch a stainless steel hob while scrubbing it, or shrink a carpet while steam cleaning it, a standard policy will reject the claim.

The Polished Insurance Difference

We understand the cleaning industry. We know that accidents happen during the cleaning process, not just around it.

That is why our policies include Treatment Risk cover. We cover the item you are actually cleaning, giving you true peace of mind.

Check Your Policy Wording

Go and check your current insurance documents. Look for exclusions related to "Property being worked upon." If you find it, you might be more exposed than you think.

Don't wait for a claim to be declined. Switch to a specialist cleaning insurance provider who covers the real risks of your trade.