Arborist and pesticide insurance

[Dadatwins]

Currently going to school to get my Pesticide applicators license. I am going to add it to my list of available services. In VA you must have a separate business license to apply pesticide which includes basically anything sprayed on a property for hire, including fertilizer. Need to send a current insurance certificate with business application. Call my agent and she tells me that although my policy reads that I am covered for spraying, they won't issue certificate for pesticide application. Can't tell me what the current policy covers for spraying, only that it does not cover pesticides. Tells me I need a new insurance policy to cover landscaping, I am currently insured as an arborist/tree service, new policy adds over $600.00 to annual premium. Tells me landscaping policy covers pesticide application, tree policy does not. Went round and round with agent trying to figure out what I have been paying insurance premium on for last 2 years that reads spraying, even though I do not spray, they were fine with that, now that I actually want to spray, they want another $600.00. :censored: Looking for another carrier, if anyone has an idea I would appreciate the input.

 

[pdqdl]

About 15 years ago, pesticide insurance got real hard to buy, due to environmental fears. I thought that problem had all dried up.

Your insurance company is right, they must have a special policy that covers chemical applications. I haven't had any trouble for over ten years, and I am in Mo.

Look in some trade rags, the insurance companies advertise there.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

Get in touch with Safeco. They are OK, in Texas. As most companies handle only specific states, it's really best to shop around. I pay around $1500/yr., recently adjusted, for $.5M. I'm covered for pesticide applications and bucket work in addition to the usual ground/climbing issues.

 

[Toddppm]

A seperate business license or do you mean the applicators license?

I've got the Hartford for my insurance, they are almost the only ones left that cover tree services here it seems like.

 

[Dadatwins]

A seperate business license or do you mean the applicators license?

I've got the Hartford for my insurance, they are almost the only ones left that cover tree services here it seems like.

Need applicators license as commercial applicator issued by the state. You need pesticide business license to apply any pesticide for hire. This is different from regular state business license. Pesticide is defined as ANY application including over the counter stuff like round-up. If you cut grass in VA for hire and spray round -up for weed control you better have a license of pay a fine. As I understand the wording this includes landscapers putting out weed and feed, lime, anything spread while for hire the applicator needs to be properly licensed. I was looking to apply for fireblight, woody algid, maybe start doing some of the Mauget injectibles for different tree problems. Going to call state insurance board and give them a copy of my current policy to find out why is has spraying and fumigating listed but agent refuse to issue a certificate of insurance showing it. State will not accept policy, they want a certificate from the underwriter. Confusing as he!! for me, never dreamed this would be so complicated. But I guess with the state agency and insurance company involved, it can only get worse.

 

[pdqdl]

This is a "states rights" issue, so it is probably different in other states. In Missouri, you only need to be licensed for applying pesticides, which would include any regulated chemical with an EPA registration number.

You need two things from the state to do applications: a state issued certification, and a state issued license. The license is simple; send them a copy of your insurance and your certification. In Missouri, you must either re-certify or re-test at least once every 3 years, otherwise you lose your certification. The license is renewed each year, along with your insurance and your fee.

You can do fertilizer applications, lime, insecticidal soap (so long as it has no EPA#), or anything else that escapes the regulation. Unfortunately, that is a pretty short list of things you can do without the license, so you had better plan on getting the license.

Re-certification means taking a refresher course, usually two days and some $$. I just re-take the test. It costs about $45? and takes me three hours, including road time. I have retested so often in the last 25 years, the guys giving me the test know me on a first name basis.

 

[Toddppm]

I started to write that I didn't kow what you meant but I had to look at my licenses again. Now I understand. Yes you have to have a pesticide business license which is held by the business and then each applicator at the company needs their own license.

Check with Hartford , they shouldn't have any problems with it.

Something must be wrong with your agent, maybe go straight to the issuing company?

 

[pdqdl]

Certification belongs to the individual, license belongs to to the company that put up the insurance.

Gotta have 'em both.

 

[ATH]

Dadatwins,
If it makes you feel any better, my "standard" insurance also says it covers spraying, but I need to pay for an extra pesticide endorsement. I asked about this and they told me that I had to pay the extra for them to issue a certificate to the Dept. of Ag too. Mine agent is with Huntington, the insurance company is Westfield.

 

[Dadatwins]

Dadatwins,
If it makes you feel any better, my "standard" insurance also says it covers spraying, but I need to pay for an extra pesticide endorsement. I asked about this and they told me that I had to pay the extra for them to issue a certificate to the Dept. of Ag too. Mine agent is with Huntington, the insurance company is Westfield.

That is the part that pissed me off, policy says spraying but they can't tell me what that means and want an extra 6 bills to sign the certificate. I have sent emails out to the companies listed on the thread and sent one to tree-pro insurance to see if they are in my area. They are supposed to cover small companies like me and specialize in arborist coverage. Had tried hartford a few years ago, but they do not deal with small part timers like myself. What a pain.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Here is the answer for my policy from my agent. He happens to have some experiance doing muni tree work in Milwaukee.

John, thanks for the link to the posting. As you probably know, we are very fortunate in the Midwest to have a bunch of great regional insurance companies, like West Bend. This creates a healthy competitive insurance marketplace and makes it a lot easier to find and place coverage than it is on either coast.

So to answer you question, yes WBM will cover any bodily injury and property damage that arises from your T&O applications. WBM knows that chemical applications are part of your business and will provide coverage for it. Hope this helps. Thanks John!

WMB = West Bend Mutual
T&O = Turf & Ornimental

 

[treeman48507]

Here in Michigan you have to have 2 years of certification to hold state license, is it like that anywhere else for new businesses ? Yep getting started is a pain. Our insurance agent started to resist but then reconized our spraying part of the policy. Good Luck

 

[Dadatwins]

Talking to several different companies about the issue and getting some info from them. Funny how they treat you like the prom queen while trying to sell the policy. Good idea JPS asking your agent are you covered. Suggest others do the same. My current policy reads spraying and fumigating but finding out it means nothing. Makes me wonder how much the rest of the policy was worth. :censored: