|
Corona Virus Update Disinfecting |
|
Many PMP's are thinking about getting into the disinfecting business or are already performing disinfecting services. Please think long and hard about getting into this line of work. Firstly, you absolutely do need a separate insurance policy. You cannot use your pest control insurance for this type of service. Secondly, you absolutely need a contract of some type which you need to have a lawyer or legal council review and/or write up. We are waiting for the final draft of the NJDEP advisory on disinfectants that we will forward to you upon receipt. Those who have CNI as an insurance carrier should check with John Diesel. We checked in with Frank MacDonald, President, Select Insurance Agency on this subject: Insuring Disinfecting Services Select Insurance Agency, on average, receives at least 20 calls a week with questions regarding coverage for disinfecting services. Since the start of the pandemic, most of the pest control insurance marketplace has been outspoken and forthright that disinfecting services for viruses (namely Corona/COVID-19) are not covered as “pest control services”. The sanitation and disinfection specifically pertaining to IPM (dropping clean up, carcass removal, bed bug mattress/bedding disinfection etc.) is covered. We have consulted with all the pest control carriers we deal with and none are affording coverage for virus disinfection. The janitorial insurance marketplace, which traditionally would be the class of business covering disinfection, has been changing day-to-day. Early in the pandemic, we had a strong policy issued by an admitted carrier that would cover disinfection of the virus. As of less than 2 weeks ago, that carrier exited the marketplace over fears of COVID-19 litigation. Most of the janitorial carriers have exited the marketplace over the same fears. There are one or two carriers that do not exclude virus disinfection, but we expect those markets to completely dry up very soon. Frank MacDonald President Select Insurance Agency, Inc. 888-542-9002
|
