COI requirements by trade / Excavation and site work
Excavation and site work COI requirements
Excavation crews work with heavy equipment, trenches, and buried utilities. Utility strikes and trench collapses are the claims to worry about.
What makes excavation and site work risky
- Underground utility strikes (gas, water, fiber, electric).
- Trench collapses and cave-ins.
- Damage to neighboring property from vibration, settlement, or runoff.
- Heavy equipment and hauling accidents.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | Often higher than $1M per occurrence for heavy site work. Watch for underground resources and equipment exclusions (sometimes called XCU exclusions: explosion, collapse, underground). |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. |
| Commercial auto | Usually higher than $1M for dump trucks and equipment haulers. |
| Umbrella / excess | Commonly required, often $2M to $5M or more. |
| Pollution liability | Often required for contaminated soil, fuel spills, or stormwater exposure. |
On top of the coverage itself, most contracts also require additional insured status for you (and the owner, where applicable), a waiver of subrogation, and primary and noncontributory wording. Those come from endorsements, so ask for copies.
Red flags on excavation and site work certificates
- XCU exclusions on the GL policy.
- Commercial auto limits too low for dump trucks and lowboys.
- No pollution coverage where you're moving contaminated soil.
Tip
Ask the agent specifically about XCU and underground utility exclusions. They're the coverage gaps that hurt most in excavation.
Review checklist
- Insured name matches the company on your contract.
- Every coverage above that your contract requires is listed.
- Each limit meets your minimum.
- No policy expires before the job ends. Track each expiration date separately.
- ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD are marked, with endorsements on file.
- You've asked the agent about any excavation and site work exclusions that matter.
New to reading certificates? Start with how to read an ACORD 25, grab the free COI checklist, or log dates in the free expiration tracker.
Common questions
What insurance should a excavation and site work subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, umbrella / excess, and pollution liability. Your contracts and broker set the actual minimums.
Are these limits required by law?
Generally no. Insurance requirements for subcontractors and vendors are set by your contracts, your own insurer, and any owner, lender, or public agency on the job. Workers' compensation requirements are set by state law. The figures here describe common practice only.
Does the ACORD 25 show exclusions?
Usually not. A certificate summarizes policy types, limits, and dates. Exclusions like height limits, residential work, or pollution are in the policy itself, so ask the agent directly when they matter for the trade.
Who should issue the certificate?
Ask the sub's insurance agent or broker to issue it, not the sub. Agents issue certificates daily and can send the endorsements at the same time.
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