Business Risk Spotlight:

Environmental Impairment/Pollution Risks

Pollution losses come in many different forms: damage to owned property; damage to property owned by others; bodily injury to others; costs to clean up or remediate pollution conditions on and off your premises.

Almost all businesses have some exposure to pollution-related losses; however, most General Liability and Property Insurance policies exclude coverage for pollution conditions. The Michael Ehrenfeld Company can help you identify areas where you may be vulnerable to a pollution loss, and construct an environmental impairment insurance program to meet your needs.

A real estate owner may discover that that a building is located on polluted soil, or become a victim of “midnight dumping.”

A property developer may begin excavation on a new project only to find that the soil is contaminated.

A contractor may show up to the job site to find the company's diesel tank has emptied onto the ground during the night.

An equipment repair and installation business may be liable for pollution conditions emanating from equipment it repaired or installed.

A manufacturer may be accused of emitting hazardous fumes into the neighborhood, or may be liable for clean-up and damages from a product that leaked while being transported.

While acquiring another business, companies may unknowingly accept a pollution exposure.

A chemical distributor or manufacturer will have many exposures to loss, including the inadvertent transfer of the wrong product; a chemical spill from a truck involved in an accident; the escape of pollutants into the air.

These exposures can often be complex and unique to the individual operation, requiring a careful analysis and a highly individualized package of pollution insurance coverage that the Michael Ehrenfeld Company can develop.