Warehouses are filled with workers using vehicles to haul heavy loads of merchandise and without the support of proper warehousing and distribution services, businesses’ already tenuous supply chains can snap under the pressure.

This type of activity makes warehouses particularly dangerous and susceptible to a host of perils, including heightened fire risks. However, a warehousing and distribution insurance policy can provide protection towards these risks

Property Cover

You can insure against material damage to your premises under property cover, which is essential as warehouses safeguard a large amount of valuable merchandise and equipment. The sums insured, or the specified maximum amount that an insurer will pay under the policy, can be very high due to a warehouse’s large size, its high concentration of stock and its specialised equipment. Property cover is typically broken down into several main types of cover:

1. Buildings can be insured by the warehouse operator/distributor or the landlord, depending on whether the facilities are owned outright or leased. Debris removal is usually included as part of your buildings or stock cover.
2. Plant and machinery are typically insured by the warehouse operator/distributor. Be sure to accurately calculate the worth of your plant and machinery.
3. Stock cover is crucial. With potentially thousands of pounds of stock, stock cover can financially support any lost or damaged stock due to an insured event (e.g. fire or flooding).

Liability Cover

There is multiple types of liability insurance available for Warehouse and Distribution insurance:

• Employers’ liability cover – Mandatory if you have employees. It covers your liability for employee injury or death stemming from work.
• Public Liability Insurance – Although not compulsory, its also seen as a must-have. It safeguards against claims of injury and damage from the public.
• Product Liability Insurance – In the event that your product causes injury to a third party or damages their belongings, product liability insurance will provide financial support to settle any claims.
• Product recall insurance – Covers the expenses associated with recalling a potentially injurious product from customers. This cover is especially important for warehouse operators/distributors who work in the food and drink industry.

Motor Cover

Providing any distribution services will require you to purchase motor cover for your vehicles. Motor insurance is a legal requirement and there is varying levels of cover, depending on the levels of cover that your business needs. If you work with haulage contractors, they may supply their own vehicles for distribution, in which case they will also insure them.

Working in the food and drink industry, you may find that your insurance is higher. You may be using refrigerated vehicles to transport good and in the event of an accident, these vehicles are more expensive to repair.

Being responsible for a warehouse filled with valuable merchandise can be overwhelming. But with a warehousing and distribution insurance policy from the insurance professionals at Deva Risk Group, you can be confident your warehouse is protected on all sides.

Transit Cover

If you handle the transport of goods to and from your warehouse, you are likely liable for goods in transit. Transit cover helps items are damaged whilst in transit.

Call us directly or complete our quote form and we’ll conduct a full review of your business’ insurance needs

We will approach our panel of insurers to find cover that meets your requirements at a competitive rate

Once agreed, your policy will start and you’ll be protected towards several eventualities.