High-Risk Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Contractors
Workers’ comp for roofers, framers, excavators, tree crews and other high-risk trades, including new and previously declined businesses, across CA, NV, TX, AZ, OR, CO & WA.
What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Workers’ compensation insurance provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill due to their job. For contractors and construction businesses, this coverage helps pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation related to workplace injuries.
Workers’ compensation also helps protect employers from employee injury‑related lawsuits and is required in most states.
Why Contractors & Tradesmen Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Construction is one of the highest‑risk industries. Even a single workplace injury can result in significant financial and legal consequences if your business is not properly insured.
Required by state law in most jurisdictions
Covers medical costs and lost wages for injured employees
Helps protect employers from employee injury lawsuits
Keeps your business compliant with licensing and labor requirements
Demonstrates professionalism to general contractors and project owners
Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Hard‑to‑Place Contractors
Many contractors struggle to obtain workers’ compensation coverage due to trade classification, claims history, or payroll size. We specialize in placing workers’ comp policies for hard‑to‑place construction risks.
High‑risk construction trades
New ventures and startups
Prior claims or experience modification issues
Large or fluctuating payrolls
Multi‑state operations
Contractors declined by standard carriers
High-Risk Trades We Place Workers’ Comp For
Carriers price workers’ comp by class code. Trades that work at heights, with heavy equipment or around falling objects carry the highest rates per $100 of payroll, and many standard carriers won’t write them at all. These are the trades we place most often:
Framing and carpentry
Concrete and foundations
Masonry
Steel erection and ironwork
Declined elsewhere? Besides specialty carriers, we can place coverage in each state’s market of last resort: SAIF and the Oregon Assigned Risk Plan, California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund, Pinnacol Assurance in Colorado, Texas Mutual in Texas and the NCCI-administered assigned risk plans in Nevada and Arizona.
Fast Workers’ Comp Binding & Certificates
When you need workers’ compensation quickly to stay compliant or start a project, timing matters. In many cases, we can help secure coverage promptly and issue certificates as needed.
Fast binding options available
Certificates of insurance issued quickly
Help meeting general contractor and jobsite requirements
Payroll and class code guidance
Access to NCCI & State Workers’ Compensation Markets
When standard insurance carriers are unable to offer workers’ compensation coverage, alternative markets are often necessary. We work with national and state‑specific workers’ compensation programs to help ensure contractors are not left without options.
This includes access to NCCI‑administered assigned risk plans and the California State Compensation Insurance Fund, which are designed to provide workers’ compensation coverage when coverage is not available through the voluntary market.
NCCI assigned risk plans (where applicable)
California State Compensation Insurance Fund
Solutions for contractors declined by standard carriers
Assistance maintaining compliance when options are limited
Availability, eligibility, and placement are subject to state rules and underwriting requirements.
Workers’ Comp Requirements by State
Every state where we place coverage requires workers’ comp once you have employees, except Texas, but who sells it, who’s exempt and what general contractors accept are very different from state to state.
California: Required if you have employees. Concrete (C-8), HVAC (C-20), asbestos abatement (C-22), roofing (C-39) and tree (C-49) licensees need it even with none, and under SB 216 every licensed contractor will need it by January 1, 2028. See California contractor insurance.
Oregon: Required once you have employees. You can buy it from SAIF, the state-chartered insurer, or from a private carrier, and we quote both. See Oregon contractor insurance.
Washington: Coverage comes only from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), not private insurers. L&I doesn’t include employer’s liability, so most contractors add stop gap coverage to their general liability policy. See Washington contractor insurance.
Nevada: Required from your first employee, and the NSCB needs proof of coverage or an exemption to issue your license. There’s no state fund, so contractors no carrier will write go to the assigned risk plan. See Nevada contractor insurance.
Arizona: Required with even one employee, full- or part-time, including family members. Sole proprietors with no employees are exempt.
Colorado: Required with one or more full- or part-time employees. Sole proprietors and corporate officers can reject coverage for themselves.
Texas: Most private employers can choose not to carry comp, but contractors on public projects must certify coverage, and most commercial general contractors require it from their subs.
Most states rate workers’ comp with NCCI class codes, while California and Washington use their own classification systems. Getting the class right is the biggest lever on your premium.
Schedule a Workers’ Compensation Insurance Consultation
Speak with a licensed broker who understands construction payroll, jobsite risks, and state‑specific workers’ compensation requirements.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance FAQ
Is workers’ compensation insurance required for contractors?
In most states, contractors with employees are legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Requirements vary by state.
Do I need workers’ comp if I use subcontractors?
In many cases, contractors can be held responsible for uninsured subcontractors. Proper certificates and coverage are critical.
Does workers’ compensation cover the business owner?
It depends on the state and how your business is set up. Sole proprietors with no employees are usually exempt in most western states, and many states let owners and officers choose to include or exclude themselves. In Washington, owners can buy optional coverage through L&I.
What affects the cost of workers’ compensation insurance?
Costs are influenced by trade classification, payroll, claims history, experience modification, and state regulations.
Can you help contractors with prior workers’ comp claims?
Yes. We work with carriers that specialize in higher‑risk and loss‑sensitive workers’ compensation programs.
Do I need workers’ comp in Texas?
Texas is the one state where most private employers can choose not to carry it. Contractors who opt out lose important protections against employee injury lawsuits, public construction projects require coverage, and most general contractors require proof of comp from their subs.
Can I buy workers’ comp from a private insurer in Washington?
No. In Washington, workers’ comp comes only from the Department of Labor & Industries. Because L&I coverage doesn’t include employer’s liability, most contractors add stop gap coverage to their general liability policy.
What is an experience mod (EMR)?
Your experience modification rate compares your claims history to other contractors in your class. A 1.00 mod is average; below 1.00 lowers your premium and above 1.00 raises it. Many general contractors won’t let subs bid with a mod above 1.00, so managing claims matters.
Which agents can get workers’ comp for high-risk construction trades?
Look for an independent broker who works with several carriers, specialty construction programs and the state’s residual market, not a captive agent tied to one company. That is what we do: we shop your class codes with standard and specialty carriers and, if needed, place you in the assigned risk plan or state fund so you can keep working.
Can I get workers’ comp if I’ve been declined?
Usually, yes. Every state we work in has a market of last resort for employers who can’t find coverage in the voluntary market, such as an assigned risk plan or a state-chartered insurer. Pricing is often higher, so we work on your class codes, payroll and safety record to move you back to a standard carrier at renewal.
Contact
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info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, ID, NV, OR, TX and WA, serving contractors in AZ, CO and across the western U.S. California License #4291921.
Other license numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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