Regional Landscaping & Tree Services Contractor

As this regional contractor grew, its insurance program failed to keep pace with the complexity of its operations. The company had coverage, but not a program built for its scale.

High-hazard tree work, large multi-crew job sites, and a sizable fleet created serious exposures their existing policies didn’t adequately address. Safety practices were inconsistent across crews and there was no meaningful umbrella protection in place.

Key Issues Included:

• Significant liability exposure from high-hazard tree removal and aerial work
• Elevated risk of catastrophic third-party property damage on large job sites
• Complex fleet and equipment exposures without sufficient coverage
• No umbrella protection
• Inconsistent safety practices across crews
• No bilingual safety training for a diverse workforce

RIG conducted a full risk assessment across multi-crew operations, fleet usage, and job site exposures, then rebuilt the insurance program from the ground up while deploying hands-on safety leadership to address operational gaps.

Program Restructuring:

General Liability:
Enhanced to reflect higher-hazard operations, including arborist workmanship and error coverage

Commercial Auto:
Strengthened for a larger fleet with telematics and camera controls implemented

Inland Marine:
High-value equipment and lifts fully scheduled

Workers’ Compensation:
Aligned with multi-crew, higher-risk classifications—yielding overall rate reductions per class code

Umbrella:
$10M excess layer added

Safety Leadership Integration:

An in-house Director of Safety was deployed to: conduct onsite evaluations across multiple crews; review climbing, rigging, and aerial lift practices; implement OSHA-aligned safety program improvements; and standardize fall protection and PPE requirements.

Bilingual Training Program:

Keeping the needs of a diverse workforce in mind, RIG delivered English and Spanish safety support, including OSHA training tailored to tree operations, tree climbing and cutting best practices, and clear communication of high-risk job site hazards.

Carrier Strategy Upgrade:

The client was transitioned to a carrier specializing in large contractors and tree service risks, providing broader coverage for high-severity exposures, stronger claims handling for complex losses, and more stable long-term pricing.

The strength of the program was put to the test when a miscalculated cut during a large, commercial tree removal caused a tree section to fall onto an adjacent structure, resulting in significant property damage, business interruption exposure for the third party, and allegations of improper procedures and supervision.

The rebuilt program responded exactly as designed:

• General liability covered the property damage and third-party loss exposure
• Defense costs were engaged immediately
• The $10M umbrella provided critical excess protection
• The high-severity claim was fully absorbed without impacting the company’s financial stability

Beyond this particular claim, the broader RIG program delivered:

• Improved safety consistency across all crews
• Stronger communication and training engagement across a diverse workforce
• Better positioning with carriers and underwriters for long-term rate stability