Inaccurate results or analyses
A faulty measurement, calibration, or analysis that a client relies on can lead to failed decisions and errors-and-omissions claims.
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Scientific And Technical Service Insurance
A calibration error can affect a client's output long before it is discovered. Insurance for the resulting claim is a different question from paying to repeat your service or repairing the instrument in your care.
The Southern Agency can help you connect professional liability and equipment coverage to the results-driven nature of your service.
Industry overview
You perform hands-on work like instrument calibration and field analysis where accuracy is critical. A measurement error can lead to a client's project failure, while your valuable equipment faces risks at client sites.
The Southern Agency can review your calibration work, client equipment and field locations to help compare appropriate insurance. We can distinguish alleged result errors from damage to instruments and the cost of repeating your own service.
Risks worth discussing
Damage to specialized instruments
High-value instruments and field equipment are vulnerable to damage, theft, and breakdown, both in the lab and on location.
Injury and damage at client sites
Technicians performing work at client facilities face bodily-injury and property-damage exposure away from their own premises.
Equipment breakdown disrupting work
A failure of critical analytical or measurement equipment can halt service delivery and delay client deadlines.
Data and methods exposure
Results, proprietary methods, and client information stored electronically can be compromised in a cyber incident.
Field workforce injuries
Staff traveling to and working at varied job sites carry real injury exposure, raising workers' compensation concerns.
Coverage worth discussing
Policies to ask about. Which ones fit depends on your operations, your contracts, and the carrier’s forms.
- Professional Liability InsuranceMay address covered negligence in declared calibration or measurement, though retesting, refunds, and specific industry exclusions require review.
- Inland Marine InsuranceMay help cover portable instruments and field equipment against damage or theft when performing work at client sites.
- General Liability InsuranceMay address covered nonprofessional injury or property claims, though custody of client equipment during calibration may be limited by professional-services exclusions.
- Equipment Breakdown InsuranceMay help repair included analytical or measurement equipment after a qualifying mechanical, electrical or power event. Ordinary calibration drift is not automatically a breakdown; repair and income benefits need their own applicable triggers.
- Cyber Liability InsuranceMay help with breach response and liability for the proprietary methods, results, and client data your service stores.
- Workers Compensation InsuranceMay provide eligible medical and wage benefits for qualifying technician work injuries at client sites or during included travel. Describe actual field duties, employers and jurisdictions; not every trip or contractor is automatically included.
Situations to think through
These hypothetical examples are not agency claim results. Whether a loss is covered depends on the facts, policy terms, and applicable exclusions.
Hypothetical: Hypothetical: faulty calibration
A client alleges that an incorrect calibration led to defective output and seeks recovery of its losses. A professional liability policy may respond to defense and damages, depending on policy terms and the facts. Check insured methods/services and damages terms; correcting results or refunding fees is not automatically covered.
Hypothetical: Hypothetical: instrument damaged on location
A portable analyzer is dropped and damaged during a site visit. Inland marine coverage may help repair or replace it, subject to the specific policy and scheduled values. Check scheduled instrument, accidental-damage cause, and field/transport conditions; client-owned units need an insured interest.
Hypothetical: Hypothetical: lab equipment failure
A power surge disables a critical analytical instrument and stalls deliveries. Equipment breakdown coverage may help with repair and resulting downtime, depending on policy terms and exclusions. Determine the covered power/equipment event and income terms, including any waiting period; not all missed deadlines are reimbursed.
Before you talk to an agent
Questions to raise
- Schedule high-value instruments under inland marine
- Consider equipment breakdown for critical lab assets
- Set professional liability to result-reliance risk
- Confirm general liability extends to client sites
- Review cyber coverage for data and proprietary methods
Contract terms to check
- Define who supplies specifications and authorizes adjustments, retesting or withdrawal of prior results.
- Review responsibility for client equipment and downstream scrap/rework separately from your own service correction or refunds.
What the agent conversation looks like
Start with the work you do and the questions your current policies leave unanswered. Carrier options depend on your location, risk, and underwriting. Explore our approach.
- ListenReview your operations, current coverage, and past claims.
- AssessIdentify potential hazards and discuss ways to reduce risk.
- BuildDiscuss policy and carrier options, premium costs, and audits.
- SupportReview changes and help you plan ahead as your needs develop.
Questions owners ask
How is this different from consulting insurance?
Calibration and measurement work can involve instrument custody and field equipment, and many firms combine execution and advice. Describe all actual services; the business label alone does not establish different insurance.
Are my instruments covered away from the lab?
Inland marine coverage may help for portable instruments at client sites, depending on policy terms and listed values. We can help confirm coverage extends off premises.
What if a result we deliver turns out to be wrong?
A professional liability policy may respond to a claim that an inaccurate result caused client loss, subject to policy terms, endorsements, and the facts of the matter.
Do I need equipment breakdown coverage?
A qualifying failure of insured analytical equipment may bring repair benefits and selected income protection. Confirm the actual cause, equipment, waiting and restoration terms; a service stoppage or ordinary calibration drift alone does not establish a covered breakdown.
Is workers' compensation needed for field technicians?
Requirements vary by state, but workers' compensation is commonly needed and covers work-related injury, including travel to and work at client sites, subject to applicable rules.
Do clients require us to carry insurance?
Many contracts require professional and general liability limits, and site access often requires proof of coverage. We can help meet those terms, though availability depends on underwriting.
Talk through your scientific and technical service coverage
Bring your questions, current policies, and relevant contracts. An agent can review coverage terms, exclusions, and the information carriers ask for, then explain the options available to you.