Are commercial post-construction cleaners in Ottawa required to carry liability insurance?

Whether a cleaning company is legally required to carry liability insurance is not something to assume either way. The practical step is the same regardless: ask for proof of liability insurance and what it covers before any commercial post-construction cleaning crew starts work. General contractors and property managers often set their own insurance requirements for anyone working on site, so check with them as well.

Liability insurance matters because accidents during cleaning can be expensive. It can respond to property damage caused during cleaning, such as a floor scrubber scratching expensive flooring, a pressure washer damaging building facades, or chemical cleaning products discolouring surfaces. It can also respond to bodily injury claims if someone else is harmed as a result of the cleaning work. Read what the policy covers rather than relying on the word "insured".

WSIB is a separate question. People who own or run a construction business, with or without employees, must have WSIB coverage, with some exceptions. Whether a particular cleaning company falls into that group is not something to guess at, so ask whether they have WSIB coverage or a clearance certificate, and get the answer in writing before work begins.

It can also be worth asking whether the company's insurance covers damage caused by using the wrong product on a surface, and how they dispose of leftover cleaning chemicals. These questions help you understand who pays if something goes wrong.

A practical step for any commercial property owner or project manager in Ottawa is to request a certificate of insurance before cleaning work begins, and to ask whether your company or property can be named on it. A company that is set up properly should be comfortable providing this. If a cleaning company cannot or will not show proof of insurance or answer the WSIB question clearly, that is a reason to look elsewhere. The Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com lists cleaning contractors in the Ottawa area where you can compare options and request documentation before making a hiring decision.

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