James Wallace, Director at Aviso Specialty, explains the difference between public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
Pest Guard includes our range of purpose-built pest management insurance policies. Pest Guard is designed to protect pest managers with cover tailored to the real risks you face on the job.
As a professional pest manager, your day-to-day work involves technical know-how, chemical treatments, and detailed reporting. But with that comes risk; even a small oversight can lead to expensive claims or legal headaches.
That’s why two types of insurance are non-negotiable in our industry: public liability (PL) and professional indemnity (PI). In this article, we break down the key differences between them and explain how each can benefit your pest management business.
Public liability insurance
Public liability (PL) insurance is there to protect your business if a third party suffers property damage or personal injury because of your work. It is a core requirement for pest managers working in both residential and commercial settings. In the pest management industry, that could mean an overspray damaging a client’s prized garden, a chemical spill staining carpet, or someone tripping over your equipment on site.
Having a clear understanding of what’s covered under your public liability policy means you know where you stand before a claim ever happens. PL insurance responds to incidents that happen during the course of your work and result in visible, physical damage or injury to others. As a result of these incidents, claims may be made against your business, making the right PL cover essential.
Without PL cover, these kinds of incidents can lead to hefty repair bills, medical costs, or even legal fees – all coming straight out of your pocket. With the right policy in place, you can focus on the job at hand, not the ‘what ifs’.
Claims scenario: You are treating a home for cockroaches using a residual spray. After the service, the homeowner notices that the spray has marked several interior walls. They request compensation to have the areas repainted. In this case, public liability insurance would cover the cost of the repainting.
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity (PI) insurance protects you if a client suffers a financial loss due to incorrect advice, an oversight in your reporting, or a failure to deliver your professional services to the expected standard. For pest managers, this is especially important for timber pest inspections, termite treatment plans, and pre-purchase reports.
Having a clear understanding of what’s covered under your PI policy means you can work with confidence, knowing you’re protected if a client alleges negligence or a mistake in your work.
Unlike PL, which covers physical damage or injury, PI responds to financial loss caused by your advice or professional opinion. It’s also written on a claims-made basis – meaning your policy must be active at the time a claim is made, not just when the work was completed.
Claims scenario: You conduct a timber pest inspection but fail to identify visible termite leads in the subfloor. Several months later, the property owner discovers termite damage in the wall framing and takes legal action, alleging professional negligence. In this case, professional indemnity insurance would cover the cost to replace the wall and your legal defence, if deemed negligent.
Key differences
Put simply:
- Public liability (PL) covers physical damage or injury caused in the course of your work, to others
- Professional indemnity (PI) covers financial loss caused by errors in your advice, reporting, or professional judgement, if deemed negligent.
Both are essential. Even the most experienced pest managers can have an off day, face a difficult job, or get caught in an unexpected situation. The right insurance not only helps cover the costs if things go wrong – it protects your livelihood, your reputation, and your ability to keep doing what you do best.
At Aviso Specialty, we work with pest managers across Australia and understand the specific risks in your trade. Our pest management insurance facility Pest Guard includes cover for a wide range of activities including general pest control, termite inspections, fumigation, and more.
If you are unsure whether your current policy fits your business, contact our Pest Guard team. We are here to help you stay protected, compliant, and confident on every job.
James Wallace, Director, Aviso Specialty
