Analytical Chemist Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an analytical chemist business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for independent and consulting analytical chemists. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability (E&O) | Covers errors in analysis, method choice, and interpretation. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers client-site visits and sampling. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers lab exposure injuries if you have employees. | Core | |
| Expert Witness Endorsement | Covers claims after an opinion is excluded. | Prevalent | |
| Business Personal Property / Equipment | Covers owned instruments. | Prevalent | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers confidential client formulations and data. | Prevalent | |
| Contractual Liability | Covers indemnities in pharma and CRO contracts. | Prevalent | |
| Products-Completed Operations | Covers formulations that reach commercial products. | Situational | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers sampling at contaminated sites and reagents. | Situational | |
| Regulatory / Disciplinary Defense | Covers FDA or EPA inquiries into your data. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by consulting chemists is the definition of professional services. Many policies exclude or sublimit expert-witness work, or define services narrowly as laboratory testing. After the 2023 Rule 702 change, a client whose expert is excluded may sue for the lost case. Confirm testimony and consulting are named, and that CRO and pharma indemnities aren't excluded.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your analytical chemist coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Analytical Chemist Insurance · Analytical Chemist Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an analytical chemist business need?
The core coverages for an analytical chemist business are Professional Liability (E&O), General Liability, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my analytical chemist coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.