The Load on Your Hook Is the One Thing Your GL Won't Cover.
Care-custody-and-control protection for the property you lift, rig, and move
Riggers liability insurance — the crane-and-rigging form of on-hook coverage — protects an operator against physical damage to a customer's property while that property is being lifted, rigged, hoisted, or moved. From the moment a load is attached to the hook until it is set in place, that property is in the operator's care, custody, and control, and a commercial general liability policy specifically excludes damage to property in your care. That care-custody-and-control gap is exactly what riggers liability is built to close.
For crane operators, rigging contractors, and machinery movers, riggers liability is the coverage that stands behind the load itself — separate from the general liability that answers for injury to third parties and separate from the equipment coverage on your own cranes and gear.
What Riggers Liability Insurance Covers
Riggers liability responds to physical damage to a customer's property while it is in your care during a lift, typically for:
Damage During the Lift — Covers a load that is dropped, struck, or crushed while being hoisted, swung, or set in place.
Rigging & Attachment Failure — Responds when a sling, shackle, strap, or rigging point fails and the load is damaged.
Shifting & Collision — Covers a load that shifts, swings into another object, or collides with structures or equipment during the move.
Loading, Moving & Positioning — Protects the property while it is being staged, skidded, jacked, or moved into final position.
Defense & Loss Adjustment — Provides the cost to investigate, defend, and settle a customer's property-damage claim.
Riggers Liability vs. the Coverages It's Confused With
The care-custody-and-control exposure is easy to misplace, so the distinctions matter:
Riggers liability covers a customer's property while it is on the hook, being lifted or rigged
General liability covers third-party bodily injury and property damage, but excludes the property in your care you are lifting
An installation floater covers property you are installing, a broader builders-risk-style exposure
Contractors equipment and inland marine cover your own cranes, rigging, and tools — not the customer's load
On-hook towing coverage is the parallel form for a vehicle being towed, not a load on a crane hook
An operator relying on general liability alone finds the most valuable thing on the job — the load itself — is the one thing not covered.
Who Needs Riggers Liability Insurance
Riggers liability is essential for any operation that takes custody of property to lift or move it, including:
Mobile and tower crane operators and crane-rental companies
Rigging contractors and heavy-recovery and rotator operators
Millwrights and machinery movers and installers
Steel erectors and precast and structural setters
Sign, HVAC, and elevator installers that hoist equipment into place
Marine, port, and yard operators lifting boats, containers, and equipment
How Limits and Basis Work
Riggers liability is built around the value of what you lift, so the structure matters:
The limit should reflect the most valuable single load you would ever have on the hook — a transformer, chiller, machine, or structural member can be worth far more than a stock limit
The per-occurrence limit must cover the full value at risk during a lift, not an average job
Coverage is generally written on a legal-liability basis, paying when the operator is negligent, so lift planning and rigging discipline directly affect both claims and terms
Operated rental versus bare rental changes who holds the care-custody exposure, and the coverage must follow it
Exclusions commonly apply to faulty workmanship, defective rigging, and loads over a stated value, so the form must be read against the work
Real-World Claim Examples
A rigged load slips from its slings and is destroyed on the ground
A crane sets a rooftop HVAC unit down hard and damages the unit
A machine being skidded into position shifts and is crushed against a wall
A structural member swings in the wind and strikes the piece already set
A transformer is dropped during final positioning and is a total loss
Why Proper Placement Matters
Most riggers-liability failures trace back to a few placement choices, so getting it right turns on:
Whether the limit reflects the true peak value of a load on the hook, not an outdated number
Whether the operator is wrongly relying on a general liability policy that excludes property in its care
How operated-versus-bare crane rental shifts the care-custody exposure between parties
Exclusions to watch, including faulty workmanship, defective rigging, and value caps per load
Lift-planning, certification, and rigging discipline, which drive both appetite and price
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., we place riggers liability around the exposure that defines heavy lifting — the customer's property while it hangs on your hook. We size the limit to the most valuable load you would ever lift, confirm the care-custody gap in your general liability is actually filled, and coordinate it with the equipment and liability coverage your work demands. It is a core piece of a crane and rigging program, it complements the general liability that excludes property in your care, and it is distinct from on-hook towing coverage for vehicles in tow.
The load on your hook is the one thing your GL won't cover — we build the coverage so a lift, a rig, or a set never becomes a loss you absorb.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
See what to confirm in a riggers liability policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed, in the Riggers Liability Policy Feature Checklist.
Complete the Riggers Liability Supplemental online in a few guided steps, download the fillable PDF, or browse all applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get riggers liability (on-hook) insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate riggers liability (on-hook) insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
How are riggers liability (on-hook) insurance premiums priced?
It depends on your exposure. Riggers liability (on-hook) insurance is priced on factors like your industry, size, prior claims, and the limits and deductibles you select — so two businesses rarely pay the same. We shop your account across competing carriers and present the trade-offs in plain English.
Is riggers liability (on-hook) insurance mandatory?
Requirements vary. Riggers liability (on-hook) insurance may be mandated by statute, or required under your contracts, leases, or loan agreements — and in many cases it is simply prudent given the risks involved. We look at your specific obligations and exposures, then recommend the coverage and limits that fit.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.