Why Your GL Policy Probably Excludes Tower Work (And How to Fix It)

One of the most dangerous situations a tower contractor can face is believing they have general liability coverage when their policy actually excludes the work they perform. This scenario is far more common than most contractors realize, and the consequences of discovering the gap at claim time are severe: denied claims, uninsured liability, and potential business failure. <h2>The Height Exclusion Problem</h2> <p>The most common and most damaging exclusion is the <a href="/questions/what-is-height-exclusion-tower-insurance">height exclusion</a>. Standard market GL carriers that do not specialize in tower work frequently add endorsements excluding coverage for bodily injury or property damage arising from work performed above a specified height — typically 20, 40, or 60 feet. For tower contractors whose crews work at 100 to 400 feet daily, a height exclusion effectively voids coverage for the most hazardous and most claim-prone portion of their operations.</p> <p>Height exclusions are often added silently during underwriting or at renewal. The carrier discovers the insured performs tower work, determines the exposure exceeds their risk appetite, and adds the exclusion via endorsement rather than non-renewing the account outright. The endorsement may be buried deep in the policy document, and its title may not obviously reference height. Many contractors never read past their declarations page and remain unaware of the exclusion until a claim is filed and denied.</p> <h2>The Tower Work Exclusion</h2> <p>Some carriers go beyond height exclusions and add endorsements that specifically exclude telecommunications tower construction, erection, maintenance, or repair. This language is broader than a height exclusion because it eliminates coverage for all tower-related work regardless of height, including ground-level activities on tower sites like rigging preparation, material staging, and equipment testing.</p> <h2>The Structural Steel Exclusion</h2> <p>Another variant excludes work involving structural steel erection above a certain height or weight threshold. This exclusion may not mention towers specifically but applies directly to tower erection, antenna mounts, and platform installations that involve steel structural components.</p> <h2>How to Identify Exclusions</h2> <p>Read your entire policy, not just the declarations page. Exclusions are added via endorsement and appear in the endorsement schedule, which may be dozens of pages into the document. Look specifically for any endorsement containing the words "height," "elevation," "tower," "telecommunications," "structural steel," or "erection." If you find any of these terms in an exclusionary endorsement, your coverage may be compromised.</p> <p>Your broker should provide a coverage checklist at every renewal confirming the absence of restrictive exclusions. If your broker does not proactively confirm this, ask for written confirmation that your policy contains no height exclusions, tower work exclusions, or structural steel exclusions that would limit coverage for your operations.</p> <h2>How to Fix It</h2> <p>If your current policy contains a tower-related exclusion, you have two options. First, negotiate with your current carrier to remove the exclusion. This requires providing comprehensive safety documentation including competent climber training records, written rescue plans, equipment inspection logs, and a favorable loss history. Some carriers will remove exclusions for an additional premium if the contractor demonstrates strong risk management.</p> <p>Second, move the account to a specialty tower contractor market. Carriers that write tower contractors as their primary business do not impose height or tower work exclusions because they understand, price for, and accept the exposure. These specialty markets are accessible through brokers who specialize in the tower contractor space and maintain relationships with the handful of carriers that actively write this class.</p> <h2>The Cost of Getting It Wrong</h2> <p>A GL claim denied due to a height exclusion leaves the contractor personally liable for bodily injury, property damage, and defense costs. A single tower site injury can generate a $2M to $10M liability claim. Without GL coverage responding, the contractor faces this exposure with personal and business assets, which typically means bankruptcy.</p> <p>Additionally, if you have been issuing certificates of insurance to clients that do not disclose the exclusion, you may face breach of contract claims from clients whose MSAs required coverage without height limitations.</p> <p>Do not wait for a claim to find out. <a href="/contact">Request a free coverage review</a> today and we will examine your policy for any exclusions that could leave your tower work uninsured.</p>