Hiring Someone to Work on Property - Liability

[two_bit_score]

You need to control the weeds with Herbicide and fertilizers anyway.

if you can’t or don’t want to DIY hire a good landscaper who is insured.

 

[plowhog]

I am assuming liability is lessened if you are paying that person to work at your property.

Sorry, I never answered this. Potential liability is triggered by doing this, not lessened by it.

 

[Sonny580]

Not sure anyone under 18 is even allowed to use a weed eater! --- In this area they cant! --- WHY,--- cause it has a motor on it! Its crap but thats what the laws have evolved into.
I started driving dads Oliver 70 tractor and pulled a 2-bottom rope trip plow when I was 8. Try that today and you get jail time! lol!
Check with your insurance guy and make sure your covered before you hire them.
I know a lot of good kids that are safe and suffer these laws too. How are they ever going to learn anything if govt. wont give them a chance?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Once in a while as part of our contracting business, we need to hire temp labor for a variety of reasons; because of liability / workman's comp requirements I always use companies like People Ready, Tradesman International, or Tradesource on non union jobs... basic laborer rate now is hovering around $35 an hour. But, at least my butt is covered if something goes south. It's where we are at today.

 

[sixdogs]

Check with your home insurance agent. You may already be covered for this.

We've hired kids and people for decades and coverage was always a part of the policy. Also covered if someone makes a workman's comp claim and I have never heard of a homeowner being sued. Should someone try, and if I had coverage, I believe the insurance company would be obligated to defend the claim on your behalf. I Also believe this type of coverage in pretty much universal among companies.

That is my understanding but check with your agent to make sure of what you have for coverage.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

We've hired kids and people for decades and coverage was always a part of the policy. Also covered if someone makes a workman's comp claim and I have never heard of a homeowner being sued. Should someone try, and if I had coverage, I believe the insurance company would be obligated to defend the claim on your behalf. I Also believe this type of coverage in pretty much universal among companies.

That is my understanding but check with your agent to make sure of what you have for coverage.

My commercial insurance agent bought a new fridge 2 years ago. The big box delivery guy couldn't get it in the house, so the next door neighbor ran over to help; on his own volition. Sure enough, his knee bent over backwards and tore every tendon / ligament he had. Over the next 9 months he racked up $250K in medical bills, and sued my insurance agent for another million bucks; he got 500 K in the lawsuit. Lesson learned... always carry an umbrella policy on your home, and never let a neighbor help you out.

 

[John_Mc]

You should understand that in most states, if you hire someone to work for you who does not have workers' comp coverage, you are the their workers comp insurer (and in the end, their medical insurer, if it comes to that.) You are also responsible for the condition of any of your equipment they use and for seeing that they are appropriately trained in its proper use.

I have hired kids in the past to work for me, and will do so in the future, but I think very carefully about the type of work I ask them to do. It's worth a call to your homeowner's insurance agent, but I can guess their answer. Their job is to protect you (and their company) from risk.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Federal law prohibits kids younger than 16 from operating lawn mowers, weed eaters etc. Wow, I was a criminal when I was 13. I started mowing a neighbors lawn when I was 13. Had my first lesson in engine maintenance when I didn't check the oil on the mower and the engine seized on his John Deere riding mower. My dad and I replaced the engine with the help of a lawn mower mechanic from church. Had to pay for the engine out of my earnings.

Here is what OSHA says about hiring teens for landscape work. Long and short they need to be trained and have proper safety equipment.

Office of the Assistant Secretary | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

www.osha.gov

As others have said, check your insurance for coverage. I would give the kid a chance.

 

[sodamo]

I sure miss the old days…

 

[mikester]

If you want less liability hire a contractor with proof of insurance coverage. Even that doesn't make things trouble free.

Over here we have workers comp insurance that employers must pay. If your contractor lets his lapse and gets injured on your property then you become liable for his workers comp.

Lawyers, insurance companies and the government seems to be doing everything they can to kill jobs and small businesses.