Posted By Phil Grace
Rick,
Absolutely agree - you shouldn't really operate as a consultant or similar without Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance.

However, unlike Public Liability - PL (which you might need as well - see below) there are no standard or conventional limits of indemnity (i.e. the level of cover) It very much depends upon what you do. If you operate in the major hazard sector e.g. petrochem, offshore, undertake safety case preparation or review or anything like that then expect to pay a higher premium.
However, if you simply provide limited training e.g. introductory H&S, perhaps some manual handling and do some risk assessment work in light industrial/engineering etc then you will pay less. Your premium is also related to your fee income so the more complex the work the higher your fees and thus the premium will go up.

Remember that PI covers you for professional errors that result in financial loss. For example you make a mistake with their safety case, the regulators won't let plant start up until rectified so there is lost income... that could be a PI claim.

But if you go onto the premises and whilst on site you drop your clipboard into a piece of equipment causing it to break down or drop your pen into a food manufacturing line that then has to be decontaminated then that would be PL claim.

Obviously can't recommend insurers - you are best speaking to a specialist broker. Hope this helps

Phil