Do event crew need public liability insurance?
No. UK law does not require crew to hold public liability insurance. The insurance the law does require is employers' liability, and that sits with the employer, not the worker. See GOV.UK on employers' liability insurance. Public liability is optional cover that pays if a third party is injured or their property is damaged because of your work.
When the hirer already covers you
Most hirers who direct your work, supply the kit and run the site carry their own public liability and employers' liability cover, and crew working under them are normally inside it. Do not assume. Ask the hirer one question before the job: “Does your insurance cover me while I work on your site?” Get the answer in a message you can keep.
When freelancers carry their own
Some self-employed crew take out their own policy. It tends to make sense if you work for several companies, bring your own tools or vehicle, work with little supervision, or are hired as a self-employed contractor rather than as a worker. Some hirers and venues ask for proof as a condition of booking. If you only do occasional days for one company that covers you, you may not need it. Check the hirer's requirements before you pay for a policy.
What a policy covers
Public liability covers injury to members of the public or damage to their property, plus legal costs. It does not cover injury to you, damage to your own kit, or work you did badly. Cover for your own tools, or for professional mistakes, is a separate product. Read the policy wording for which activities are listed. Check that work at height, events and marquee or staging work are included, because some cheaper policies exclude them.
How to buy it
Policies are sold by brokers and insurers, many of them aimed at freelancers and the events trade, and you can usually get a quote online. Prices vary with your job role, turnover, level of cover and claims history, so compare several quotes rather than trusting one figure. Choose the level of cover the hirer asks for. If a hirer asks for proof, send the certificate they request and keep a copy.
Safety is separate from insurance
Insurance pays after something goes wrong. It does not replace safe working. The HSE has guidance on event safety, and the tickets and licences guide covers the certificates that raise your rate. For tax on self-employed income, read tax for self-employed event crew.
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