The CSLB’s definition
“An ornamental metals contractor assembles, casts, cuts, shapes, stamps, forges, welds, fabricates and installs, sheet, rolled and cast, brass, bronze, copper, cast iron, wrought iron, monel metal, stainless steel, steel, and/or any other metal for the architectural treatment and ornamental decoration of structures. This classification does not include the work of a sheet metal contractor.”
Welding burns, cuts and lifting heavy pieces are the comp exposures. On the liability side, a railing that gives way or a sliding gate that crushes someone are serious claims, and automatic gates without proper safety devices are a known source of injury lawsuits. Your completed work stays your exposure for years, so make sure your policy includes completed operations coverage.
The C-23 coverage stack
- General Liability — completed operations matter most for railings and gates
- Workers’ Compensation — 5102 in the field, 3040 in the shop
- Commercial Auto — trucks and trailers hauling finished pieces
- Inland Marine — welders, torches and fabricated work in transit
- CSLB license bond — the $25,000 bond every C-23 license needs
- Excess & Umbrella — multifamily and commercial contracts often require more