Does general liability cover my work after I finish a project?

Yes, if your policy includes products-completed operations coverage, which most standard general liability insurance policies do. This part of the policy protects you when your finished work causes bodily injury or property damage after you have left the job and the project is complete. It is one of the most important protections for contractors and tradespeople.

Here is how it works. While you are actively on a job, ongoing operations coverage applies. Once the work is done and turned over to the client, completed operations coverage takes over for problems that show up later because of that work.

Consider a Georgia example. A plumber finishes installing a water heater and moves on to other jobs. Two months later, a faulty connection from that installation leaks and damages the homeowner’s flooring and cabinets. Completed operations coverage can respond to the resulting property damage claim, even though the work was finished long ago.

A few things to keep in mind. This coverage applies to damage or injury that happens after the work is complete, not to fixing your own faulty workmanship itself, which is generally excluded. Also, claims must usually arise while the coverage is in force, so keeping continuous coverage matters, especially after you finish big projects. Reviewing your exclusion list helps you understand the boundaries.

If you build, install, or repair things for clients, this coverage is essential. Want to confirm your policy includes solid completed operations protection? Get a free coverage review today.