--- title: Environmental Insurance: What You Need to Know description: In Insurance policies, the General Liability Section typically contains a Pollution Exclusion for bodily injury or property damage arising from your operations. image: https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/Are%20you%20covered%20against%20pollution%3F.png --- [**](https://www.facebook.com/steersatlantic/) [**](https://twitter.com/steersatlantic) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/steersinsuranceatlantic/) [**](https://www.instagram.com/steersinsuranceatlantic/) [Home](https://www.steersatlantic.ca/?hsLang=en-ca) [Contact Us](https://www.steersatlantic.ca/contact-otc-insurance-brokers?hsLang=en-ca) 888-295-7474 [![steers-logo-1](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/steers-logo-1.png?width=813&height=321&name=steers-logo-1.png)](https://steersatlantic.ca/) [![GET A QUOTE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6109970/83e767f7-64ca-4507-b512-9802bad0d339.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6109970/83e767f7-64ca-4507-b512-9802bad0d339) ![business-meeting](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/OTC_Insurance_February2020%20Theme/Images/business-meeting-1446005-sm-2-1.jpg); ![Contractors Pollution](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/OTC_Insurance_February2020%20Theme/Images/Contractors%20Pollution-2058-72dpi-1-1.png); ![Marine Cargo](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/OTC_Insurance_February2020%20Theme/Images/Marine%20Cargo%2024843636_s-3-1.jpg); ![crime insurance](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/OTC_Insurance_February2020%20Theme/Images/crime%20insurance%2080155537-72dpi-1-1.png); ![business-meeting](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/OTC_Insurance_February2020%20Theme/Images/Condo%20living-room-2155353-72dpi-1-1.jpg); ![Contractors Pollution](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/OTC_Insurance_February2020%20Theme/Images/Auto%20Ins%20Brunette-Teen-in-Red-Car-1.jpg); ![Marine Cargo](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hubfs/OTC_Insurance_February2020%20Theme/Images/atvs-2751246-72dpi-1-1.jpg); # Steers Insurance Blog # Environmental Insurance: What You Need to Know Posted by [Steers Blogging Team](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/author/otc-blogging-team) on Jul 7, 2022 12:00:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Are you covered against pollution?](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Are%20you%20covered%20against%20pollution%3F.png?width=1200&name=Are%20you%20covered%20against%20pollution%3F.png) In Insurance policies, the General Liability Section typically contains a Pollution Exclusion for bodily injury or property damage arising from your operations, whether onsite or offsite or for pollution spills or seepage emanating from your owned premises. Likewise, your property policy usually only has a small extension (if any) for pollution-type spill cleanup on your own property. You may not be aware of environmental law and how it could have repercussions for you. “The subject of environmental regulation and environmental law in Canada is interesting. The polluter-pay principle is firmly entrenched in environmental law in Canada by assigning companies that pollute the responsibility for remedying contamination for which they are responsible. “ 1  Therefore, it is beneficial to get familiar with the law.   Basic environmental insurance coverage includes Third-party liability, cleanup costs, emergency radiation costs, and incidental transit (transportation coverage for automobiles that pick up waste, products or materials and transport them).  Examples: [https://www.victorinsurance.ca/en/pl/resources/claims-examples/claims-examples-environmental-liability.html ](https://www.victorinsurance.ca/en/pl/resources/claims-examples/claims-examples-environmental-liability.html) - bodily injury and property damage arising from a pollution event – oil, hydraulic fluid, gas, or diesel tanks that you take on or puncture at another party’s site - pollution from waste materials on your own property – oil, hydraulic fluid, gas, or diesel tanks on site You can experience the following negative impacts on your company: -Cleanup costs if the property becomes contaminated: [https://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/features/pollution-solution/](https://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/features/pollution-solution/) -Damage to a third party -Fines and penalties  -Crisis management expenses – for adverse reactions by the public Pollution incidents can cause multiple problems. Negative publicity, cost, and time dealing with the situation can affect your business adversely.   Environmental cleanup and liability coverage is essential to help offset these impacts.   Steps you can take: - Review your risk management policy and consider how environmental insurance could be part of your program. - Review your insurance coverage(s) and ensure the appropriate exposure risks are included. - Speak to OTC Insurance about coverage appropriate for you [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6109970/8e9348c3-2819-474f-a02e-d780229ffbaa.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6109970/8e9348c3-2819-474f-a02e-d780229ffbaa)   1 Paul Granda, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, “Overview of Canadian environmental law: A potential for liability and insurance coverage issues,” 2021, Victor Insurance Managers Inc ### Does Your Policy Fit you? ![Small Office 104662907](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Small%20Office%20104662907.png?width=221&name=Small%20Office%20104662907.png) Your business has grown and evolved; perhaps your insurance should too.  Put us to work with our free no obligation assessment.   [![Free Commercial Insurance Assessment](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6109970/8c5d4c50-98f0-4e77-a002-e27b394ca3d3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6109970/8c5d4c50-98f0-4e77-a002-e27b394ca3d3) ### Subscribe Here! ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Tag - [Home Insurance (60)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/home-insurance) - [Commercial Insurance (55)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/commercial-insurance) - [Auto Insurance (15)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/auto-insurance) - [Cyber Insurance (15)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/cyber-insurance) - [Commercial Property Insurance (12)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/commercial-property-insurance) - [Home Base Business (8)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/home-base-business) - [About OTC Insurance (7)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/about-otc-insurance) - [Environmental Insurance (7)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/environmental-insurance) - [Property damage (7)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/property-damage) - [Overland Flood Insurance (4)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/overland-flood-insurance) - [Continuity Insurance (3)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/continuity-insurance) - [Preventative Maintenance (3)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/preventative-maintenance) - [Women in Business (3)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/women-in-business) - [Inflation (2)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/inflation) - [Personal Insurance (2)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/personal-insurance) - [Boat Insurance (1)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/boat-insurance) - [Health and Safety (1)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/health-and-safety) - [Home Inventory Checklist (1)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/home-inventory-checklist) - [Travel Insurance (1)](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/tag/travel-insurance) [See all](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/blog/environmental-insurance-what-you-need-to-know#) [![steers_reverse](https://blog.steersatlantic.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/steers_reverse.png?width=499&height=257&name=steers_reverse.png)](https://steersatlantic.ca/)   130 Eileen Stubbs Avenue Unit 7 Dartmouth, NS  B3B 2C4 **Tel:** (902) 481-0700 **Toll-Free:** (888) 295-7474 **Fax:** (902) 481-1812 [hello@steersinsurance.com](mailto:hello@steersinsurance.com) © 2023 Steers Atlantic Inc.