Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster Exam

Would a welder's homeowner's insurance cover damage caused while working on a job site?

1. Yes, if the damage is accidental

2. No, such incidents are not covered

3. Yes, if the project is within the home

4. No, but there is a specific rider for this

The correct answer is: No, such incidents are not covered

Homeowner's insurance policies are primarily designed to cover personal property within the home and liability exposures that occur within the residence. When a welder is working on a job site, they are typically operating outside the scope of their personal homeowner's insurance, as it does not cover professional activities or incidents that occur in a commercial context. The nature of the work being done—welding on a job site—introduces risks that are typically considered business-related rather than personal. As such, standard homeowner's insurance policies explicitly exclude coverage for incidents that arise from professional work. Therefore, if damage occurs while the welder is working at a job site, this would fall outside the homeowner's policy's protections. Homeowner's insurance is not intended to cover such business-related risks, hence the reasoning behind this answer. In contrast, specific riders or policies designed for business activities, such as commercial general liability insurance, would be appropriate for such situations, which reinforces that standard homeowner's insurance would indeed not cover these circumstances.