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TPC-Technology Professionals Canada

Welcome to the TPC Professional Insurance Program

PROLINK & TPC have partnered to deliver professional and personal insurance solutions for Technicians and Technologists at unparalleled rates.

PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE FOR TPC MEMBERS

Browse our Professional Insurance solutions tailored to your needs as a CET, AscT, PTech, or CTech.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

What is it?

Professional Liability Insurance protects you (and your business) from any allegations of errors, omissions, or negligence committed within the scope of your professional activities. It’ll cover your damages—legal expenses, administrative costs, and court settlements—EVEN if the claims made against you are groundless.

Why do we recommend it?

Even if you’re an expert at what you do, everyone makes mistakes. And even if you don’t, clients are unpredictable. Sometimes it only takes a single documentation error, a misstated fact, or a difference of opinion with a disgruntled client to trigger a claim. The bottom line? Any business that provides advice or service to clients for a fee is at risk of legal action and should at least consider Professional Liability Insurance.

COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (CGL)

What is it?

Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL) protects your business from third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and reputational harm caused by your professional activities or company operations. That includes any products you sell or services you provide on your premises and anywhere else you and your staff conduct business, like a client’s office, worksite, or home (certain exclusions may apply depending on your policy).

Why do we recommend it?

Whether it’s a client, a vendor, or supplier, any business that comes into contact with a third-party needs Commercial General Liability Insurance, especially if you or your employees:

  • Recommend and/or procure third party products to your clients;
  • Service, install, construct or customize third party products for your clients;
  • Own, rent, or lease a commercial space that’s open to the public;
  • Have a home-based business where clients visit you;
  • Visit your client’s workspace or home, or conduct business anywhere else offsite; and
  • Advertise or create marketing materials for your business.

DATA SECURITY & PRIVACY BREACH INSURANCE (CYBER)

What is it?

Cyber Insurance protects your business and offsets your losses in the event of a breach, like if your company’s information is stolen or exposed by a hacker, or accidentally released by an employee. This policy typically includes the following coverages:

  • Legal coaching on how to handle the breach with privacy regulators;
  • Funds for credit monitoring and client notification costs;
  • Funds for court-awarded damages and legal fees in case of a civil suit; and
  • Public relations services to manage any reputational fallout from the breach.

Highlights Include:

  • Coverage for First Party Liability Expenses–when a breach happens at your own business. The policy will provide coverage for expenses associated with: Event Support Services, Crisis Management Expenses, Network Business Interruption, Digital Asset Restoration, Network Extortion/Ransomware, Cyber Crime, Computer Replacement, and Business Interruption.
  • Coverage for Third Party Expenses in the event that you’re sued by a third party whose data was compromised in the breach. This includes costs associated with Privacy Regulation Penalties, Multimedia Liability, Payment Card Industry Fines and Penalties, and more.

Why do we recommend it?

As a Technician or Technologist, it’s not just the loss of client names and addresses you have to worry about in the event of a breach; it’s your blueprints, technical innovations, corporate banking accounts, and project data, especially for any high-profile or government jobs. Plus, if hackers manage to compromise your networks, the resulting fallout—operational disruptions, legal woes, regulatory fines, bad press, and more—could easily cripple your business. Additionally, if you license any systems or applications from a third-party and they’re compromised in a breach, you’re still liable for any damage caused to clients.

That’s where Cyber Insurance comes in. With a comprehensive policy, you can protect your company from financial loss and get ahead of a breach without losing business momentum or taking a massive reputational hit. Learn more by visiting our Cyber Toolkit below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE

What does Professional Liability Insurance cover?

In general, Professional Liability Insurance covers you against allegations brought by a third party (e.g. a client) seeking damages resulting from a negligent or wrongful act, error, or omission arising from your profession and within your scope of practice. The policy will pay for your legal defence costs (e.g. lawyer fees, court costs, etc.) Click here to learn more!

What does Commercial General Liability Insurance cover?

Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL) protects you from third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, medical payments, advertising injury liability, and tenant’s legal liability caused by your professional activities or employee operations. Click here to learn more!

What does Cyber Insurance cover?

Data Security & Privacy Breach Insurance protects your business from financial loss and helps get you back online following a privacy breach. Watch our Cyber Insurance video to learn more!

The Professional Liability Insurance policy is a “claims-made” policy. What does "claims-made" mean?

“Claims-made” policies require you to have a policy in effect when a claim is reported (made) in order for coverage to apply. Any claims are covered under the policy that is in force at the time and NOT the policy in force when the occurrence took place.

What are the biggest exposures for Technicians and Technologists?

1. A client claims you made a mistake.

Between so many measurements and models, it’s easy to slip-up, no matter how careful or precise you are. And when you’re juggling multiple projects, it’s near impossible to detect every single error before submitting the final plans, even if you’re double or triple checking your calculations. In fact, according to claims data from Victor Insurance, over 55% of claims are caused by design errors.

But in your line of work, even one small mistake during planning, development, or production could lead to thousands of dollars of damage, with potentially dangerous consequences for the public and a devastating lawsuit for you.

2. A client accuses you of negligence.

Engineering and design projects rarely go smoothly. Even if you plan everything down to a T, a client can still sue if they believe you’ve caused them financial harm, omitted important details, or if the designs don’t turn out as expected. What if increased production costs make it difficult to work within the client’s budget? What if, in an attempt to cut those costs, you switch materials and your client isn’t happy with the final look? What if a subcontractor misled you and caused you to miss a deadline?

Sudden disruptions in performance, schedule, and pricing may be unaccounted for under the existing terms of your contract and if a client isn’t aware of delays or cost overruns well in advance, you might be accused of negligence or breach of professional duty.

 

3. You’ve been named in a lawsuit.

When there’s money at stake, clients can be aggressive. Whether or not you’re at fault, they may look to pass the financial responsibility onto you if an error or omission loses them money. And you’ll still have to defend—even if a claim is frivolous.

Say a designer misinterprets your renderings and orders expensive materials that won’t work with your plans. Your client is upset and sues both of you to recover the lost funds. Even though you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ll still have to spend time and money on costly litigation to clear your name.

How can I better manage my exposures?

1. Practice good contract management.

Having a detailed client contract is the best way to set expectations regarding a project. It’ll also help resolve claims faster and at a lower cost. Be sure to:

 

  • Set guidelines for:
    • Terms and conditions, including services to be provided (and not provided);
    • Price escalations, payments, and invoicing schedules;
    • The timing, delivery, and termination of services;
    • What constitutes an “excusable delay,” parameters for notice of the delay, and how long the delay will be;
    • All applicable safety procedures and how they are compliant with regulatory, provincial, and professional requirements; and
    • Response protocols if your project is ever suspended or shut down.
  • Make sure you have the contractual ability to stop working if you’re not being paid just in case your project gets held up. Additionally, all invoices should state that they’re subject to the terms of the Master Agreement.
  • Have a lawyer review all of your professional contracts and clients’ contracts. Ask questions so you understand your legal obligations and amend your contracts as needed for adequate protection.
  • Ensure contracts are signed and dated by all relevant parties.

 

2. Be selective.

Stay away from clients that have a reputation for being litigious or who insist on cutting corners. If they’re willing to take shortcuts during the design process, they’ll also likely be more willing to put the blame on you when push comes to shove.

Additionally, be wary of taking on too many jobs. It might seem like a great idea to make connections with different clients, especially if you’re just starting out, but it might cost your firm money in the long run if you don’t have time to put the right attention and detail into every project. Keep a list of active clients to make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew.

 

3. Document everything.

Comprehensive client records are your best defense against a claim. Remember to:

  • Maintain a complete record of all provided services, actions, and interactions, including online correspondence. Inform all involved parties that you will do so.
  • Note: the time and date, all discussed topics and next steps, any issues and your attempts to resolve them, any recommendations you made and why, along with the client’s refusal if applicable.
  • Take photos and/or videos of any problems or errors that you encounter.
  • Document all verbal agreements, key information, and decisions. Always follow up with a summary email, particularly for any direction given to other parties.
  • Ensure that all documentation is objective—avoid personal opinions.
  • State clearly any assumptions you have made and put disclaimers in your design documents where needed.

 

4. Be cautious.

No matter how much you trust your team or collaborators, don’t accept things in good faith or skip any steps. Be vigilant and keep the following “don’ts” in mind to maintain the standard of care:

  • Don’t avoid problems. Tackle them head-on immediately—if you don’t, they’ll escalate and it’ll be even trickier to find a proper solution.
  • Don’t put your stamp of approval or or sign-off on anything you are not 100% comfortable with. Remember, you’ll have to explain your reasoning to a judge if it’s called into question.
  • Similarly, don’t agree to switch materials—including switching brands—unless you’ve tested them yourself and can certify the change will have no major impact. Document your reasoning for switching and/or not switching materials.
  • Don’t take anyone’s word for it. Don’t certify what you can’t see, even if a contractor tells you they’ve done something before with no issues. Instead, do your research and ask for third-party reports on efficacy and safety before making any changes or approving anything risky.
  • Record any assumptions you’ve made and put disclaimers in your design documents, especially on paperwork and documents that have been provided to you based on other’s work.

 

5. Keep clients in the know.

A lot of lawsuits could be avoided with proper communication. Take steps to:

  • Keep all relevant parties informed of updates to: design plans and layouts, pricing and deadlines, and bylaws, government, and safety protocols. Be particularly mindful of budget and scheduling changes or anything else that could drive up the total cost.
  • Sign off on all changes in the scope of work with the project owners.
  • Communicate all changes in a timely manner. Note the time and date when you do so and if done verbally, always send an email to follow-up.
  • Address all client questions or concerns immediately. It’ll help you establish trust and build a stronger relationship with the client.

 

6. Implement quality control processes.

Even if you’re confident in your work, it’s a good idea to implement strict quality control processes to ensure accuracy and boost your performance. Consider:

  • Setting aside a few hours everyday to review your designs;
  • Having other colleagues check your work through a peer review system or hiring an independent contractor to do so if possible; and
  • Developing proper communication and reporting protocols for all roles when issues arise.

 

7. Strengthen your insurance coverage.

Whether you own a small firm or work for a large corporation, operate independently or consult, or work residential or commercial jobs, the best practice no matter what you do or who you work with is insurance. The right coverage will ensure legal action doesn’t jeopardize your business. Plus, it’ll cover your damages—legal expenses, administrative costs, and court settlements—EVEN if the claims made against you are groundless.

What is a claim?

An insurance claim is a formal request made by an individual to their insurance company to cover the cost of a covered loss. Most claims are filed following a verbal or written demand for compensation, or the threat of a demand for compensation from a client, partner, consultant, or other third-party.

The bulk of claims for Technicians and Technologists come from project owners, both in the private and public sector. Why? As a certified professional, you’re responsible for proper project oversight. For designing to a reasonable standard of performance, while still adhering to public safety guidelines and protecting the client’s financial interests. And if you don’t, you can be held personally liable.

What do I do if I receive a statement of claim?

Once you are aware of an actual or potential claim, report it to PROLINK immediately. Please refrain from making written or oral statements, and do not offer to compensate or admit liability. Taking such actions could interfere in the insurer’s ability to manage the claim.

Click here to see how you can file an insurance claim in 5 steps or less.

Get Your Free Insurance Quote:

LIFE & HEALTH

PROLINK will take the time to listen, understand your lifestyle, and guide you to the best protection possible.

Health & Dental Insurance

Supplement your primary healthcare and access the care you need, when you need it with coverage for: extended health, dental, vision, medication, massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy, travel insurance, and more.

Disability Insurance

Protect your income if you’re unable to work because of a physical injury or ailment. It doesn’t matter if it’s a temporary or permanent disability; insurance will replace anywhere from 60-85% of your monthly earnings up to a specified time.

Critical Illness Insurance

Prepare for an unexpected illness or injury with a one-time, tax-free, lump sum. Once it’s paid, how you spend it is completely up to you, whether that’s on medicine, home accessibility, or even paying off part of your mortgage.

Life Insurance

Secure a simple, straightforward solution that will help you plan ahead while still guaranteeing protection for your loved ones. If there’s anyone relying on you for income—your children, spouse, ageing parents, or even a business partner—life insurance is worth it.

LIFE & HEALTH

PROLINK will take the time to listen, understand your lifestyle, and guide you to the best protection possible.

Health & Dental Insurance

Supplement your primary healthcare and access the care you need, when you need it with coverage for: extended health, dental, vision, medication, massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy, travel insurance, and more.

Disability Insurance

Protect your income if you’re unable to work because of a physical injury or ailment. It doesn’t matter if it’s a temporary or permanent disability; insurance will replace anywhere from 60-85% of your monthly earnings up to a specified time.

Critical Illness Insurance

Prepare for an unexpected illness or injury with a one-time, tax-free, lump sum. Once it’s paid, how you spend it is completely up to you, whether that’s on medicine, home accessibility, or even paying off part of your mortgage.

Life Insurance

Secure a simple, straightforward solution that will help you plan ahead while still guaranteeing protection for your loved ones. If there’s anyone relying on you for income—your children, spouse, ageing parents, or even a business partner—life insurance is worth it.

Get Your Free Insurance Quote:

CARING CLAIMS

If you’re lucky, you might never have to make a claim against your insurance. But in the event that you do, PROLINK will respond with urgency, empathy, and compassion. Hover over the images below to see contact options.

MON-FRI, 8AM to 5PM

Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM

If you have a potential claim, and would like to speak to PROLINK, please contact us directly at 1 800 663 6828. No matter the time of day, be sure to have your policy number and key details of the incident on-hand, including dates, events, and all persons and entities involved. 

AFTER HOURS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS

After Hours, Weekends, Holidays

Connect with our after-hours claims service, Kernaghan Insurance Adjusters at 1 800 387 5677, or contact your insurer directly and they’ll loop us in. To find your insurer’s claims department, simply open your policy wording. 

If your claim is related to Professional Insurance, we strongly recommend that you wait to notify your PROLINK Account Manager during regular office hours.

MON-FRI, 8AM to 5PM

Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM

If you have a potential claim, and would like to speak to PROLINK, please contact us directly at 1 800 663 6828. No matter the time of day, be sure to have your policy number and key details of the incident on-hand, including dates, events, and all persons and entities involved. 

AFTER HOURS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS

After Hours, Weekends, Holidays

Connect with our after-hours claims service, Kernaghan Insurance Adjusters at 1 800 387 5677, or contact your insurer directly and they’ll loop us in. To find your insurer’s claims department, simply open your policy wording. 

If your claim is related to Professional Insurance, we strongly recommend that you wait to notify your PROLINK Account Manager during regular office hours.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

RISK MANAGEMENT ADVICE

For more information, check out our blog where we share our insights on insurance trends, current events, and practical tips and tricks to make the best of your coverage.

RISK MANAGEMENT ADVICE

For more information, check out our blog where we share our insights on insurance trends, current events, and practical tips and tricks to make the best of your coverage.

GET IN TOUCH

To speak to a professional who can guide you to the right coverage from the right insurer at the right price call us at:

1-800-663-6828

or send us an email below:

GET IN TOUCH

To speak to a professional who can guide you to the right coverage from the right insurer at the right price call us at:

1-800-663-6828

or send us an email below:


    Personal InsuranceCommercial EnterpriseAssociations & Affinity GroupsLife & Benefits


      Personal InsuranceCommercial EnterpriseAssociations & Affinity GroupsLife & Benefits

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