Janitorial & Cleaning Services Insurance Requirements in Rhode Island

Janitorial employees have unsupervised access to tenant spaces, often during off-hours when buildings are unoccupied. A dishonesty bond (also called a fidelity bond or employee theft bond) covers losses resulting from theft by the contractor's employees. Standard GL policies do not cover employee dishonesty, making this a separate and essential coverage requirement for any contractor with regular building access.

Window washing at height requires verification that the contractor's GL policy does not exclude work above a certain height or the use of swing stages, bosun chairs, or aerial lifts. Require WC classification under code 9015 (exterior building cleaning) rather than standard janitorial codes. For high-rise window washing, consider requiring $2M/$4M GL limits and an umbrella policy.

Slip-and-fall claims from wet floors or cleaning chemical residue are the most common janitorial liability claims. Require the cleaning contractor to use wet floor signs, maintain a written safety protocol, and carry GL coverage with adequate medical payments coverage ($10K minimum). When a claim occurs, document the incident immediately and tender the claim to the janitorial contractor's GL carrier under your additional insured endorsement.

For standard janitorial work using common cleaning products, pollution liability is not typically required. However, if the contractor performs biohazard cleanup, mold remediation, or uses industrial-strength chemicals, pollution liability of at least $500K is recommended. Standard GL policies exclude pollution events, so specialized cleaning operations require this additional coverage.

Licensing requirements for janitorial & cleaning services vary by municipality in Rhode Island. Check with your local licensing board and always request proof of current licensure on the COI.

In Rhode Island, you as the property manager could be held liable for injuries or damages caused by an uninsured janitorial & cleaning services on your property. Rhode Island courts have consistently ruled that property owners have a duty to verify contractor insurance before allowing work to begin.