Height, a harness, and a guest who has never worn one.

General liability

Third-party bodily injury and property damage. It is the line nearly every contract names by default.

Without it — Guests at height under your instruction, and everyone below them.

Participant accident

Pays the medical costs of a player, a camper or a rider injured while taking part, without anyone having to establish that the organization was at fault.

Without it — Injuries occurring on a correctly operated course, covered without fault.

Professional liability

Covers the advice, the drawing, the diagnosis. The work itself, rather than someone getting hurt on your premises.

Without it — Guiding and instruction is a service, and an instruction alleged to be wrong is a professional claim.

Commercial property

Buildings and contents, valued at what it costs to rebuild today rather than what you paid.

Without it — Towers, platforms, cable and hardware, outdoors and load-bearing.

Inland marine & equipment

Tools, equipment and property in transit. It picks up exactly where commercial property stops, which is the moment the item leaves the building.

Without it — Harnesses, trolleys, helmets and rescue equipment, inspected and replaced on a schedule.

Workers compensation

Required in almost every state the moment you have employees. Priced on payroll and class code, which is why the class code is worth arguing about.

Without it — Guides work at height every day and perform rescues.

Umbrella & excess liability

Extra limit stacked above general liability, auto and employers liability. Usually the cheapest million dollars on the policy.

Without it — Landowners, resorts and parks specify limits well above primary.

Business income

Replaces the profit and pays the ongoing bills while a covered loss keeps you closed. It is the part of a fire claim that is not the building.

Without it — A course closed for inspection or repair has no alternative revenue.

What standards do underwriters expect?

Construction and inspection to a recognized industry standard, annual third-party inspection, documented daily and periodic checks, guide training and certification, and a written rescue plan that has been practised. This class is small enough that underwriters know the standards by name and will ask which one you built to. Being unable to answer is itself the answer.

Does rescue capability really affect the price?

Materially, because the second-worst outcome in this business is a guest stranded mid-line. Documented rescue procedures, trained staff, the equipment on site and evidence of drills change both the likelihood of a claim and its severity. It is one of the few controls that improves the risk and the guest experience at the same time.

We run a course at a camp or resort. Whose insurance responds?

Both, and the contract decides how. The landowner will require you to insure the activity and name them; your policy covers your operation; theirs covers their premises. Where it gets argued is a guest injured on the walk between attractions, or a course operated by their staff under your program. Settle who operates and who supervises in writing, because that is the question a claim will ask first.

What does a zip line and ropes course insurance application ask for?

The applications for zip line and ropes course businesses ask about 4 things above all: what is your facility's name and what other names has it been known by; what is your instructor-to-student ratio during activities; how is your walkway and parking area lit; have you ever had a claim filed against you. Have your loss runs (claims history for the last five years from your current or previous insurance company) and your liability waivers if you use them ready and a quote takes a day instead of a week.