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Hood cleaning, duct cleaning, and kitchen exhaust maintenance involve working in complex commercial environments with chemicals, hot water, heavy equipment, and rooftop access. Even experienced, careful operators can face unexpected incidents that result in property damage, bodily injury, or financial loss. Understanding the types of claims that could arise in this industry may help you make more informed decisions about the coverage your business carries.
The following scenarios are illustrative examples based on the types of incidents common in the hood cleaning and kitchen exhaust industry. They are not guarantees of coverage. Whether any particular claim would be covered depends entirely on the specific terms, conditions, and exclusions of each individual policy. Always consult with your insurance agent or broker for guidance on your specific situation.
Claim Scenario 1: Water Damage to Restaurant Interior
What happened: During a routine kitchen exhaust cleaning at a family restaurant, a hood cleaning technician's pressure washer hose disconnected from a fitting while spraying inside the ductwork. Before the technician could shut off the machine, approximately 30 gallons of hot, greasy water sprayed across the kitchen ceiling, ran down the walls, and pooled on the floor. The water damaged ceiling tiles, soaked insulation, and ruined a section of freshly painted drywall in the dining area adjacent to the kitchen.
Potential costs: The restaurant owner submitted an estimate of $8,500 for ceiling tile replacement, drywall repair, repainting, and professional cleaning of the dining area. The restaurant also claimed $2,200 in lost revenue for the day they had to close for repairs.
Coverage that may respond: This type of incident is generally the kind of property damage claim that a general liability insurance policy is designed to help cover. General liability is typically written to respond to damage to third-party property caused by your operations. The policy may help cover the cost of repairs and could potentially address the business interruption claim, depending on the specific policy terms.
Claim Scenario 2: Chemical Damage to Stainless Steel Equipment
What happened: A hood cleaning crew used a concentrated alkaline degreaser on a restaurant's stainless steel prep table and exhaust hood. The chemical solution was mixed at a stronger concentration than recommended. After the cleaning was completed and the restaurant reopened the next morning, the kitchen manager noticed that several stainless steel surfaces had developed discoloration and pitting. The affected surfaces included the interior of a custom-built exhaust hood, a 10-foot prep table, and a backsplash panel.
Potential costs: The restaurant obtained estimates totaling $14,000 for replacing the damaged stainless steel surfaces and refinishing the custom hood interior.
Coverage that may respond: Damage to a client's property caused by improper chemical application during your work operations is the type of claim that general liability coverage may be designed to address. The policy could potentially help cover the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged equipment, subject to policy terms and any applicable deductible.
Claim Scenario 3: Slip-and-Fall Injury at a Client's Restaurant
What happened: A hood cleaning crew finished a job at a restaurant at 2:00 AM and packed up their equipment. Despite wiping down the kitchen floor, a thin film of degreaser residue remained on the tile near the cooking line. When the morning prep cook arrived at 6:00 AM, she slipped on the residue, fell, and fractured her wrist. The restaurant's workers' compensation covered the employee's injury, but the restaurant then turned to the hood cleaning company, alleging that the cleaning crew's failure to fully rinse the floor created the hazardous condition.
Potential costs: The restaurant's workers' compensation carrier filed a subrogation claim against the hood cleaning company for $22,000, covering the prep cook's medical bills, lost wages, and related expenses.
Coverage that may respond: General liability insurance typically includes bodily injury coverage that may respond to third-party injury claims arising from your completed operations. This type of scenario, where an injury occurs after you have left the job site as a result of your work, is sometimes referred to as a "completed operations" claim. General liability policies often include completed operations coverage, which could potentially help defend against and pay such claims.
Claim Scenario 4: Grease Fire After Hood Cleaning
What happened: A hood cleaning company serviced a busy barbecue restaurant. Two weeks after the cleaning, a grease fire ignited in the ductwork and spread to the rooftop exhaust fan. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire, but not before it caused significant damage to the exhaust system and a section of the roof. The restaurant owner alleged that the hood cleaning company failed to adequately clean a section of the horizontal ductwork, allowing grease buildup to remain and serve as fuel for the fire.
Potential costs: The restaurant's property insurance carrier paid $95,000 for exhaust system replacement, roof repair, smoke damage remediation, and business interruption. The carrier then filed a subrogation claim against the hood cleaning company for the full amount, alleging negligent cleaning.
Coverage that may respond: This is a serious claim that could potentially be addressed by general liability coverage, specifically the completed operations component. These fire-related claims tend to be among the most costly in the hood cleaning industry. Having adequate liability limits is critical, as a single fire claim could potentially exceed a minimum policy limit. Many hood cleaning companies carry $1 million or $2 million per occurrence limits to help address this type of exposure.
Claim Scenario 5: Equipment Theft from Work Vehicle
What happened: A hood cleaning technician parked the company van overnight at a hotel while traveling to service accounts in a neighboring city. When the technician returned to the van the next morning, the rear doors had been pried open and several items were stolen: a hot water pressure washer, a 12-volt chemical sprayer, 200 feet of high-pressure hose, and a set of duct cleaning tools.
Potential costs: The replacement cost for the stolen equipment totaled approximately $12,500.
Coverage that may respond: Inland marine insurance (sometimes called tools and equipment coverage) is the type of policy designed to help cover business equipment that is transported between job sites. A standard commercial auto policy typically covers the vehicle itself but may not extend to the tools and equipment inside. Inland marine coverage could potentially help replace the stolen equipment, subject to the policy's terms and deductible.
Claim Scenario 6: Vehicle Accident En Route to a Job
What happened: A hood cleaning company owner was driving the company truck, towing a trailer loaded with cleaning equipment, to a late-night job. At an intersection, another driver ran a red light and collided with the truck. The truck sustained significant front-end damage, and the trailer jackknifed, damaging the pressure washer and chemical tank mounted on it. The other driver was injured and later filed a claim against the hood cleaning company.
Potential costs: Truck repair was estimated at $18,000. The trailer and mounted equipment sustained $7,000 in damage. The other driver's injury claim was initially estimated at $35,000.
Coverage that may respond: Commercial auto insurance is designed to help cover vehicles used for business purposes. It may help address both the damage to your vehicle (through collision coverage) and liability claims from the other driver (through liability coverage). The damage to the equipment on the trailer might be addressed by either the commercial auto policy or an inland marine policy, depending on how each policy is structured. A personal auto policy would typically not cover a vehicle being used for commercial purposes.
Claim Scenario 7: Employee Injury on a Rooftop
What happened: A hood cleaning technician was accessing a rooftop exhaust fan for cleaning at a strip mall restaurant. While working on the roof, the technician stepped on a section of deteriorated roofing material, his foot went through, and he fell partially into the ceiling cavity. He sustained a back injury and a deep laceration on his leg that required emergency room treatment and several weeks of physical therapy before he could return to work.
Potential costs: Emergency room visit, surgery consultation, physical therapy, and lost wages totaled approximately $28,000.
Coverage that may respond: Workers' compensation insurance is designed to help cover medical expenses and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job. In most states, workers' comp is required for businesses with employees. It typically operates on a no-fault basis, meaning it may help cover the employee's injury regardless of who was at fault. Without workers' compensation, the business owner could potentially face direct liability for the employee's medical bills and lost wages, plus potential penalties for operating without required coverage.
Claim Scenario 8: Damage to Restaurant's Fire Suppression System
What happened: During a hood cleaning job, a technician accidentally struck a fire suppression nozzle with the pressure washer wand, partially dislodging it from the mounting bracket. The impact caused the wet chemical suppression system to discharge, spraying fire suppressant chemical across the kitchen's cooking line, into open food containers, and over several pieces of cooking equipment. The restaurant had to dispose of all contaminated food, deep clean the cooking equipment, and call a fire suppression contractor to recharge the system and inspect it for proper operation.
Potential costs: The fire suppression system recharge and inspection cost $3,500. Food waste was valued at $1,800. Professional cleaning of the cooking equipment cost $2,200. The restaurant also claimed $4,500 in lost revenue for the day and a half they were closed.
Coverage that may respond: This is another scenario where general liability insurance may be designed to help. The damage occurred during your active operations at the client's location, making it a typical operations-based property damage claim. General liability coverage could potentially help cover the cost of the suppression system recharge, food waste, cleaning, and possibly the business interruption, depending on the specific policy terms.
Why These Scenarios Matter
The claims outlined above represent the types of incidents that can and do occur in the hood cleaning and kitchen exhaust industry. While no one starts a job expecting something to go wrong, the reality is that accidents happen, even to experienced, careful operators. A loose hose fitting, an overly concentrated chemical mix, a moment of inattention on a rooftop, or a grease fire weeks after a cleaning can all result in claims that could potentially threaten the financial stability of your business.
The right insurance coverage may help serve as a financial safety net, potentially standing between an unexpected incident and a business-ending expense. Without adequate coverage, a single claim like the grease fire scenario above could result in a judgment that exceeds your business assets and personal savings.
When evaluating your insurance needs, consider the full range of exposures your business faces. General liability, commercial auto, inland marine, and workers' compensation each address different types of risk. Working with an insurance agent or broker who understands the hood cleaning and kitchen exhaust industry may help ensure that you have coverage designed to address the specific risks of your trade.
