Product Liability (incl. Completed Operations)

• Claims alleging injury or property damage caused by a product you manufactured
• Applies to consumer goods, OEM components, and food products alike
• Occurrence or claims-made forms available depending on carrier
• Worldwide territory options for manufacturers exporting from Montana
• Vendors endorsement for retail partners carrying your products

A Montana manufacturer exporting needs worldwide product liability territory - a defect claim arising from a product sold internationally can fall outside a domestic-only policy.

General Liability (Premises/Operations)

• Third-party injury or property damage on your Montana plant floor or premises
• Visitor injuries during plant tours, vendor visits, or deliveries
• Additional Insured, Primary & Noncontributory, and Waiver of Subrogation for landlord and contract requirements
• Typical limits $1M/$2M, higher available for larger facilities

Many Montana manufacturers lease space in older industrial buildings. Confirm your GL satisfies the landlord's lease insurance exhibit, which often requires specific AI wording covering shared loading docks and common areas.

Property & Equipment Breakdown

• Buildings, contents, stock, molds, and production machinery
• Equipment Breakdown adds sudden mechanical or electrical failure - excluded from standard property
• Replacement cost and agreed value options for specialized equipment
• Boiler and pressure vessel coverage where applicable to older Montana industrial buildings
• Spoilage/temperature change options for food manufacturers

Montana's older industrial building stock means aging electrical systems and infrastructure are common. Equipment Breakdown is essential - a compressor or production line motor failure can shut down output for days while the standard property policy stays silent on the cause.

Business Interruption & Extra Expense

• Reimburses lost income and extra costs to keep operating after a covered loss
• Actual loss sustained or stated limit options
• Contingent BI for key suppliers or customers whose disruption affects your production
• Should account for Montana permit/inspection timelines if rebuilding is required

A fire affecting a production line in a Montana facility doesn't just damage equipment - it stops revenue while you rebuild and pass any required inspections. Factor realistic restoration timelines, not just repair estimates, into your BI limit.

Cargo & Inland Marine (Transit)

• Raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods in transit
• Coverage for goods moving through Montana for export or domestic distribution
• Owned fleet and common carrier options
• Installation and exhibition floaters where applicable

Finished goods staged for export face the same cargo theft exposure that affects importers - high-value products are recurring targets. Set cargo limits to peak shipment value, not average.

Workers' Compensation

• Required by Montana law for any manufacturer with employees
• Medical bills and lost wages for cuts, strains, repetitive motion, and chemical exposure injuries
• Covers machine-related injuries and lifting incidents common on production floors
• Employers Liability (Coverage B) protects against employee negligence suits

Accurate class code classification by production role (machine operator, assembly, quality control, warehouse) is the most effective lever for managing WC cost. Montana manufacturing floors combine machinery, material handling, and chemical exposure - all elevated-risk activities relative to a typical office or retail class code.

Cyber Liability

• Responds to ransomware, data breach, and OT/IT interruption
• Incident response, legal defense, and business interruption coverage
• Social engineering and "bricking" (permanent equipment damage from a cyber event) options
• Systems failure / dependent business interruption for supply chain partners

Modern Montana manufacturing facilities increasingly run connected production-line equipment and ERP/inventory systems integrated with retail and distribution partners. A ransomware attack that halts production can cost far more in lost output than in any ransom demand.

Product Recall / Contamination & Pollution Liability

• Recall: notification, shipping, disposal, replacement, and PR/brand rehabilitation costs
• First- and third-party recall costs; regulatory advisement coverage
• Food/beverage accidental contamination coverage where applicable
• Pollution Liability: addresses state-regulated air, water, and waste exposures on eligible operations

A Montana food or consumer goods manufacturer facing a recall needs coverage for far more than the product replacement cost - notification, retailer chargebacks, and brand rehabilitation often exceed the direct product loss. Montana's active environmental enforcement makes Pollution Liability a serious consideration for any manufacturer with regulated air or wastewater permits.

Montana Environmental Regulations

Manufacturing facilities in Montana are subject to state regulations for air emissions, industrial wastewater discharge, and hazardous waste handling. Permit violations can trigger civil penalties and remediation orders. Standard GL pollution exclusions mean a Pollution Liability policy or endorsement is the only coverage that responds to environmental enforcement actions or third-party contamination claims.

Montana Industrial Site Recovery Act

This act requires environmental assessment and, if necessary, remediation when certain industrial operations cease, transfer ownership, or close. Montana's many older industrial sites mean a manufacturer purchasing or leasing a property with prior industrial use may inherit obligations. Environmental due diligence before signing a lease or purchase agreement is essential, as legacy contamination liability can attach regardless of when your operations began.

Montana Industrial Permits & Fire Code

Manufacturing operations in Montana require compliance with local zoning and may need permits for chemical storage, flammable materials, or specific equipment types. Older industrial buildings may require fire suppression system upgrades to meet current code, particularly when production processes or occupancy change. Confirm any code-required upgrades after a property loss are addressed through Ordinance or Law coverage on your property policy.

Export & Customs Compliance

Manufacturers exporting from Montana must comply with US Customs and Border Protection export documentation and, depending on product category, FDA, USDA, or other federal regulatory requirements for goods leaving the country. Cargo insurance terms should align with your actual export volume and shipping terms to avoid gaps in coverage during the export process.