FAQ deep dive

What GL and E&O insurance means for utility locating

Facilities and GC teams often ask for “COIs.” Here is how general liability and professional liability (errors & omissions) relate to GPR-style engagements—without pretending to be your risk counsel.

Published Sep 3, 2025 Updated May 10, 2026 ~7 min read By Carter Williams

Scope & limitations

This is descriptive education, not insurance or legal advice. Policy terms, endorsements, and carrier forms vary. Ask your broker when a specific project demands named insured status or special limits.

General liability (GL) broadly addresses bodily injury and property damage arising from business operations on site—think slip/trip context or third-party property damage tied to how the work is conducted. It is the certificate many gate requirements start with.

Errors & omissions (E&O) / professional liability addresses claims that the professional work product—interpretations, recommendations, or report language—was negligent or fell below the standard of care. GPR utility imaging and reporting is often treated as professional work; that is why serious locating firms carry E&O in addition to GL.

What we publish on our hub

Our GPR & locating hub summarizes insurance posture at a high level so you know what to ask for before mobilization. Final verification is always your COI against the purchase order.

Why contracts still say “interpretive”

Insurance does not turn GPR into a warranty. For how uncertainty shows up in deliverables, read limitations and uncertainty in GPR reports. That language protects both sides by matching claims to what the data can support under site conditions.

Need a COI-aligned scope for your dig package?