Do commercial painting contractors in NB need special WorkSafeNB coverage and insurance?

Yes — commercial painting contractors working in New Brunswick are required to have WorkSafeNB employer assessment coverage, and you as the business owner or property manager should always ask for a clearance certificate before allowing work to begin on your property. Beyond WorkSafeNB, commercial liability insurance and appropriate fall-protection training are also expected for any reputable commercial contractor.

WorkSafeNB is New Brunswick's workers’ compensation authority. Under the Workers’ Compensation Act (NB), most businesses engaged in commercial activity — including painting contractors — must be registered with WorkSafeNB and maintain their employer assessment account in good standing. This coverage protects workers if they are injured on the job: it pays their lost wages and medical costs without the need for litigation. From your perspective as the property or business owner, hiring a contractor without WorkSafeNB coverage exposes you to potential liability if a worker is hurt on your site — in some circumstances, the uninsured cost of the claim can be passed back to you.

Getting a clearance certificate is simple. Before work starts, ask the contractor to provide a WorkSafeNB clearance certificate. The contractor can request this directly from WorkSafeNB online, and it confirms their account is in good standing. This is standard practice in the commercial construction and trades industry in NB and any legitimate contractor will have no hesitation providing it.

Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance is separate from WorkSafeNB and equally important. A CGL policy protects you and the contractor if the work causes property damage or a third-party injury — for example, if paint overspray damages customer property, or a ladder falls through a window. For commercial painting, million in liability coverage is the typical minimum. Ask to be listed as an additional insured on the contractor's policy for the duration of the project, and ask for a certificate of insurance naming your business.

For larger commercial projects — particularly those involving work at height above 3 metres, scaffold erection, or spray painting in occupied spaces — WorkSafeNB's OH&S regulations require specific fall protection plans, respirator programs, and safety training for workers. A professional commercial painting contractor operating in NB will have these programs in place. If a contractor seems unfamiliar with height safety requirements or can't describe their fall protection approach, that's a significant red flag.

For specialized scopes like lead paint encapsulation or abatement in older NB commercial buildings, additional training and containment protocols are required under Health Canada guidelines. Any commercial building constructed before 1978 should be assessed for lead paint before painting or renovation work begins — and the contractor must follow lead-safe work practices.

The short answer: verify WorkSafeNB clearance, get a certificate of liability insurance, and confirm the contractor has appropriate fall protection and safety training in place before any commercial painting project begins in New Brunswick.

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