These profiles organize the conversation; they do not confirm eligibility. Anthony reviews the actual work before Westoak approaches insurers willing to consider it.
Start with the work, not the label
Two businesses called “machine shops” can present different property, equipment, liability and downtime questions. Record the percentage of work represented by each process, every material or substrate, where the work occurs and what customers do with the finished part.
- Primary and incidental processes
- Metal, engineered plastic, composite and mixed substrates
- Customer-print versus shop-designed products
- Work completed at the shop or customer locations
- Industries, territories and critical end uses
CNC, precision and general machine shops
Milling, turning, grinding, EDM and manual work concentrate value in machines, controls, tooling and production time. Include every substrate machined and identify customer property, tolerance requirements, outside processing and the consequence of a critical machine being unavailable.
Tool, die and mould operations
Dies, moulds, jigs, fixtures and gauges can be one-of-a-kind, customer-owned and essential to another company’s production. The discussion should connect tooling values, design responsibility, tryout, repair, storage, transit and replacement time.
Light metal fabrication and shop welding
Cutting, forming, grinding, welding and non-structural assembly add hot-work, fire-control, fume, dust and completed-product questions. Separate work performed inside the shop from installation, service or repair elsewhere.
Mobile and off-site welding
A welder working at customer premises carries tools, gases and materials into changing environments. Vehicles, transit, customer property, hot-work authorization, the nature of the completed work and any structural or pressure work need an explicit review.
Mixed operations need one complete description
Do not choose the most convenient label and omit the rest. A CNC shop that also welds, a fabricator that machines components or a tool-and-die operation that performs repair work should show the full process mix and sales split.
Some operations require individual insurer consideration
Structural steel, foundry work, plating, coating, in-house heat treating, pressure vessels and other unconfirmed higher-hazard processes are not advertised as accepted classes. Disclose them so Anthony can first check whether an available insurer will consider the operation.
Start with the closest profile
If no profile fits perfectly, select the nearest operation type and explain the difference in the short description. Anthony can identify the follow-up information needed before an insurer submission is prepared.
Common questions
What if a shop machines both metal and plastic?
Describe the percentage of work by material or substrate, the machining and finishing processes, dust or fume controls, products and end-use. Mixed materials do not require separate forms, but they should not be hidden under a generic label.
What if a business both machines and welds?
Report both operations and the approximate sales or work split. The insurer needs the complete process list, including hot work, off-site work and any subcontracted finishing.
Can an operation outside these profiles ask for a review?
Yes. Choose the closest form option and describe the actual work. Anthony will first check whether an available insurer is willing to consider it.
Primary sources
Safety sources explain the operation, not whether insurance will pay a claim. Use the current insurance contract and its certificate or summary page when making a coverage decision.
Questions about who handles the request? Meet Anthony and Westoak →