Electricians, plumbers and other trades people across Leicestershire are facing new risks as they take on green power installations, warns a leading insurance broker.

Workers who previously never went above an ordinary stepladder or below a knee-high trench are now going higher and digging deeper than ever before to install solar panels and ground source heat pumps.

The warning comes from Leicester-based Brett and Randall, who say typical insurance policies for trades people are unlikely to cover them or their staff working on roofs or digging holes for ground source heat pumps, which can be up to 50 metres deep.

Dean Oldham, who specialises in renewable energy at Brett and Randall, says: "Electricians, plumbers and general building contractors are moving in to these potentially profitable new areas, but there is a substantial increase in risk. 

"Specialist roofing companies and piping contractors may have the necessary policies, but ordinary contractors probably don't.

"We think many of them haven't fully considering the risks of something going seriously wrong when they are up on a roof or boring a deep hole in someone's garden."

He advises anyone getting involved in installing new technologies to speak with their insurance broker to discuss risk management and adjust their insurance policy if necessary to cover themselves and any staff.

He said: "The consequences of failure of your insurance policy when working at height or below ground level could have serious financial implications for your business."