When a site accident stops work, protect the cash first

The site stop changes the money clock

An accident can stop a site in minutes, but the payments that were due to keep the business moving do not stop with it. Subcontractors still expect answers, wages still fall due, and plant or finance payments keep running. That is why the first job is not the next tender. It is protecting the cash already in the business.

Business.gov.au says insurance is there to protect earnings, assets and people, and that you need to understand what your policy covers, the exclusions and your duties under the contract. When a site shuts, the risk is that a missed condition turns a temporary halt into a bigger bill. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/risk-management/insurance/types-of-business-insurance?utm_source=openai))

Tell the insurer and builder

Call the insurer as soon as you can, then confirm it in writing. Keep the date, the contact name and the claim or reference number. Do the same with the builder or principal in a clear email, so there is a record of the shutdown, the reason work has stopped, and the steps you have taken to limit loss.

If the contract requires notice about suspension or insurance obligations, follow it exactly. Business.gov.au notes that contracts should clearly identify insurance obligations, and that payment timing depends on the contract type and fee structure. A short delay in notice can create a longer delay in recovering costs or moving the job on. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/people/contractors/prepare-a-contract?utm_source=openai))

Source: Official guidance

Lock in the work done so far

Then claim for the work already completed. Send the progress claim, invoice or payment claim that matches the work finished to date, backed by timesheets, dockets, photos and any approved variations. Do not wait for the whole job to restart. Cash already earned is the cash most likely to keep the business alive this week.

If the builder disputes the amount, keep the claim separate from the argument. A disputed invoice still belongs in your cash forecast because it may decide whether wages, super and materials get covered. Business.gov.au says a cash flow statement helps you see if you can pay bills on time and follow up overdue invoices. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/people/contractors/prepare-a-contract?utm_source=openai))

Keep creditors talking

Once the shutdown hits, speak to creditors before they start chasing you. Tell the bank, equipment lender, fuel supplier and key trades what has changed and what you can pay now. Short, honest contact is better than silence, because it gives you room to set priorities and avoid turning one stalled job into a general cash collapse.

Business.gov.au says to keep a cash flow statement, review it regularly and set aside money for ongoing costs like tax, wages and super in a separate account. After a shutdown, that forecast shows whether you are dealing with a timing issue or a wider funding problem, and which bills must wait. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/guide/guide-to-managing-cash-flow?utm_source=openai))

Build the paper trail today

Pull the file together today: insurer notice, builder email, contract, claim, photos, site diary, supplier statements and creditor list. That pack tells the story faster than memory does, and it gives your advisers something useful to work with. If you do not have it in one place, spend the afternoon building it before the next call comes in.

If the shutdown is already pushing wages, tax or supplier payments out of reach, call CRP today about turnaround support. CRP coordinates independent qualified professionals who can help you test the cash position, plan the next move and decide what to press, pause or renegotiate. This is general information only, not legal or insurance advice. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/guide/guide-to-managing-cash-flow?utm_source=openai))