Sections 1(a)(4) and (5) of the Defense Base Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1651(a)(4) - (5), provide that every contract coming within the purview of the Act:

“shall contain provisions requiring that the contractor (and subcontractor or subordinate contractor with respect to such contract) (1) shall, before commencing performance of such contract, provide for securing to or on behalf of employees engaged in such Public work under such contract the payment of compensation and other benefits under the provisions of this Act, and (2) shall maintain in full force and effect during the term of such contract, subcontract, or subordinate contract, or while employees are engaged in work performed thereunder, the said security for the payment of such compensation and benefits, ...”

The Defense Base Act (DBA) adopts the provisions of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) with but a few exceptions. The insurance requirements for the DBA are identical to those found in the LHWCA.

Section 32(a) of the Longshore Act requires every employer either to secure insurance for the payment of workers’ compensation benefits provided under the Act or to be permissibly self-insured. The OWCP is responsible for the authorization of insurance carriers and self-insurance of employers. For a list of the over 700 insurance carriers and self-insured employers currently authorized, see http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dlhwc/lscarrier.htm. Three major insurance carriers are currently providing Defense Base Act insurance coverage. They are ACE-USA, AIG, and CNA.

Section 4(a) of the Act requires every employer to be liable for, and to secure the payment of, disability, medical, and death benefits to its employees in the event of injury or death. If a subcontractor fails to secure the payment of compensation, the contractor will be liable for and be required to secure the payment of such benefits.
Section 5(a) of the Act provides that “a contractor shall be deemed the employer of a subcontractor’s employees ... if the subcontractor fails to secure the payment of compensation....”

Section 5(a) also provides that if an employer fails to secure payment of compensation as required by this Act, an injured employee, or his survivors in case death results from the injury, may elect to sue the employer for tort damages on account of such injury or death. In such action the defendant may not plead as a defense that the injury was caused by the negligence of a fellow servant, or that the employee assumed the risk of his employment, or that the injury was due to the contributory negligence of the employee.

Section 38(a) provides that an employer who fails to secure the payment of compensation when required shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. And if the employer is a corporation, the president, secretary, and treasurer shall be also severally liable for such fine and imprisonment.

Furthermore, if a corporation fails to secure the payment of compensation, the president, secretary, and treasurer shall be severally and personally liable, jointly with the corporation, for any compensation or other benefits payable under the Act in respect to any injury or death which may occur to any of its employees.