Setting up or upgrading an optometry office requires knowing the replacement costs of essential equipment. From exam room tools to retail fixtures, this guide provides estimated price ranges to help you plan and insure your practice properly.
With peaking El Niño conditions, weather experts are predicting heavier than normal amounts of precipitation for many areas of the Southwestern U.S. We are providing the information below to personal and business insurance customers in California, Arizona and the southern counties of Nevada. For Personal Insurance Customers: Proper maintenance is key. This includes keeping gutters free of debris, ensuring downspouts are clear and water drains away from the foundation of your home. Also, be sure to check the soundness of flashing around chimneys and other roof protrusions, as well as caulking around windows and doors. Strong El Niño storms may be… Read More »Prepare for El Niño
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Supply chains are becoming increasingly complex, with dependencies upstream, in-plant and downstream. Which links in your supply chain might be most at risk? And what can be done to help manage it? Take our four-part questionnaire to help you uncover and avert potential risks in your supply chain before they emerge. Estimated completion time: 5 minutes.[/notice]
Supply chains are increasingly complex with dependencies upstream, in plant and downstream. Have you put your supply chain to the test? Not only will this brief mobile enabled test assist you in identifying opportunities within your supply chain, but the last page of the test will also provide educational resources and insights on how you compare to your industry and region.
Controlling threats that can impact the flow of quality, compliant and competitively priced raw materials is a critical link in your supply chain. Upstream disruptions often flow downstream. One delay, shortage, or defect in the materials you rely on could affect your ability to produce goods in the quantities and time-frames consumers demand. One could even compromise the safety and quality of your products. Failure to meet orders, product recalls, liability claims, and other potential ripple effects of supply disruptions can put your company’s reputation — and bottom line — at risk.
Control Your Supply Sources
Purchasing and vendor control are critical parts of the manufacturing process. Knowing who your suppliers are and where they come from is key to managing supply chain risk – particularly if they come from outside of the United States. Companies often change vendors frequently to get the lowest prices on raw materials. But establishing longer-term relationships with your suppliers can be an advantage. A supplier who understands your business might better anticipate your needs and be more willing to work with you to control costs or resolve issues when they arise.
Choose your suppliers carefully:Read More »Spotting Risks as Part Manufacturing Process
Small businesses in a handful of counties in California are now eligible to apply for low interest federal loans to help offset the costs of prolonged drought.
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that non-farm businesses may qualify for loans up to $2 million.
Agency director Tanya Garfield says eligibility will be determined on financial impact of the drought and not on any property damage.
Drought loans bear interest rates of 4% for businesses and roughly 2.6 percent for non-profit organizations.
Applicants may apply online at the Small Business Administration website.
Read More »Emergency Loans for Drought Available for Small Businesses in California
This article was originally published by AmWINS Group, Inc. It was edited and rewritten to simplify the content. To read the original article please click here.
When risk management department is assigned to focus on the major project, including construction, with particular attention to the insurance requirements to be imposed on the general contractor and any subcontractors, it’s very important not to make the insurance requirements so onerous that contractors are discouraged from bidding on the project.For those of us, who has not been involved in such projects before, let’s review insurance requirements from different projects and how those may affect our company (let’s call it ABC company – the one who impose insurance requirements).Our Public Sector Services department serves local cities and counties right in your backyard, offering products and services designed specifically for public entities. We partner with leading providers of property casualty insurance for public entities, with the financial strength and stability you can rely on. We have developed unmatched expertise serving cities and counties. Consider our breadth of coverages, which we tailor to the unique needs of cities and counties: General liability Umbrella Auto Property Workers compensation Law enforcement liability Public entity management liability Employment practices liability Cyber liability But that’s not all – our in-house licensed legal adviser can… Read More »Insurance for Cities and Counties
Homeowners who don’t pay attention to what’s going on in their attics can face costly damage that can spread throughout their entire home. Internet is full of videos made with wireless ip video surveillance cameras which capture critters such as mice, squirrels, bats and bees living in people’s attics; meanwhile, one in 10 homeowners have never even seen their attics.
Rodents in the attic can be a nuisance at best, and if they are not eradicated quickly, they can become home wreckers, as squirrels and rats have been known to chew through electrical wires in attics. While this almost always ends badly for the animals, sparks from their gnawing can set the house on fire.
Many attics also house mechanical equipment, such as central air conditioning systems, exhaust fans, electrical junction boxes and plumbing. Homeowners should regularly make sure that any system that is connected to an electrical or water source in their attic is in good working condition, as a burst pipe or a clogged drain in the attic could lead to widespread water damage on the floors below.
Read More »Attic Storage Hazards for Homeowners
Decorating is an essential part of the holiday season in many homes across the country. Unfortunately, those decorations can increase your chances of a fire. Nearly 400 home fires a year are caused by holiday lights and decorations, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, resulting in more than $25 million in property damage. By following a few simple steps, you can keep your home and family safe all season long.
Maintain holiday lights. Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, broken sockets or other signs of wear. Test each light string before hanging it on a tree or other flammable surface. Only use lights approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL).Read More »Bright ideas: Holiday lighting safety tips
Protect your friends and family as you beat the heat.Warmer weather means more outdoor activities for the whole family, including cooling off in the pool. We want to help you make sure that you, your family and guests are safe. Here are a few tips that can help you stay safe while you have fun:
Always supervise swimmers and have life-saving equipment nearby:
Regularly maintain your pool during the season to keep swimmers and sun-bathers safe:Read More »Swimming Pool Safety and Maintenance Tips