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risk management

Preparing your business for potential holiday hazards

prepare businessMenorahs and Christmas trees light up Main Streets across America during the holidays, but there are risks associated with these decorations. Risk management professionals and insurance agents can help business owners understand how to keep their stores festive yet hazard free during the holidays.

The holidays usually bring several things to a small business – more foot traffic, celebratory decorations and additional staff to help with boosted sales.  However, with added customers and distractions, slips and trips are never far away. So when getting into the holiday spirit, you should make safety a priority.Read More »Preparing your business for potential holiday hazards

Ladder safety best practices

Ladder SafetyLadder safety should start before even stepping foot on one. The improper use of a ladder, or using an object other than a ladder to reach an item, can result in serious injury due to over – reaching or falling. Statistics suggest that workers are more likely to abuse and misuse ladders rather than use them correctly in the workplace.

There are a number of factors that must be considered when working with ladders, and following key practices of ladder safety can help prevent a potential injury.Read More »Ladder safety best practices

Carbon monoxide poisoning

CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the incomplete burning of any carbon-containing material, including gasoline, natural gas, propane, coal or wood. CO is dangerous because it replaces oxygen in the blood and interferes with the transport of needed oxygen to cells in the body.

Carbon monoxide safety tips

CO Carbon monoxideWinter can be a beautiful time of the year. But it is also the season for blustery storms, power outages, a greater use of fuel-burning devices — and a rise in carbon monoxide poisonings.

The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented — with the right preparation. Start with these eight tips to help keep your home and family safe from carbon monoxide.

1. Know the risks of carbon monoxide.

Anything that burns a fuel — such as a furnace, fireplace, generator, gas appliance or car — produces a toxic by-product: carbon monoxide (CO).

When these devices are properly maintained and vented, this colorless, odorless gas can be effectively dispersed and channeled out of your home. If not, inhaling carbon monoxide can trigger serious health issues.

At lower concentrations, victims may experience such symptoms as a headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. But at higher concentrations, CO can quickly cause a loss of consciousness, even death.Read More »Carbon monoxide poisoning

Winterize your car

Cold temperatures and icy roads can create hazards for drivers. It is important to prepare yourself and your vehicle for these hazards to help ensure this winter driving season is a safe one.

We recommend taking precautions to help protect your car in the worst winter weather conditions.

Before you hit the road the cold, snow and ice can make driving dangerous if your vehicle is not properly maintained.

Here are some things you can do to get your car ready for winter:Read More »Winterize your car

Driving safely in winter weather

driving in winter weatherFalling snow can be picturesque, but it can also wreak havoc on the roads. While no one enjoys driving in snowy or slippery conditions, there are steps you can take to help improve your safety.

Here are some guidelines that can help you stay safe when driving in adverse winter conditions:

  • Make sure your car is prepared for cold temperatures and winter conditions like snow and ice. Keep your equipment properly maintained and include a winter survival kit in your vehicle: an ice scraper, snow shovel and sand/salt. Jumper cables are also a good idea since batteries are prone to failure during cold weather.Read More »Driving safely in winter weather

Holiday decorating safety tips

Holiday decoratingDecorating your home, yard or office is a fun, festive way to celebrate any season, holiday or special occasion. However you get into the spirit of the season – from Halloween to Hanukkah, Christmas to Kwanzaa, Bar Mitzvahs to birthdays, and everything in between – here are some tips from Travelers Risk Consultants to help keep your family and friends safe around your decorative displays.

Lights and electrical décor

  • Purchase lights and electrical decorations (animatronic dolls, train sets, air-blown yard decorations, etc.) from reputable retailers.
  • Use lights that have been tested for safety – look for a certification mark from UL, CSA, ETL or other nationally-recognized laboratories. Consider using LED lights when possible – they run cooler, use less energy and last longer than incandescent lights.
  • Carefully inspect all lights and decorations for cracks, damaged sockets and loose or bare wires prior to use – these defects can cause a serious fire or shock.
  • Never exceed the maximum number of strings or devices that may be linked together, as indicated on decoration packaging.
  • Plan your displays according to the number and location of available outlets, and avoid overloading electrical outlets.
  • Unplug electric lights, devices and decorations before replacing bulbs, changing parts or attempting other repairs.
  • Turn off all lights and electrical decorations before leaving your home or office, or going to bed.

Read More »Holiday decorating safety tips

Celebrating safely through the winter holidays

Celebrating SafelyFor many of us, the winter holidays are a time of joy, celebration and tradition. We look forward to hosting or attending festive gatherings. We travel near and far to share in the spirit of the season with family, friends and co-workers. We cook more, shop more and decorate more.

However, all that extra cooking, traveling, shopping, celebrating and decorating we do can post potentially serious hazards at home, in the office and on the road. Reports from leading safety organizations indicate that the time from Thanksgiving through the New Year is also one of the most dangerous for homeowners.

Whether you are planning or participating in the festivities, knowing the risks and how to help avoid injury, theft and damage to property through the holiday season are important however you choose to celebrate.Read More »Celebrating safely through the winter holidays

Get Liability Insurance for Holiday Lights

Whether you are a main street business owner in Buffalo, N.Y.’s or small cafe in San Francisco, CA don’t wait for the city threatening to pull the plug on a holiday tradition. You better not take your chances and plug holiday light displays into street light poles unless you hire licensed electricians to do the work and take out liability insurance of at least $1 million. Putting up festive holiday lights is a tradition for owners of the shops, restaurants and other businesses along the U.S. Many of us string the lights in trees and plug them into sockets on… Read More »Get Liability Insurance for Holiday Lights

Travel Insurance for Thanksgiving 2013

Have you started planning your Thanksgiving weekend? Can’t wait to finally join your family at the festive dinner table? There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your holiday trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. Anything could go wrong: It’s 9:30 PM and you and your immediate family arrive at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. Who can assist you with finding new flights to get everyone home? Your bag was lost with your medicine inside. You need help to… Read More »Travel Insurance for Thanksgiving 2013