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risk management

Protection for Water and Sewer Districts

Serving the public is a serious, round-the-clock responsibility. It’s your job to protect, plan for, and serve the needs of your community as it grows. And it’s our job to protect you with thoughtfully designed, tailored insurance coverages. Our dedicated underwriting, claims and risk control teams work specifically with water and sewer districts and can provide you with one source for your insurance and risk management needs.

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR GENERAL LIABILITY HAZARDS

• Training modules for unique risks such as flagging/traffic control
• Risk control specialists to assist in analyzing digging sites for pipe-laying hazards
• Coverage available for failure-to-supply services and sewer back-up liability
• Utilization of immunities and tort caps where applicable
• Coverage for members of boards, commissions and sewer authorities

WE HAVE AN INDUSTRY-LEADING WORKERS COMPENSATION PROGRAM

• Co-located medical and claims professionals promptly handle, thoroughly investigate and fairly resolve claims, with a focus on return-to-work
• Discounts and savings through carrier’s preferred medical provider network

WE KNOW YOUR MACHINES

• Specialized equipment breakdown  coverage and certified boiler and machinery inspections and consultations through carrier’s Boiler & Machinery

WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

• Complimentary EPL hotline provides access to EPL attorneys* to answer your questions
• Discounts for employee training to help protect against “failure to train” exposures

WE UNDERSTAND EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SEWER BACKUP

• Our dedicated Sewer Backup Claim Unit  understands the importance of balancing residents’ emotional reactions to water backup events with prompt claim handling
• Specialists work with sewer backup adjusters for valuation of residents’ personal items, antiques, etc.

WE OFFER CYBER LIABILITY PROTECTION

• Coverage to protect against cyber and ID fraud for entities that store data electronically

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Reduce the Chances of Dog Biting

With dog bite claims accounting for over one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars in 2011, we remind dog owners to take preventative measures to protect themselves from the potentially serious financial consequences of aggressive canine behavior. • Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for the insured’s household and neighborhood. • Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home with an infant or toddler. A dog with a history of aggression is inappropriate in a household… Read More »Reduce the Chances of Dog Biting

How to Reduce Liability When Selecting Subcontractors

General contractors and/or prime contractors are designated “controlling employers” in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction standard. Controlling employers are defined as those contractors who may be held responsible for the actions of subcontractors, including bodily injury and/or property damage caused by subcontractors to the public, other contractor’s employees, or for injuries to the subcontractor’s own employees. These exposures can be broken down into the following areas: Employee injuries (workers’ compensation) Job site physical injury to others or property loss (premises liability) Physical injury or property damage to the public around the site (premises/general liability) A defect arising… Read More »How to Reduce Liability When Selecting Subcontractors

Avoiding Liability on Your Website

The Internet provides a rich environment for creative communication. Used with care, it can assist in increasing product safety. But in their enthusiasm to capitalize on its power, some companies are increasing their liability potential. • A company president was not aware of a product on his company’s website. The marketing department put it there because it was a product they were thinking about developing. • A Vice President of Administration was unaware they even had a website. • Operator instructions normally in the manual provided with the product were posted on the website, but warning labels were left out.… Read More »Avoiding Liability on Your Website

How to Ease the Insurance Claims Process

Here are some simple things you and your loved ones can do now to ease the insurance claims process should you suffer property damage or loss. Review your insurance policies. When a disaster hits, a lot of people realize they aren’t familiar with the terms of their policies. You might think you have more coverage than you actually do. Reviewing your insurance policies now gives you the chance to make adjustments and have those adjustments take effect before a storm comes our way. Also, remember that flooding is not covered under your homeowners insurance policy; you need to buy a separate flood insurance policy.… Read More »How to Ease the Insurance Claims Process

September is National Preparedness Month

A recent Travelers survey found that 48% of small business owners do not have a written business continuity plan. That’s especially troublesome considering that The American Red Cross estimates as many as 40% of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster. We have partnered with Travelers Insurance Company to offer Business Continuity tools that help business owners plan for the unexpected so they do not become part of a statistic. You can start building your plan today using resources on Small Business Safety, Protecting Your Business, Plan Ahead, at travelers.com pages. Should you have any questions, please feel… Read More »September is National Preparedness Month

Smartphone App for Workers’ Compensation

With this blog post we decided to start posting reviews about mobile applications related to insurance industry. Google wants to make our world digital – to have a soft copy of pretty much anything around us (and even inside us too). Insurance industry is barely catching up with the technology. And each small achievement in that area deserves cheers and signifies the progress we all make. Today we will look at a new workers comp. application from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. But there is a catch: the workers’ comp app isn’t really an app — it’s more app-like… Read More »Smartphone App for Workers’ Compensation

Common Cause of Fire – Laundry

An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated $35 million in property losses, according to a new government report. The report by the U.S. Fire Administration said that 84% of clothes dryer fires took place in residential buildings. Also, according to the report:   Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11 percent.   Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.  … Read More »Common Cause of Fire – Laundry

Sexual Abuse Awareness

No one ever wants a child or client to be harmed. Sometimes, however, we can miss child safety keys and best practices. We suggest that employer will educate himself on effective, efficient, and inexpensive tools one can use to reduce the risk of sexual abuse in his company. In particular, we want to bring your attention to the following topics: The definition of sexual abuse Common errors and misconceptions related to sexual abuse and sexual abusers Abuser characteristics Grooming process (grooming children and gatekeepers) Common grooming behaviors Peer on peer abuse Impact on children – long and short term Reporting responsibilities –… Read More »Sexual Abuse Awareness

What is “Manifestation Provision” in Insurance Policy Means

The “first manifestation” provision may significantly modify or deviate from the most recent ISO Commercial General Liability policy form, CG 00 01 12/07, commonly referred to as an “occurrence” form. The principle difference between the ISO “occurrence” form and a manifestation form is what is being referred to as “trigger of coverage.” The trigger of coverage is the event or circumstances that activate the insurer’s defense and indemnity obligations under the policy. According to ISO rules the standard ISO form is intended to provide coverage for an injury that occurs during the policy period, regardless of when the injury becomes… Read More »What is “Manifestation Provision” in Insurance Policy Means