San Francisco – Business Insurance Coverage

According to Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business that provides rankings and analysis of the winners and losers based on the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – overall, 12 states showed job growth of at least two percent last year, the same pace as in 2012. The number of jobs added nationwide last year was 2.26 million. Final, revised numbers on state and city job growth for the year 2013 shows top 10 states for non-agricultural job growth, comparing 2013 to 2012:

1. North Dakota – up 3.6%
2. Utah – up 3.2%
3. California – up 3%
4, 5. Texas and Colorado– 2.9%
6. Nevada – up 2.7%
7. Idaho – up 2.6%
8. Florida – up 2.5%
9. Washington – up 2.2%
10. Arizona – up 2.1%

Top 14 cities and surrounding metro areas (1 million or more workers) for non-agricultural job growth, comparing 2013 to 2012:

1. Riverside, Calif. – up 4%
2. San Francisco – up 3.9%
3. Denver – up 3.6%
4. Houston – up 3.5%
5. Orlando, Fla. – up 3.2%
6. Seattle – up 2.8%
7. Phoenix – up 2.7%
8. Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, San Diego – up 2.6%

The full 50-state ranking and other job-growth data from McPheters can be found at the W. P. Carey School of Business “Job Growth USA website: www.wpcarey.asu.edu/jobgrowth. (Important: For the annual numbers, select “Total Nonfarm,” “12-Month Moving Avg.,” “December” and “2013.”)

April is National Safe Digging Month

paperless — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:59:09 +0000

Call 811 before you dig. Whether you’re planting a garden, building a fence or remodeling your home, no project is too small to call 811. Damage from digging is a common cause of pipeline accidents. One easy, free call to 811 Underground Service Alert (USA) at least two working days before you dig gets your utility lines marked so you can dig safely. This free service will notify underground utility operators in the area of your planned work.

Safe digging tips:

Use hand digging tools when digging within 24 inches of the outside edge of any underground lines.
Utilities will use colored utility flags, stakes or paint marks to mark underground lines. Leave these in place until you have finished digging.
If you or your contractor accidently digs into a gas pipeline, do not attempt to stop the flowing gas or extinguish any fire. Immediately notify PG&E if you dent, scrape or hit our pipeline while digging so that we can inspect and repair the line to prevent future damage.
Once you are done with your project, you can carefully backfill and compact the soil.

Locate natural gas pipelines near you

Use this interactive online map by National Pipeline Mapping System to learn more about the transmission pipelines in your neighborhood. You can view any location in our service area—your home, place of work or any other areas of interest—to see if transmission pipelines run nearby, which also shows the location of all transmission pipelines in the United States, viewable by county, zip code or street address.

Spot a natural gas leak

You can help detect gas leaks by being aware of these potential indicators:

Smell: A distinctive sulfur-like, “rotten egg” odor, which we add to natural gas as a safety precaution.
Sound: Hissing, whistling or roaring sounds coming from underground or from a gas appliance.
Sight: Dirt spraying into the air, continual bubbling in a pond or creek and dead or dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area.

If you suspect a gas leak, immediately move to a safe upwind location and warn others to stay away. Then call 911 to notify local police and fire and contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. Do not operate any device until you are a safe distance away, especially ones that might create a spark such as cell phones, matches, electric switches, doorbells, radios, televisions and garage door openers.

How your insurance would respond on unsafe digging claims:

Generally speaking, your insurance should cover personal injuries and property damage claims related to digging, unless specifically excluded. Besides, there is also CONTRACTORS ERRORS AND OMISSIONS coverage, that can be added to most of the policies, that can be triggered as a result of an digging accident, however, unless you were providing architectural, engineering or drafting services in connection with your operations in your capacity as a construction contractor, the E&O insurance will not apply to Architectural, Drafting or Engineering Services. Another words, if you are a general contractor with Auto Cad software and you draw the plan for the construction project and damaged an underground main line, you could end up paying for damages from your own pocket.

If you want to discuss this information with a licensed insurance agent call 877-239- 0067.

Commercial Kitchen Fire Safety

paperless — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 02:09:49 +0000

Operation of a commercial grade kitchen, many safety considerations should be addressed, including food safety, employee and volunteer safety, and fire safety. This blog post addresses the specific issues associated with providing adequate fire safety for your kitchen.

Commercial cooking operations are defined as kitchens that have cooking equipment that produce grease and grease laden vapors. This includes flat grills, char broilers and deep fat fryers. The typical residential range (electric or gas) would not be considered a grease producing appliance. Other equipment, such as ovens, microwaves and steam kettles also fall into the non-grease producing appliance category. The following is information regarding two of the most common types of equipment that produce grease and/or grease laden vapors.

Deep Fat Fryers

Deep fat fryers are a major cause of kitchen fires. Oil can splash and easily come into contact with an open flame from an adjacent piece of cooking equipment, such as a gas-fired range top. A 18-inch clearance must be maintained between the deep fat fryer and the open flame cooking equipment. If a 18-inch clearance is not possible, a vertical steel barrier extending 12 inches above the top of the deep fat fryer or open flame appliance(s) can be used as an alternative means of protection.

The normal temperature range for food service frying is 325 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. As the oil temperature increases, so does the risk of an accidental grease fire. All deep fat fryers should be equipped with a high temperature limiting device, which will shut off the fuel or energy in the event the cooking oil exceeds a temperature of 475 degrees Fahrenheit

Flat Grills/Griddles

Flat grills and griddles are typically used for frying hamburgers and bacon. When used for this type of cooking, grease and grease laden vapors will be produced. To adequately control the fire hazard associated with these types of cooking operations, two fire protection components must be installed: a hood and ventilation system and an automatic extinguishing system.

Hood and Ventilation System

A kitchen hood and ventilation system will include an exhaust hood or canopy, ductwork, fan system, and a means of providing adequate make-up air. This system will effectively remove the heat, grease and grease laden vapors from the cooking area.

Installation

The hood and ventilation system should be professionally installed according to National Fire Protection Association Standard 96. (NFPA 96 Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations.)
Local fire officials also should be consulted, as additional requirements under county and/or municipal codes could apply.
The hood must be equipped with the appropriate grease removal filters. Only baffle style filters comply with NFPA 96 and should be used in cooking operations that produce a moderate to heavy amount of grease. Mesh filters are not appropriate for commercial cooking operations and do not comply with NFPA 96. Filters should be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of grease.
Lighting units should be equipped with tight fitting protective globe lights with steel enclosures that are mounted on the outer surface of the hood. All electrical equipment should be installed in accordance with NFPA 70 National Electric Code by a licensed electrician.

Maintenance

Hoods, grease-removal devices, fans, ducts and other equipment should be serviced by a qualified contractor at intervals necessary to prevent the accumulation of grease. Frequency of cleaning will depend upon the amount of grease observed during an inspection. A six month interval is standard, but unusually heavy grease accumulation may require more frequent cleaning.
A written cleaning schedule should be established indicating the methods of cleaning and the time intervals.
Following the inspection or cleaning, a label indicating the date cleaned and the name of the servicing company should be prominently displayed. It is recommended that this label be attached to the exterior of the hood in a visible location.

Automatic Extinguishing System

All cooking equipment that produces grease or grease-laden vapors should be equipped with an approved automatic extinguishing system.
The automatic extinguishing system should meet the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 300 standard. UL 300 went into effect in 1994 as the result of the high temperature oils used in cooking today. Dry-chemical systems do not adequately extinguish grease fires associated with using these high temperature cooking oils.
The automatic extinguishing system should be inspected and serviced every six months only a qualified contractor.
A minimum of one manual activator should be installed. The activator is to be used if a fire occurs and the automatic extinguishing system fails to activate.
The manual activator must be accessible in the event of a fire and located along a route of egress from the kitchen area.
Kitchen staff must be properly trained on the proper operation of the manual activator.
The automatic extinguishing system must be inter-connected to an automatic fuel/power shut off that cuts all fuel/power from the cooking equipment immediately after the automatic extinguishing system is activated.
Prohibit the operation of cooking equipment when the extinguishing system or exhaust system is non-operational or otherwise impaired.

Fire Extinguishers

Wet chemical fire extinguishers are the best portable extinguisher available for kitchen operations. K-rated extinguishers are recommended for commercial kitchens. They operate in the same manner as a UL300 pre-engineered restaurant fire extinguishing system. The agent discharges as a fine mist, which helps prevent grease splash and fire re-flash, while cooling the appliance.
The fire extinguisher should be located no more than 30 feet from the cooking area.
Fire extinguishers should be maintained at regular intervals; at a minimum of once per year, or when specifically indicated by a manufacturers recommendations. Maintenance should be conducted only by an approved/licensed contractor. Servicing is intended to give maximum assurance that an extinguisher will operate effectively and safely.

General Housekeeping

The kitchen’s floors and walls around cooking appliances need to be periodically cleaned to prevent the accumulation of grease. Frequency of cleaning will depend upon the frequency and type of cooking being conducted; however a minimum of once a week is recommended.
Floor and wall coverings surrounding the cooking equipment need to be of an appropriate material that will prevent grease saturation and be easy to clean and maintain. Examples of appropriate material include ceramic tile on floors or stainless steel on walls.

In the end, whether you operate a commercial grade kitchen or rent one for your small business cooking operations (such as bakery), note that each and every insurance company is going to thoroughly evaluate the safety features of the kitchen and won’t provide insurance coverage if the following is not warranted:

Food products must be clearly labeled as to their ingredients;
Quality Control Plan in place;
Recommended: “Sell by Date” on Products;
Recommended: Serial Number for Tracking;
Recommended: Formal Complaint Investigation
Automatic Fixed Extinguishing system covering all cooking surfaces
High Temperature automatic Shut Off
18″ Clearance between cooking surface and combustible surface
Dry chemical fire extinguishers in all cooking areas or an automatic fixed extinguishing system regularly serviced by outside contractors
Hood/ducts regularly serviced by outside contractors
Required: Vent grease extraction filters daily cleaned by employees
No use of dry bulk storage containers/bins or silos for storage of flour, cornstarch, rice, grains, sugar or other powdered products
Required: Contingencies in place that would help ensure business operations will be maintained in the event of a loss or catastrophe, such as
- Alternate manufacturing/processing facilities available if needed
- Machinery and spare parts stocked to expedite repairs
- Back up generators in place and tested monthly
- 3rd party manufacturing

All of the above is subject to inspection and compliance with recommendations.

If you need to get an insurance coverage for your use of commercial grade kitchen, such as bakery, catering, food manufacturing, etc. submit a short application online at https://www.paperless-insurance.com/get-a-quote-now/ or get speak to a licensed agent at 877-239-0067.

Northern California Business Owner Sentenced For Premium Fraud

paperless — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:05:17 +0000

A Northern California business owner has been sentenced for workers’ compensation insurance premium fraud and pay over $2 million in restitution to insurers, the California Department of Insurance announced on Wednesday.

Teresa R. of Redwood City, Calif., who originally plead no contest to eight felony counts, was sentenced in San Mateo County Superior Court to serve one year in jail, five years of probation as well as being ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution to the insurers that she defrauded.
In 2011 R.f was president of Genesis Building Services Inc. which operated a janitorial and pest control company in the Bay Area, according to CDI.
An investigation lasting several years found R. had misrepresented the number of employees at the company as well as its actual payroll when applying for workers’ compensation insurance to its insurer. The insurer received conflicting statements from Genesis staff regarding the actual number of employees at the company, and the insurer notified CDI and the fraud division began an investigation which eventually led to the arrest of R. The case was prosecuted by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office.

Insurance for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers

paperless — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:55:07 +0000

Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation facilities provide medical assistance and behavioral and nutritional counseling to individuals who are in need of substance abuse services.
Eligible risks may include Outpatient Alcohol & Drug Counseling, Rehabilitation Centers, Halfway Houses Inpatient, Methadone, Early Release Prisoner Programs (Alcohol & Drug related offenses only) and Outpatient Detox. Clinics may also be included as an eligible class when the clinic is only a part of the facility’s overall services.

Our program includes a Package, General & Professional Liability, Property, Umbrella, Auto (some restrictions may apply) and Abuse & Molestation. Our pro- gram also offers Coverage Endorsements & Enhancements such as Volunteers & Independent Contractors as Insureds, Optional Key Employee Replacement Endorsement and Optional Extended Coverage Endorsement with Blanket Additional Insured. We also offer Workers Compensation, Accident & Health, D&O and EPLI.
The Humanity Plus Program is a national program written through an Admitted “A” Rated carrier with available coverage in all states except Hawaii and Alaska. For more information, call 877-239-0067.

Risk Control Tips for Frequent Claims

Different types of claims will vary with each social service risk, but there were a few similar types of claims that stood out to underwriters when writing Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers.
These claims happen frequently and there are ways to avoid the risk from becoming more serious.

Suicide often occurs at an Addiction Treatment Center. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), research shows that a substance abuse disorder can be a risk factor for suicide. NIMH also explains that usually the substance abuse disorder is associated with other mental disorders.
According to The Canyon, An Exclusive Co-occurring Treatment Program by the Foundations Recovery Network, 25 percent of people who committed suicide had been abusing drugs and/or alcohol at the time and 50 percent of youth that committed suicide had a history using alcohol and drugs.
Since alcohol and drugs have the ability to inhibit the mind and emphasize emotions, it is not uncommon for suicidal thoughts, attempts and occurrences to take place at an addiction treatment center. Treatment centers like The Canyon are aware of this and offer what they call “dual diagnosis” to treat some- one simultaneously for addiction and mental illness.

Fire is also a claim that is seen often by addiction treatment centers since many clients will turn to cigarettes instead of alcohol and drugs. To prevent fires from happening, make sure your insured has a strict policy on cigarette disposal. Try to keep a “smoking section” to a limited outside area away from the building with cigarette-specific disposal containers. Many of our insureds have actually started to enforce a non-smoking environment to eliminate the risk altogether.

Sexual Abuse & Molestation claims arise at addiction treatment centers, specifically when a relationship connection is built between a member of the insured’s staff and a client. To help avoid situations like this, advise your insureds to have a strict no-tolerance policy against fraternizing or socially communicating with clients. Advise your insured to include this policy in their Employee Handbook and reiterate the importance of it during staff meetings.

Insureds should also meet with their employees to discuss the progress of clients and to explain any problems that may be occurring between the client and employee.
Advise your insured to determine accept- able client-and-client behavior as well. There should be written guidelines explaining what is acceptable and this should be posted throughout the building.

Traveling Tips for the Holiday Season

paperless — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:35:29 +0000

The holiday season is probably one of the busiest for the majority of us, for many reasons. Add any holiday travel plans into the mix and stress levels can begin to rise. With stricter security guidelines and long lines, it’s easy to focus merely on making it to your destination. However, this time of year is also busy for thieves who will often seize opportunities when the unsuspecting victim is distracted or otherwise unaware of his or her surroundings. Stay vigilant this year when traveling for the holidays by using the tips below, and ensure your holidays stay as they should, merry and bright!

Before you leave:

Put your mail on hold with the post office until you return and halt any newspaper deliveries.
Remove any unnecessary cards from your wallet or purse. Carry only the credit and debit cards you will need while vacationing and leave your checkbook at home. And remember, your social security card should never be in your wallet; keep it in a locked and secure place at all times.
Make photocopies of all of your travel documents (passport, identification, airline tickets, etc.) and carry them separate from the originals. Include a list of phone numbers for your financial institutions and credit card companies so you’ll know contact information if your cards are lost or stolen
Do not post your travel plans online on any social networking forums or sites.
While traveling:

Never leave your valuables or wallet in your car.
Don’t use your phone’s Bluetooth in the airport or other crowded public place. Cell phone hacking is easy if you’re using a Bluetooth set to “discoverable” mode. A hacker can pair with your device, steal information, send emails, or even install a virus on your phone. Be sure your phone’s “discoverable” option is not selected and keep any sensitive information stored on your phone encrypted.
If traveling with your laptop, practice good security measures. Don’t put your laptop on the security conveyor at the airport until the last minute and watch it like a hawk to ensure no one walks off with it. Better yet, if traveling with a companion, have one person go through first and then load your own valuables after he/she is through so they can keep an eye on them. Also, be careful when logging on to free public internet services at the airport. As your computer sniffs out the public connections available, you could inadvertently jump onto a “lure” internet link where hackers are waiting for access to your computer. Find out the name of the airport’s public internet link so you will recognize it when your laptop finds it and ensure safe surfing.
If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, contact your credit card companies immediately to cancel your cards and dispute any fraudulent charges that have already occurred. File a police report and obtain a copy if possible. If traveling internationally, go the nearest US Consulate for passport replacement. Arrive extra early for your return flight to allow time for security delays if you’ll be flying home without identification.
Remain aware of your surroundings. Tourists stand out as targets for thieves. Exercise caution when choosing a taxi cab; look for car number and taxi company name marked on the outside of the car, registration and driver information card on inside dashboard.

Want to get a quote for your Homeowners’ Insurance? Visit our website or call 877-239-0067.

Identity Theft Risks After an Auto Accident

paperless — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:36:03 +0000

Each year, millions of Americans become victims of a car crash that causes mess on their day (and often their body and vehicle.) Auto accidents are stressful situations that can lead us to reveal more of our personal information to strangers than necessary. Even small fender benders can cause long-term pain if a friendly exchange of info leads to a compromise of one’s most sensitive personally-identifying data. A recent survey taken by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) revealed that many of us don’t know the proper steps to take after an accident, and most of us share too much.

In order to help drivers, the NAIC has developed a free mobile application called WreckCheck that will guide them through the process and outlines the important details that need to be exchanged without leaving ourselves open to identity theft compromise. The app addresses questions such as whether the police should be called, whether addresses and phone numbers should change hands, etc. According to NAIC, drivers generally need only share their names and correct vehicle insurance information. Information we are better off not giving out includes driver’s license numbers, home addresses, and even personal phone numbers. (Instead, it is best to provide the phone numbers of insurance providers.)

The app offers step-by-step guidelines for confirming that drivers gather the information they need from the other drivers, too. It will even generate an accident report that can be given to law enforcement and insurance companies and kept on file for one’s personal records. The report can include photos of the scene and can be emailed directly to insurers and others from within the program itself.

The Danger of Distracted Walking

paperless — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:09:49 +0000

Okay, we have said enough about the distracted driving. The cell phone use laws being adopted by the U.S. states are describing how and when the mobile phones can be used while driving. But what about pedestrians distracted with their smartphones? Can we blame them for major increase of fatal accidents involving pedestrians? Apparently yes.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 4,280 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States in 2010 — a 4% rise from the number reported in 2009.

On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic crashes around the country. In 2010, pedestrian deaths accounted for 13% of all traffic fatalities, and made up 3% of all the people injured in traffic crashes, the report said.

“If distracted driving is an issue worth addressing, so is distracted walking…No one — neither legislators nor pedestrians — seems to be taking any of this seriously,” according toThe Washington Post‘s editorial page.

California Signs Electronic Proof Of Insurance Bill

paperless — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:26:58 +0000

Yes! It happens right now. We witness a great moment of the history!

Gov. Jerry Brown made California the seventh state in the nation to allow drivers to show proof of insurance coverage using their smart phone.

Brown on Friday signed Assembly Bill 1708, a bill authored by Assemblyman Gatto, which will give drivers the option to show proof of financial responsibility electronically using a mobile electronic device.

“Governor Brown just brought proof of coverage into the 21st Century by signing AB 1708,” said Armand Feliciano, with the Association of California Insurance Companies. “California has long been known as ground zero for innovation and development of high tech products. Now policyholders can use their technology to show they carry auto insurance and avoid unnecessary fix-it tickets and a time-consuming trip to the court house. Under this bill, drivers will have a choice to use their smart phone or that little piece of paper in the glove box to demonstrate they are following the law and carrying auto insurance.”

AB 1708 provides motorists the flexibility to receive their insurance identification card electronically in lieu of a paper copy. Insurers will have the choice to offer ID cards electronically or in a paper copy to their customers. Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana and Minnesota all approved legislation in 2012 to modernize their laws to allow electronic proof of coverage. Alabama and Colorado authorized use of mobile electronic devices through regulations.

We have a great coverage about the electronic proof of insurance. Read all.