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November 2011

Nov 01
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DOES A HOMEOWNERS POLICY COVER YOUR HOME-BASED BUSINESS?

By Personal Perspective

With both technology and the internet, more and more people are running home-based businesses, either full-time or part-time. But will a Homeowners policy cover the risks of a home-based business? In nearly every case, the answer is no. The only exception to this might be if a Homeowners policy has a special endorsement, such as an endorsement to run a day care operation from your home. Yet fewer and fewer companies offer such endorsements. Additionally, some policies may give a very limited amount of coverage for business property, such as a computer. The bottom line is, nearly all Homeowners policies clearly exclude business operations and not having a proper coverage in place can leave you with uninsured exposure. This is why you need separate business insurance to cover your home-based business risks.

Home-based business owners might feel that they do not need coverage because nobody steps foot on their premises. The problem is that liability claims often happen away from the business premises. This can include a number of scenarios, including someone taking action for information on your website or someone getting injured from the product or service you provide. Most business policies include coverage for personal injury lawsuits, which means someone takes legal action against you for things like libel or slander. Competitors and customers both can sue a business owner for personal injury. A business policy also covers off-premises injury, such as if someone trips on, slips on, or is injured by any kind of property you take out in the field. It will also cover you during trade shows and usually meets the insurance requirements that some trade shows may require.

From a property standpoint, any business property you might have in your home is usually excluded or has very limited coverage under a Homeowners policy. Getting coverage to protect your computers, equipment, furniture, inventory and any other physical assets helps keep your business in operation with minimal disruption and financial loss. A business policy also usually covers loss of income, which is payment for income you did not earn as a result of a loss covered under your policy. Policies may also include coverage for things like valuable papers, damage to property of others, property coverage off-premises and a number of other additional coverages.

A Business Owner’s Policy includes the coverage described above, and is specifically designed to protect the unique interests and property of a business owner. This package policy includes nearly all, if not most, of the coverage you need. However, if you are providing some kind of professional advice, consulting, or other non-tangible professional services, you might also need a Professional Liability policy. This is also known as Errors & Omissions insurance. In addition, if you have any employees, you are probably required by law to get Workers Compensation insurance. Depending on the type and size of business you own, you might have further insurance needs.

Hoping that your Homeowners policy is going to cover you in the event of a claim will leave you frustrated if your business experiences a loss. Businesses have a much higher risk than a homeowners policy allows for, and homeowners claims adjusters will quickly deny coverage for business-related claims in the event of a loss. Talk to one of our insurance agents today to explore your business insurance needs and options.

Nov 01
Love0

ARE YOUR SAFE DRIVING SKILLS UP TO PAR?

By Personal Perspective

As if we didn’t already have enough distractions, on-board GPS systems, portable DVD players, iPods, and Smartphones have created more driving distractions than ever before. And, it’s certainly not atypical for a vehicle simultaneously to have ringing phones, cartoons blaring from the backseat, a GPS incessantly yelping orders out, and fast-food fries flying around like ninja weapons.

Even though elements like the above have been proven to make it nearly impossible for a driver to devote their full attention to the road at all times, many drivers still think they’re perfectly safe drivers. Here’s a simple yes-or-no quiz:

  1. So long as I’m not watching, it’s okay for passengers to watch a movie on the vehicle’s in-dash video screen. No. Not only do most front seat, in-dash video screens generally have a feature that prevents it from showing entertainment or business video when the car is moving, but it would also be completely unsafe to do so since it would inevitably catch the driver’s peripheral vision and distract them. Furthermore, many state laws regulate the placement and use of on-board video screens.
  2. Have there been any criminal cases alleging electronic devices were the causative factor in vehicle accidents? Yes. One example would be a 2004 case that took place in Alaska. The driver was allegedly watching something on his DVD player when he struck another vehicle and killed two people. Although the driver claimed he was only adjusting his CD player, he was charged with second-degree murder on the premise that he engaged in conduct showing an indifference to human life.
  3. In-dash monitors for rear-view camera and navigation purposes can be installed in the front seat. Yes and no. If the device has the feature that prevents it from showing entertainment and business video, then it can be installed and used in the vehicle’s front seat.
  4. Is it okay to drive as you eat or drink? No. Although driving as you drink coffee or eat a granola bar usually isn’t as distracting as watching a movie or text messaging is, it’s still an unsafe driving practice. The bottom line is that doing and thinking about anything aside from driving can distract you from the road and lead you to look away, remove your hands from the steering wheel, or become mentally preoccupied.
  5. Does driver distraction cause very many accidents? Yes. More than 6 million crashes, 3 million crash-related injuries, and 42,000 crash-related deaths occur each year in the U.S., of which driver distraction accounts for 1.2 million to 1.8 million, or roughly 20%-30%.
  6. Do federal laws govern the use of mobile devices like a GPS unit in moving vehicles? No. In some states, there are state laws that prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones in moving vehicles, but there aren’t any federal laws regulating the use of mobile devices in moving vehicles.
  7. Can the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulate cell phone usage in moving vehicles? No. Cell phone laws are enacted at the state or local levels. However, the NHTSA is able to regulate the use of motor vehicle equipment and devices.
  8. Are lawmakers concerned with vehicle crashes related to driver distraction? Yes. During the past decade, several states have already passed or presented legislation related to driver distraction and vehicle crashes, and the number of states looking into such laws grows every day.
  9. Do any states totally ban hand-held cell phone use while driving? Yes. Nine states, including California, Connecticut, Washington, New York, New Jersey, and Utah, prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. Additionally, 30 states and the District of Columbia ban novice drivers from using both hands-free and hand-held cell phones.
  10. Can your employer be held liable if you’re using a cell phone and crash into someone or something? Yes. Your employer can be held liable in a court of law. Under respondeat superior, an employer can be held liable in civil court for employee acts committed within the course of employment.

How many did you answer correctly? Maybe you’ve learned a few new facts, or maybe you gained a new respect for what you already knew. Either way, it’s time to put down the food, turn off that cell phone, and start keeping your mind and body focused on the road ahead of you.

Nov 01
Love0

USE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE A HOME INVENTORY

By Personal Perspective

We purchase insurance to protect us from what might happen. Hopefully we go through life, never having to make a claim against our Homeowners or Auto insurance policies. We know that the monthly or annual fee is in our best interest, even as we hope to never need its services. Taking home inventory should be just as important. This worthwhile task is yet another method of protecting ourselves against something that might never happen, but could. Yet few people place as much importance on taking home inventory as they do on increasing their Homeowners policy coverage. Although most insurance agents inform their clients about the significance of taking home inventory, it is rarely performed. Homeowners might put the task on their to-do lists, but as time goes by, and their busy lives take priority, it simply never gets accomplished. The result can be a very expensive one indeed.

So now that you realize the significance of taking home inventory, how do you get started? At first glance, it seems pretty simple. Go through your home, room by room, taking pictures of your personal belongings and documenting their approximate value. No problem, right? The problem lies in storing your photographs and data. Unfortunately, for many people, this involves placing their beautifully detailed data in a storage box under their bed, or in filing cabinets in their home office. The files are safe and sound, until the house burns down, is burglarized, or gets filled with murky flood waters — rendering the information completely useless. This common occurrence is as ironic as it is sad. But in today’s technological world, it should never happen.

Now that you understand how technology can make taking home inventory as secure as it is easy, your next step is to find the best web site or software for your unique needs. Secure servers allow you to document all of your belongings and access them with ease, and they eliminate the need for a physical location in which to store them.

Important factors to consider when deciding on the most suitable home inventory site:

Although many options boil down to personal choice, the options below are helpful regardless of your unique situation.

  • Make sure your site or software allows you to quickly and easily select information about the products in your home.
  • It is very helpful if the system is pre-populated with items, based on room and category. For example, Bedroom: Bed, Dresser, Night Stand, Lamp, etc.
  • You might want to look at the total amount of inventory you have by room, or you might want to see items by category, or it’s possible you prefer a complete list of everything within your home. Look for functionality that allows all of these searches.
  • And absolutely be certain that there is secure data storage within the web site or software. This cannot be stressed enough.

Here are some home inventory web sites to assist you in the process:

knowyourstuff.org – This site provides free, secure online storage in an easy to use format. The system is very user friendly. There is a guided tour to help you navigate the system, and a video tutorial if you are someone who learns by watching. You will need to sign up to get most of the information. There is an FAQ page, but it isn’t as easy to find as on some of the other sites.

whatyouown.org – This site appears a bit “fancier” at first glance, but when you begin reading, it becomes apparent that it’s just as user friendly. The FAQ page allows you to get a lot of information without having to sign up. However, there is no video tutorial. This site is also free.

stuffsafe.com – This site is very user friendly and provides a lot of information prior to signing up. It is also free. As with the other sites, Stuff Safe allows you to print and download reports quickly and easily. The FAQ page on this site is also easy to find and navigate. However, as with the What You Own site, Stuff Safe does not have a video tutorial.

In addition to helping in the event of a theft or disaster, a home inventory also helps you to determine the appropriate amount of insurance protection. Even better, it can help you settle insurance claims faster. The actual task of performing a home inventory is quite simple. Basically, you should start with the most significant items (fine jewelry, electronics, furniture and family heirlooms, among others), and add the less expensive items, such as clothing, at the end. For every item you list, take a photograph, give a description of the item, list the date of purchase, approximate replacement value, and any other relevant information (such as serial number, make, or model). Upload this information to the home inventory software of your choice, and viola! You can rest assured that in the event of theft or disaster, you’ll be many steps ahead of the game when it comes to recovering your losses and getting your life back on track.

Nov 01
Love0

DO YOU REALLY NEED FULL REPLACEMENT INSURANCE ON YOUR CURRENT BUILDING?

By Business Protection Bulletin

The owners of a new company found a building on the market for an affordable price, so they bought it. Built in the 1940s to manufacture aircraft for the war effort, the metal structure had a large open space. The company occupying this space was in the software development business and the building was much larger than it needed, but the price made it seem like a sensible move. However, the owners got a surprise from their insurance agent about property coverage. Insurance companies base limits of insurance on the cost of replacing a building exactly as it was before the loss. The cost of reconstructing this old building was much higher than both its purchase price and that of other suitable properties. The company did not need that much insurance, and paying the higher premium for it would have been wasteful, so the owners asked the agent for alternatives. What if, they asked, we don’t rebuild our building as it was?

After a fire or some other catastrophe destroys a building, its owners may decide not to rebuild or replace with a similar structure for a number of reasons.

  • As was the case with the software company, the current building’s design may be impractical. The company bought the building because of a good price, not because of its large open space. A software developer ordinarily does not need that much space; if it were to rebuild, it would almost certainly choose a smaller building with a different layout. Also, very old buildings often include materials that builders do not commonly use today, such as plaster and lathe. Reconstruction with these materials is expensive and often unnecessary for the continued operation of the business.
  • The company may decide to consolidate the operations of two locations into one. The second location may have the capacity to absorb the first one’s operations, and management may feel that it will gain efficiencies by consolidating.
  • Depending on the building’s age, it may not meet current building codes. The local government may require any new buildings to meet expensive new codes.

The standard Business Property insurance policy states that the insurance company will pay “actual cash value” — the cost of replacing the property minus an amount for depreciation. However, it offers the option of valuing a loss at replacement cost without deduction for depreciation. A business that chooses this option will need to purchase the amount of insurance equal to the cost of replacing the building “as is.” The company will pay the difference between the actual cash value and the replacement cost only if the property owner actually rebuilds or replaces the property, and then only if he does so as soon as reasonably possible after the loss. The policy also provides a small amount of additional insurance (typically the lesser of 5% of the insurance on the building or $10,000) to cover the increased cost of construction resulting from changes in building codes.

Businesses like the software company, who do not need an exact replacement of their current buildings, should ask their agent about adding a “functional building valuation” endorsement to their policies. It establishes a limit of insurance somewhere between actual cash value and full replacement cost and allows the property owner to replace the building with one that fulfills the same function as the old one at a lesser cost. The discussion with the agent should also include increased “ordinance or law” coverage to provide additional insurance for increased costs from new building codes. With the right attention to detail, a business can get the property insurance it needs without having to waste money on unnecessary coverage.

Nov 01
Love0

SEVEN TIPS ON CLASSIFYING WORKERS AS EMPLOYEES VERSUS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

By Business Protection Bulletin

Small business owners can hire individuals as either employees or independent contractors. Which classification a hired individual falls under is often a confusing process for business owners, but it’s this critical classification that affects what tax documents must be filed; how much you, the business owner, pays in taxes; as well as whether or not you should be withholding from a particular worker’s paycheck or not.

If you own a business and hire people, then you should keep these seven points in mind as you go about hiring workers as either employees or independent contractors:

  1. If you, as an employer, intentionally or otherwise misclassified your workers, then you could suffer significant tax bills and be facing hefty penalties for not filing the appropriate tax forms and not paying employment taxes.
  2. You should know and understand how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determines the relationship between a worker and a business. The IRS uses the following three factors in determining this relationship:
    • Type of relationship, which means how both your business and the worker views the relationship.
    • Financial control, which refers to whether or not your business can control or direct the business and monetary aspects of the worker’s job.
    • Behavioral control, which refers to whether or not your business can control or direct how work is done through means like training or instruction.
  3. IRS Form SS-8, which is labeled as the Determination of Worker Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding, can be filed by employers and/or workers. This form essentially asks the IRS to determine if a specific worker’s status should be classified as an employee or as an independent contractor. IRS form SS-8 can be obtained online at IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-829-3676.
  4. Generally speaking, a worker should most likely be classified as an employee if the employer can direct or control what is being done and how it’s done.
  5. Generally speaking, a worker should most likely be classified as an independent contractor if the employer only directs or controls the result of the work, and not the manner, means, or methods being used to accomplish the end result.
  6. Do ensure that workers are aware of their classification, or worker status. This will not only help them avoid higher tax bills, but also avoid losing any valuable benefits.
  7. Check out the small business tab on the IRS.gov website and IRS publications 15-A, 1779, and 1976 to find out more about determining a worker’s status as either an employee or as an independent contractor.
Nov 01
Love0

CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE: A SMART INVESTMENT THAT MIGHT SAVE YOUR BUSINESS

By Business Protection Bulletin

On April 20, 2011, someone hacked the Sony Playstation Network. They found an opening in the online video gaming network’s password-reset system and penetrated the security protecting its customer database. Days later, the company admitted that the hackers had obtained personal information on 70 million or more subscribers. The hackers got names, physical and email addresses, birthdates, and other identifying information, and it’s possible that they got credit card numbers. Sony took the network offline to reinforce it, but within days of it coming back online, hackers broke in again.

Playstation Network is a high-profile target with tens of millions of subscribers, making it attractive to criminals. However, even small businesses that do business over the Internet are vulnerable to the same kinds of intrusions. The federal Internet Crime Complaint Center referred more than 146,000 complaints to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in 2009, 22 percent more than the year before. One out of every three of those complaints was for identity theft, credit card fraud and computer fraud. The Ponemon Institute has reported that the average data breach costs businesses $7.2 million.

What could happen to a business’s data?

Over a seven-year period, a Georgia man stole 675,000 credit card numbers and associated information. He racked up thousands of fraudulent transactions and bills exceeding $36 million. A Texas man received a 110-month prison sentence for hacking into 14 computers in the hospital where he worked as a security guard. He disabled network security systems, installed malicious software, infiltrated a nursing station computer containing patient medical records, and gained remote access to temperature-control systems. The FBI caught a North Carolina man in the act of attempting to access an ATM in 2010. The man had planned to hack into 35 ATM’s located around Houston, Texas in the hope of pocketing more than $200,000.

When consumers and business owners give their credit card numbers and other personal information to a business or organization, they expect that this information will stay confidential. They will hold the organization responsible if they suffer financial harm because their information fell into the wrong hands. The organizations that lost the data face the potential for large jury awards or out-of-court settlements. To protect themselves, they should consider buying cyber liability insurance.

One insurance company advertises a Cyber Liability policy that provides coverage for expenses such as:

  • Damages to third parties caused by a network security breach
  • Loss resulting from administrative or operational mistakes made by the business’s own employees or by outside vendors
  • Expenses resulting from a breach of consumer protection laws, such as HIPAA or the Fair Credit Reporting Act
  • Costs of notifying customers of a breach
  • Public relations expenses necessary to repair the business’s reputation.

Nearly 30 insurance companies currently offer Cyber Liability policies. If an organization’s insurance broker does not have direct access to a company that offers the coverage, they might be able to obtain it through a specialty broker.

To prevent or reduce losses and to make themselves more attractive to insurance companies, businesses should implement strong network security systems, and continually monitor and update them as needed. Develop plans for responding to any network intrusion events that do occur. A sound plan identifies who should be involved in the response, has procedures for notifying affected customers and authorities, and has a public relations strategy for keeping the public informed.

The majority of businesses and organizations operating today are vulnerable to unauthorized intrusions into their computer networks. The potential costs are more than most organizations can fund on their own. Cyber Liability insurance is a smart investment that can literally save a company. Call our office today!

Nov 01
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DEVELOPING HEAVY EQUIPMENT INSPECTION GUIDELINES CAN HELP KEEP YOUR WORK SITE SAFE

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

Many modern construction jobs could not exist without the assistance of flatbeds, pickups, off-highway dump trucks, loaders, scrapers, and bulldozers. Needless to say that work sites today are swarming with such heavy equipment. Although crucial to the work being done, this equipment can easily transition from an asset to a danger if it is not properly and regularly maintained and inspected.

What Does OSHA Say? Sadly, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) rules aren’t very comprehensive and can often be vague when it comes to guidelines and checklists on inspecting heavy equipment properly. There are, however, some general guidelines that you should follow:

  • Materials and equipment should be inspected by a competent employee on a daily basis, or more frequently if needed.
  • OSHA doesn’t have any specific requirements for mechanized equipment and motor vehicles, with the exception of when they’re being transported or used near power lines. That said, OSHA does state that any equipment that will be left unattended at dark should have reflectors, lights, or barricades so that the location of the machinery can be identified easily.
  • Off-highway motor vehicles must be inspected at the start of each shift, which should include ensuring all the essential equipment and parts are free of obvious damage that could potentially cause a malfunction or failure and are otherwise in a safe operating condition. The trailer brake connections, emergency stopping system, and hand brake components of the service brakes must be checked. The tires, horn, seat belts, steering mechanism, coupling devices, operating controls, and safety devices must also be checked. Should job site conditions require the use of the defroster, windshield wipers, lights, reflectors, and/or fire extinguishers, these too must be checked. All damaged parts must be repaired properly before the vehicle can be used on the job site, even when the damage is seemingly minor.
  • OSHA doesn’t have inspection checklists for earthmoving equipment, such as loaders, scrapers, wheel tractors, crawlers, tractors, bulldozers, off-highway trucks, graders, and so forth, but does state that seat belts must be provided.
  • Employers should designate a competent person, meaning someone who has been trained properly in inspection guidelines, to inspect all heavy equipment on a frequent and regular basis. Note that the word “frequently” generally means “daily” in OSHA language.

Drafting Your Own Inspection Checklists. Since OSHA guidelines are so vague on the proper inspection of heavy equipment, safety experts commonly recommend that employers refer to the manufacturer’s manual for each individual piece of machinery being used on their job site and draw up their own inspection checklists using a combination of this information and that from OSHA.

However, heavy equipment manuals rarely include a detailed, comprehensive checklist. For equipment that doesn’t include one, and many likely won’t, you can use the machine’s maintenance procedures and operating instructions as a guide to create your own comprehensive checklist.

You might want to use the equipment’s OSHA inspection guidelines and the maintenance and operating information that you get from the equipment’s manual to develop several different checklists – one for site safety, one for systems, and one of safety equipment.

Once developed and ready for implementation, make sure that you explain thoroughly each of the checklists to your employees. Any employee that operates heavy equipment should be trained on the checklists and the importance of their completion each day before work ever begins.

It might take a little effort on your part, but having comprehensive, easily understood inspection checklists on every piece of heavy machinery on your work site is vital if you want to keep your business operations running smoothly and your workers safe. Don’t forget that having these checklists in place will essentially be pointless if your employees aren’t trained on how to use them properly.

Nov 01
Love0

BEWARE: CGL POLICIES DON’T COVER FAULTY WORK

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

Builders and contractors who buy Commercial General Liability policies with the impression that they will keep them safe from allegations of inadequate or faulty work should beware. It’s important to know that a CGL policy does not provide coverage for work that is faulty. In order to qualify for payment under a CGL policy, there must be a specific type of occurrence that causes property damage. The terms in a CGL policy define an occurrence as an accident. This includes repeated or continuous exposure to conditions that result in bodily injury or property damage. The damages or injuries must occur during the policy period in order to qualify for coverage. These injuries or damages must not be intentional. CGL policy terms specify that property damage is a physical injury to tangible property. This includes all losses of that property that happen as a result of the occurrence. It also covers the loss of use of tangible property that is physically unharmed.

When disputes arise as a result of defects in a building project, there are several factors that must be considered to determine whether the occurrence requirements and property damage requirements have been satisfied. The factors include the work or products that the contract states the policyholder was required to provide, the policy’s definitions, the alleged faulty construction job and the nature of the cause of the faulty work. These dispute conditions apply to defects in a structure sold or built by the contractor. They also apply to defects in a product that the contractor manufactures and sells independently.

If you have this coverage or are considering it, one of our agents will be able to analyze the policy’s terms. We will be particularly interested in the definitions of property damage and occurrence in the policy. This is crucial because each state’s law differs regarding such issues. Our agent will be able to advise whether or not the policy is in accordance with state laws. Some policies’ terms may indicate coverage for situations that a state’s laws may not provide coverage for. Keep in mind that state laws supersede anything written in an insurance contract. Some states specify that third-party property damage is a requirement for potential CGL coverage. Many states also specify that there is no coverage under a CGL policy for replacement or repair of damaged goods provided by the contractor. It’s also important to know that the work of a subcontractor is not covered under this law.

New Jersey was the leading state in addressing and defining defects in a CGL policy. A clear distinction was made between the replacement and repair of faulty materials. This was not considered as property damage covered under the CGL. However, third-party damage to a property may be covered. Since New Jersey’s definitions emerged, many other states have embraced the state’s view of business risks not counting as third-party property damage in the terms of a CGL policy. To better understand what the terms mean, what is covered and what state laws are in effect, contact one of our agents.

Nov 01
Love0

DON’T LET CRIME PLAGUE YOUR CONSTRUCTION SITE

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

Whether it be arson, vandalism, or theft, construction sites are prime targets for criminal acts. These criminal acts can create significant added costs, including insurance deductibles and consequential premium hikes; work delays; and replacement of lost equipment, tools, and building materials. Of course, such an event can also affect your overall job site and your client’s deadline. The good news is there are several steps you can take to diminish the risk and financial impact of criminal acts involving your job site:

  1. Research the work area prior to beginning a job. Carefully researching unfamiliar work areas is especially important if you’re not planning to hire on-site security, but should be done regardless. The local police or sheriff department can tell you if a particular area has a high crime rate. If you ask, they might also be able to send a patrol car out to check your site periodically once the work begins. You might additionally ask friendly competitors if they’ve had any problems in a particular area.
  2. Ensure the job site is well-lit and fenced. Most thieves and vandals will think twice before acting if they have to climb or cut a fence and perform their ‘work’ without the protection of darkness. Motion detector lights and lights with infrared triggers will illuminate with movement. This can scare off intruders and alert neighboring businesses and houses that someone might be lurking around. Most experts recommend using a chain-link fence since it, unlike many other barriers, will offer an enclosure that still allows visibility. Of course, chain-link can be a more expensive barrier. If it’s not in the budget, then designate enclosed storage areas to hold tools, construction materials, hazardous items, and flammables.
  3. Implement an inventory system for all tools and equipment. This will help you to keep track of everything on your work site. Smaller tools that are easier to carry and conceal are often targeted by thieves. Assign the site foreman or supervisor to keep a running log of when a tool goes out, the worker using it, and its return. You can use an etching tool to create a serial number on any piece of equipment or tool that doesn’t have a distinguishing number. It’s also wise to put your company’s logo or name on expensive items.
  4. Consider installing ignition cutout switches and GPS. You can immobilize heavy vehicles and machinery by installing ignition cutout switches. GPS should also be a consideration for expensive heavy equipment and machinery. These are relatively compact and easy to install. The GPS will alert you when the equipment is being used, it’s location, and if it leaves where it should be.
  5. Security, be it real or faux. A security camera isn’t just a visual deterrence to criminals. It can also help you catch brazen thieves and possibly retrieve your stolen goods. A security guard and/or guard dog only elevates the level of security at the site. There are also electronic devices that emit a barking sound to give the illusion of a real guard dog. Whether you actually have a surveillance system, guard, and watch dog, post the warning signs as if you do.
  6. Control access points to the work site. Whenever possible, a site should only have a single entry and exit point. Keep in mind that it will be increasingly difficult to monitor the coming and going of individuals on a site with each additional access point. You might also consider asking employees to park off-site.
  7. Plan out deliveries and installations. Items like HVAC systems, plywood, windows, and doors often come days or weeks before they’re actually ready to be installed. Since the target on these items becomes larger the longer they sit around virtually unattended, you should either install them to some degree as soon as they arrive; store them in an enclosed, secure area; or, most preferably, schedule the delivery as close to the projected installation time as possible.
  8. Have a lock-up procedure in place. Designate certain employees to ensure the day’s end lock-up, which should include ensuring that all supplies are locked securely in their designed area, vehicles are locked and key-less, and oil/gas tank caps are locked.
  9. Involve the community. Ask nearby residential and business neighbors to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity during non-work hours.
Nov 01
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TAKING PART IN PREVENTIVE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

By Workplace Safety

An accident or breakdown of a company vehicle can affect your company’s productivity negatively. Furthermore, it can hurt the reputation of your company if the breakdown results in late shipments or deliveries and no-shows for appointments. The good news is that there is a simple way to reduce the number of breakdowns and accidents that your vehicle fleet sustains: continuous preventative maintenance.

Preventative maintenance is done in addition to regularly scheduled oil changes and tune ups. It occurs when an employee spots something that could become a problem and reports it to the maintenance department before it disables the vehicle.

No one knows the company vehicles as well as the drivers, and they have a responsibility to make sure that preventative maintenance occurs. Below are some steps you can follow to properly maintain company vehicles.

The Daily Pre-Drive Checklist. Before you begin your work each day, you should go through a checklist of inspection points for the company vehicle you will be driving. The checklist should encourage you to inspect the following:

  • The functionality of the service, parking, emergency, and trailer brake systems.
  • Integrity of the wheels, tires, and rims.
  • The condition of the horn, reverse alarm, windshield wipers, headlights, brake lights, reverse lights, steering wheel and turn signals.
  • Visibility and effectiveness of the windshield, side windows, rearview and side view mirrors, side markers, dashboard instruments, and reflectors.
  • Examine the cleanness of the exhaust system and the ability of the vehicle to idle without stalling.
  • The presence of a safety kit including flares, reflectors, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, tools to assist with minor repairs while on the road, any safety items needed by your industry. You should also check the cleanliness and effectiveness of each item in the kit.

Daily Incident Reports When Necessary. Despite the daily checklist, some problems do not surface until you begin driving the vehicle. If you notice any problems while you drive, you should report them to the maintenance department immediately so that the vehicle can be repaired before the problem puts another employee in danger or pulls the vehicle off the line. Be certain to document the signs of the problem, when it occurred, as well as anything that may have been unusual about the driving conditions that day.

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