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Monthly Archives

November 2014

Construction and Environmental Risk Management

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

Site management includes proper storage of fuels and other potentially toxic supplies. Fuel tanks require secondary containment for rupture control and a safe low-traffic location. Other potential toxins need proper containment and inventory control.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will remind you of these requirements if you fail to comply.

Environmental awareness is critical to avoiding problems:

* Roofing. When roofs leak, mold grows in the affected area frequently because wet, dark, cooler areas promote mold growth. When performing repairs, always check for mold. Take pictures of any suspicious growth and show the owner. Contractors are often blamed for mold after the repair when common sense might suggest the mold occurred during the leak. But the time for remediation is before new materials are installed. Check for mold. Any large black or white stain should be sampled and tested by trained mold inspectors. Don’t take a chance with mold.

* Equipment. When diesel equipment is used around an area which has or had heating oil storage tanks, any leak can be attributed to the contractor. Check the soil in the area where work is to be performed. Does it smell like heating oil? Does it look stained? Is there any evidence of overfilling the tank? Get samples and send them to a laboratory for testing before the project starts.

* Avoid toxic products. The green product industry has blossomed over the past few years. The products have nearly the same efficacy of traditional formulations, and have the benefit of not creating long-term problems for the owner.

Think environment before a job starts. What is already there which needs documentation as an existing condition?

These conditions may be an opportunity to increase the contract, but they will certainly be a point of contention if not documented properly.

Construction Industry Injuries: how does your operation compare?

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

The experience modification indicates relative claims experience by offering a credit modification, lower premium, for positive claims experience and higher premiums, debit modification, for poor experience.

But does an experience modification help you understand the rate of injuries in your operations rather than the raw cost? Frequency of claims correlates to safety more so than the costs associated with those claims.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag23.htm), full-time construction professionals suffer four injuries per year for every 100 employees on average. Half of those injuries result in loss of time or light duty assignments.

The average time lost is one and one-half days.

First, four injuries out of 100 employees may not sound like a high average, but that rate makes construction a very hazardous occupation. Personal protective gear and safety awareness over the past few decades has helped reduce jobsite claims, but this rate can be reduced further.

Slips and falls are the most common claims and yet very avoidable using proper techniques for ladder safety and spill clean-up. Tie ladders off or use a buddy to steady it; clean spills immediately and thoroughly.

Back pain from lifting incorrectly or excessively is common in the construction industry. Again, avoidable using a weight limit per lift and a buddy system for heavier loads.

Use your insurance carrier resources to reduce and eliminate injuries through advanced and aggressive loss control techniques. Use government resources like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (www.OSHA.gov) which can provide safety regulation awareness or instructions in Spanish and other languages.

Workplace safety is an employee benefit. Can you prove your work sites are safer than average? Do you have light duty options for unfortunate injuries? Do you investigate all injuries and find a cause of and prevention for each incident?

Worker safety pays in cash and improved morale.

Do You Need a Flexible Savings Account in 2015?

By Employment Resources

It’s time to pick your employee benefits for the new year. Is a flexible savings account, or FSA, one of your options? Before you pass on this optional benefit, learn more about it and decide if it’s a smart choice for you.

What is an FSA?

Your employee benefits package could include an optional cafeteria plan that allows you to pick and choose personalized benefits. An FSA is one of those choices. It allows you to save part of your income for specific expenses listed in the plan. While most of the qualifying expenses are medical related, an FSA can also cover dependent care for your children or aging parents.

What are the Primary Benefits of an FSA?

Because the money placed in an FSA isn’t taxed, you’ll appreciate tax benefits. Plus, you’ll have money set aside for expenses like deductibles, eye glasses and day care.

What are the Disadvantages of an FSA?

No matter how much money you save in your FSA, it’s a use it or lose it deal. That’s why you’ll have to carefully estimate how much money you’ll need through the year. Save too much, and you’ll be scrambling to use it all before 2016 rolls around.

Is an FSA Right for You?

An FSA is a good choice for you if you expect to accumulate medical expenses that your insurance won’t cover, like high deductibles or copays. You can use FSA funds to buy prescription and over-the-counter medications, pay for dental procedures and stock prescription sunglasses. These funds also pay for specific medical condition treatment and prevention like smoking cessation aids. Some plans also cover dependent care for your children or aging parents.

However, you can’t use FSA funds for cosmetic surgery, general health improvements or your health insurance premiums. It also won’t cover your child’s summer camp or your parents’ nursing home expenses.

Now that you know more about it, could you benefit from an FSA this year? Talk to your insurance agent for more information and specific details about the options your employer offers. Then, get ready to save for expenses and be prepared in 2015.

Seven Beneficial Reasons to Take Time off This Thanksgiving

By Employment Resources

If you’re lucky enough to have time off this Thanksgiving, make a conscious effort to get away and leave work behind. Turn off your email, let calls go to voicemail and leave projects for Monday. You deserve time away, and your family, body and work will thank you.

1. Enjoy Your Family and Friends

Whether you spend time with friends down the street or fly across the country to see your family, appreciate the time away with your loved ones. Bake cookies with your kids, go shopping with your mom or play football with your friends. Be completely present as you make memories and strengthen your relationships this holiday.

2. Relax Your Body

As your doctor will tell you, constant pressure, tension and stress from work can create long-term health consequences. Relax your body and improve your health when you take a complete break from work. Nap, exercise or just sit around and pet your dog as you reduce stress and relax your body.

3. Focus on Your Hobbies

If you can’t remember the last time you picked up your paintbrushes, tennis racket or gardening tools, now’s the time to reengage with your hobbies. You feel mentally relaxed, rested and energized after focusing your brain on fun and fulfilling hobbies and interests that aren’t related to work.

4. Set Healthy Boundaries

Feeling guilty about taking time off work is a sign that you need better work-life balance. Establish healthier boundaries and start this holiday season.

5. Refresh Your Brain

Creativity and problem solving, two essential job skills, require tons of mental energy. On vacation, give your brain a rest, recharge your energy and prep yourself for greater success once you return to work.

6. Find Your Smile

A cheerful mental attitude keeps you motivated at work, but when was the last time you smiled? Find your smile when you get away from work and enjoy a restful vacation.

7. Take Care of Business

Are you putting off a dental cleaning, car repair or garage clean up? That list clutters your mind and distracts you from doing your best at work. Spend a few hours this holiday taking care of business at home, and relieve the clutter in your mind.

This Thanksgiving, you owe it to yourself to take a break from work. Your break will help you enjoy your holiday and work smarter.

Why You Should Spend More Time Choosing Employee Health Benefits

By Employment Resources

With open enrollment season in full swing, now’s the perfect time to evaluate your employee health insurance benefits. Unfortunately, a recent Aflac survey reveals that most employees don’t spend enough time evaluating their benefits packages.

*Two out of five, or 41 percent, of American employees spend under 15 minutes choosing health benefits for the upcoming year.
*Twenty-four percent spend less than five minutes selecting benefits.
*These same employees will research new cars for 10 hours, family vacations for five hours and new computers for four hours.

You owe it to yourself and your future health to invest time in choosing the right health insurance benefits.

Understand Your Benefits

Technical jargon on insurance papers can be confusing, but would you rather wade through it now or miss out on important benefits when you’re sick? Take time now to figure out which procedures are covered, where you can get treatment and how much deductible you’ll owe. Don’t be like 73 percent of employees who don’t understand their health insurance benefits.

Know What’s Changing

Maybe your employer now offers Health Savings Accounts or dental insurance. These benefit changes could help you stay healthy. Unlike 64 percent of employees who don’t take time to understand their benefit changes, you can ask about changes and understand them.

Select Partners for Long-Term Health

Now’s the time to switch coverage options if you want to switch doctors or pharmacies. While you’re inspecting your benefits package, make sure your preferred hospital and lab is covered, too. Your healthcare team partner with you for long-term health, so take time to ensure you can see your preferred partners.

Save Money

When you don’t make a careful decision about your benefits, you could be throwing away $750 a year on wasted premiums and lost benefits, which is what 42 percent of Americans do. Save that money when you invest time in choosing your health benefits.

Choose Premiums You Can Afford

Employers increasingly push rising insurance costs onto employees. By picking and choosing the benefit package options you want, you also select the premium you can afford. A few hours now prevents insurance premiums from straining your family’s budget in the new year.

Although nine out of 10 Americans auto-enroll and keep the same benefits every year, take time to ask your employer or insurance agent questions and verify the exact coverage you want. You’ll be glad you did.

You Have Life Insurance, But Do Your Kids Need a Policy, Too?

By Employment Resources

Life insurance makes sense for you because it gives your surviving family members financial peace of mind if you were to die. However, do your kids need life insurance, too? November is National Adoption Month and a good time to consider this insurance option for your children.

Receive Lifetime Coverage

Pay the monthly premiums, and your children gain insurance for life. In many cases, they won’t even need a health exam when they’re older unless they want a death benefit increase.

Enjoy Low Rates

Most life insurance policies use age to determine premiums. You’ll pay less to insure your young children, and permanent policies lock in the premiums for the life of the policy.

Eliminate Health Exams

Most life insurance policies don’t require kids to undergo a complete medical exam. Since kids are usually healthier than adults, they typically won’t be denied coverage. This benefit is especially important if a serious medical condition like diabetes or heart disease runs in your child’s family.

Gain Cash Value

The premiums you pay for permanent life insurance cover the policy and build cash value. That cash could grow at a variable or fixed interest rate. By the time your kids turn 18, they could have a healthy accumulation of cash to pay for college, buy a house or save until they retire.

Cover Final Expenses

Parents don’t expect their children to die young, but accidents happen. Life insurance covers final expenses and protects your family’s finances.

Evaluate Your Budget

Despite the benefits; your budget may not stretch enough to include life insurance for your kids. After you ensure you’re adequately insured, weigh the benefits of life insurance for your children and discuss your needs with your insurance agent. He or she can work with you to find a policy that’s right for you.

Consider Alternative Saving Tools

Roth IRAs and 529 Plans assist parents in saving money for their children’s futures. Investigate these saving options as you choose the best way to provide for your children.

Whether or not you plan to adopt a child during National Adoption Month, November’s a good time to consider life insurance. Your agent can discuss your options with you as you adequately care for your children.

Consider Seven Facts During National Epilepsy Month

By Life and Health

Epilepsy is a disease that affects 2.3 million adults and approximately 467,711 children in the U.S. In the epileptic’s brain, certain nerve cells send out erratic signals that cause the person’s body to seize for a few seconds or a few minutes. Whether or not you know someone with epilepsy, November is National Epilepsy Month and a good time to learn seven facts about this condition.

1. What Causes Epilepsy?

Doctors can’t identify the cause of almost two-thirds of known epilepsy cases. However, genetics often plays a role. Other causes include oxygen deprivation during childbirth, stroke and brain infections, traumas, injuries or tumors.

2. How is Epilepsy Diagnosed?

Doctors review a patient’s medical history and examine the results of a full neurological exam, EEG and CT or MRI.

3. What Epilepsy Treatments are Available?

Most insurance pays for medication that controls many epileptic seizures. Doctors prescribe specific medications based on the seizures’ type, severity and frequency. Patients may also benefit from brain surgery, nerve stimulation and a ketogenic diet that’s high in fat and low in carbs.

4. How Many Types of Seizures are There?

While seizures can vary from mild to severe, they’re typically separated into two groups. Primary generalized seizures start in and involve both sides of the brain. Partial seizures start in one side of the brain and spread to the entire brain.

5. Can an Observer Tell When Someone is Experiencing a Seizure?

Petit mal seizures are small and the sufferer will only blink fast or stare into space for a few seconds. Complex partial seizures cause a person to be confused, dazed and unable to respond for several minutes. A person, who falls down, loses consciousness or experiences muscle jerks is experiencing grand mal seizures.

6. How Can You Help Someone During a Seizure?

If you see someone having a seizure, don’t restrain the person. Loosen his or her shirt collar, and remove nearby sharp objects. Roll the person to his or her side after the seizure ends, and remain close by.

7. Is Epilepsy Fatal?

Fortunately, many epileptic people live full lives. Patients who die often suffer other health conditions like strokes or tumors or suffer fatal injuries during a seizure. Prolonged seizures or suddenly stopping medication can also cause death.

Have these facts taught you something new about epilepsy? Learn as much as you can during National Epilepsy Month and be prepared to assist the epileptics you know.

Six Ways to Enjoy a Healthy Thanksgiving Feast

By Life and Health

Juicy turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and sweet pumpkin pie tempt your taste buds this Thanksgiving. However, you might need to watch your weight or follow dietary restrictions for health reasons. You can enjoy the holiday treats but stay healthy this year when you follow six tips.

1. Drink Plenty of Water

When you’re hydrated, you feel full and are less likely to overeat. So, sip water as you prep the meal, watch football and hang out with friends. By meal time, you won’t be tempted to stuff yourself.

2. Fill Your Plate With Vegetables

Crunchy and healthy vegetables make the perfect appetizers, side dishes and game time snacks all day. Plus, raw and cooked veggies satisfy your hunger and offer numerous health benefits. Before dinner is served, fill your plate with a large salad or a selection from the veggie tray as you satisfy your hunger with healthy foods.

3. Hide Veggies in as Many Main Dishes as Possible

No matter how your favorite dishes have been prepared for years, alter the recipes to make them healthier. Substitute cauliflower for at least half of the potatoes in mashed potatoes, shred carrots into the meatloaf and add extra celery, squash and carrots to the stuffing. No one will notice the extra veggies, but your waistline will.

4. Ask for the Recipe

Some of your favorite holiday dishes may be prepared and served only at Thanksgiving. Instead of overindulging in them, ask for the recipes. When you can make these dishes throughout the year, you’ll be less likely to overeat this one day of the year.

5. Serve Fruit-Based Treats for Dessert

Pie, cake and candy don’t have to take center stage on the dessert table. Fruit, whether fresh, frozen or in smoothies, provides a sweet and healthier alternative to sugar-laden treats.

6. Focus on Family Fun Instead of on Food

While food is an important part of Thanksgiving gatherings, focus on fun. Play cards, football or board games, look though photo albums or go shopping with your family members and friends. You’ll enjoy a healthier holiday when your focus in on the fun rather than the food.

As you prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, implement these six tips that help you maintain your healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor or health insurance agent, too, about additional ways you can stay healthy this holiday.

Get Healthy With Drum Therapy And Celebrate International Drum Month

By Life and Health

For centuries, drum therapy has helped individuals and groups get healthy. November is International Drum Month and the perfect time for you to embrace this beneficial health tool.

Reduce Stress

When you experience chronic stress, you also experience muscle tension, stomach ulcers and other physical health challenges. You deserve a better life. Pick up your drum and reduce stress in just a few minutes. Then, practice drum therapy regularly as part of a stress-free lifestyle.

Lower Anxiety

Panic attacks and anxious thoughts can cripple you. Combat these emotions with drum therapy. It distracts and relaxes you as your anxiety flows through your arms and hands into your instrument.

Manage Pain

Follow your doctor’s advice about pain management, and ask him or her about adding drum therapy, too. It releases endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. Drums won’t cure the source of your pain, but they will help you feel better.

Improve Mood

Whether you’re angry, sad or lonely, drum therapy turns your mood around. Pound on a drum at home or in a public space and you’ll feel better emotionally.

Increase Immunity

In addition to mental health benefits, drum therapy increases your body’s immunity. Along with regular hand washing, use drums to avoid illness this winter.

Build Friendships

Good friends improve your attitude, reduce loneliness, inspire you to greatness and add fun to your life. Connect with others in a drum circle, and build your network of positive friends.

Express Yourself

When you have trouble sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings, pull out your drum. Start playing a rhythm that feels right to you. Mix soft, loud, quick and slow beats as you personalize your playing. There’s no right or wrong way as you use this form of self-expression to release your inner voice.

Whether you use a spatula and pan from the kitchen or set up a professional drum set in the garage, add drum therapy to your medical treatment plan during International Drum Month. It provides numerous health benefits that partner with your doctor’s advice and medication to help you stay healthy.

Nine Tips for Getting a More Comfortable Night’s Sleep

By Life and Health

Get a good night’s sleep, and you’re more likely to wake up alert, energetic, happy and able to function. Since November is National Sleep Comfort Month, implement six tips that help you sleep better and more comfortably.

1. Invest in a Quality Mattress and Comfortable Bedding

Your sleep comfort depends largely on your mattress. If it’s lumpy, hard or scratchy, you’ll toss and turn instead of truly resting. Visit a local mattress store today and invest in the best mattress and bedding you can afford. It will quickly pay for itself as you sleep better and enjoy greater productivity and happiness.

2. Lower the Temperature

Because your body heat rises slightly as you sleep, you’ll be more comfortable when you lower your bedroom temperature by a few degrees. Opening a window or turning on a fan produces the same results.

3. Limit Big Evening Meals

Visiting the buffet for dinner tasted good at the time, but a large evening meal increases overnight discomfort. It will keep you awake and give you indigestion and heartburn. Step away from the kitchen at least two hours before bed. If you need a snack, indulge in a small portion of cereal with milk, fruit or granola.

4. Skip Alcohol and Caffeine

Your late-afternoon coffee affects your sleep 10 to 12 hours after you drink it. Your nightcap might make you drowsy, but the alcohol will wake you in the middle of the night. To boost your afternoon energy level, grab an apple, walnuts or cheese. If you want an alcoholic drink at night, enjoy it at least two hours before bedtime.

5. Relax

When you’re anxious, tense or stressed, your body won’t be able to relax. Practice yoga, deep breathing and visualization. As you relax your mind, your body will follow, and you’ll enjoy more comfortable sleep.

6. See Your Doctor

If you still can’t get comfortable at night, talk to your doctor. Discuss physical or mental issues that might be preventing you from getting adequate rest. Check with your insurance agent, too, about whether chiropractor visits or specialty pillows are covered by your insurance.

With a good night’s sleep, you wake up in a good mood and ready to tackle the day. Use these six tips to get your most comfortable sleep this month.