National Safe Boating Week
Looking to take advantage of those high Spring temps and get out on the boat? Read on for the information you need to know.
Category: The Daily Staple
Spring Storm Safety Tips for Businesses
Spring can bring about some of the year’s most dangerous weather and wreak havoc on many aspects of a company’s operations. This article discusses the weather threats to watch out for during spring and measures businesses can take to minimize damage.
Dangerous Spring Weather
Unexpected severe weather increases the risk of property damage, injury and even death. Here are some common types of spring weather events:
- Tornadoes — According to AccuWeather, tornadoes are by far the most extreme event in the spring. Winds from tornadoes can exceed 200 miles per hour, sending debris flying.
- Thunderstorms — Severe thunderstorms can produce strong winds, large hail and lightning. If lightning strikes in a dry area, fires can occur.
- Flooding — Snowmelt, ice jams and heavy rain can produce large amounts of water runoff in a short period of time, resulting in floods.
- Blizzards — Snowstorms that occur in the spring may cause power outages or property damage. They can also force businesses to shut down.
- Excessive heat — The second half of spring typically brings higher temperatures, leading to heat-related disorders or illnesses if employees work in outdoor environments.
Minimizing Risks
While springtime weather may be unpredictable, businesses can minimize risks to both people and property by preparing for all situations. Business leaders should consider the following precautions:
- Develop a plan. If employees have to travel to work, severe spring weather could put them in danger on the road. In addition, shelter-in-place orders or power outages could also pose threats to onsite employees, clients and customers. Having a plan in place can help everyone remain safe during an emergency. Outline what employees should do in different circumstances—such as a power loss—and have a communication protocol. Conduct drills until the plan becomes second nature.
- Keep an emergency kit on hand. This kit should contain emergency supplies, including flashlights, water, a first-aid kit, blankets, extra batteries, a toolset and current contact information for state and local entities.
- Secure the property and outdoor assets. Dead trees, weak structures and unsecured materials can become airborne hazards during windstorms, damaging buildings or external systems. If severe weather is in the forecast, complete preventive maintenance, close windows securely, bring outdoor furniture inside and clear out storm drains.
- Back up data. Severe weather can cause power outages and may physically damage equipment. Back up critical data often to help smoothly rebuild systems.
- Obtain proper insurance coverage. An experienced insurance broker can help business leaders understand and plan for the impacts of catastrophic weather. Complete a coverage review to ensure there are no gaps in coverage that will result in an uncovered loss.
By minimizing the opportunity for property damage, preparing employees to act and working with an experienced broker to ensure the appropriate insurance coverage is in place, businesses can better mitigate risks during the springtime. For more information, contact us today.
Employee Wellness Trends to Watch in 2022
The pandemic has put employee health and wellness in the spotlight. Given the pandemic’s immediate and lasting impacts on employee health, many employers are expanding their wellness offerings in 2022.
Here are three employee wellness trends to look out for this year:
1. Expanded Mental Health Resources
Many workers continue to battle stress and anxiety in their personal and work lives. Mental health benefits are one way to support employees—and they matter to workers. According to a Calm for Business workplace mental health survey:
Employers are investing in employees’ mental health with:
- Mental health-related healthcare offerings
- Expanded telebehavioral health
- Robust employee assistanceprograms
- Increased use of mental health apps
2. Increased Focus on Hybrid Work-Life Balance
As the boundaries between work and home are blurred, remote and hybrid employees may experience burnout.
To aid in employees’ work-life balance, employers can offer comprehensive wellness offerings, including:
- Robust mental health resources and support
- Increased schedule flexibility
- Time off for mental health or recharging
3. Expanded Financial Wellness Resources
Finances are ranked as the top source of stress by 73% of Americans, according to a CreditWise survey.
Some common employee financial goals are as follows:
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Building an emergency savings
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Choosing the proper health insurance and benefits
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Preparing for significant life events
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Saving for retirement
Employers can help support employees’ goals and reduce fiscal stress by exploring financial wellness resources and support options, including:
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Tuition reimbursement
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Financial planning meetings
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Seminars and workshops
Trampoline Liabilities
Trampolines can provide hours of entertainment and fun for the whole family – especially young children. However, having a trampoline on your property can also carry numerous liability risks. Specifically, if a visitor or loved one gets hurt while using your trampoline, you could potentially be held responsible for the cost of their injuries. To protect yourself from trampoline liability concerns, consider the following guidance:
- Always supervise all jumpers on the trampoline, regardless of their ages or experience levels.
- Restrict the number of jumpers permitted on the trampoline at one time.
- Don’t allow children under the age of 6 use the trampoline.
- Avoid pacing a ladder near the trampoline. Doing so could encourage younger children to climb it without permission and start jumping.
- Prohibit jumpers from doing somersaults of flips on the trampoline, as they could land on their necks or heads incorrectly and experience serious injuries.
- Never allow jumpers to use the trampoline as a way to jump onto other objects.
- Securely attach safety padding to cover the hooks, springs and frame of the trampoline.
- Set up the trampoline on level ground, away from trees and other obstacles.
- Install safety netting around a trampoline to provide proper fall protection.
- Inspect the trampoline before each use to make sure the springs are secure and that the bed doesn’t have any tears or holes. Don’t allow anyone to use the trampoline if it is damaged.
Attractive Nuisances Explained
Trampolines are considered attractive nuisances – items that are attractive and enticing to children. If kids are walking by your home and spot the trampoline in your backyard, they may be tempted to sneak onto it and start jumping. In the event that they suffer an injury on your property, you could ultimately be held liable.
To protect yourself, consider fencing in your yard and never allow unsupervised individuals to use the trampoline when you are not present. For more personal risk management guidance and homeowners insurance solutions, contact us today.
Medicare 101 Flyer
If you’re nearing retirement age, or are over 65 and still working, you may have questions about Medicare. Read on for the information you need to know. View our Medicare 101 Flyer
Things That Affect The Insurance Costs of Young Drivers
Are you a new but young driver? Do you rely on your car getting you to work and back? If so, you should know that taking the young driver’s insurance is the right option for you as much as it is expensive. Hence, be ready to encounter high costs at the beginning. There is a need to take caution while driving and cancel out the mentality that reckless driving is cool. It only leads to accidents, not to mention death. The points that follow show why a young driver insurance is expensive and how it is calculated. You can also learn a lot more about this type of policy at https://www.quotedevil.ie/young-driver-car-insurance.
Where The Driver Resides Is Key To The Insurer
Most of the car insurance claims occur five miles within the confines of a driver’s home. Insurers consider this a vital factor while ascertaining one’s premium. You need to keep in mind that if you live in an area where traffic is your daily bread and accidents occur now and then, your insurance will be on the higher side as compared to someone who resides in a place with less drama. Since insurance companies can access car insurance data in various areas, they can check the claims both fraudulent and sincere and the number of uninsured drivers alongside many other factors at ease.
Your Age Matters A Lot To The Insurance Company
Young drivers are considered high risk to insurers since they lack experience. There is no way that insurers can charge young drivers aged between 17 to 25 years the same way they charge older and experienced drivers. Young drivers tend to make more claims since they are more endangered while driving. For that reason, they charge young drivers with higher premiums than drivers in other age groups. However, if you have been a driver for a long time, your experience will do the talking for you to reduce the premiums that you will be paying. Besides that, your premiums will be cheaper if you previously never made any claims.
The Security Of Your Vehicle
If you want to ensure that you get the young driver car insurance, you should ensure that you have a safe place where your car is parked when not in use and, if possible, a security guard. This is because insurers tend to enquire about your car’s security, not to mention the measures that you may have put in place to ensure that it is secure. If you reside in an area with high theft or vandalism cases, you are going to be paying high premiums, and if not, your premium fee will be less expensive. If, for example, you have a garage, your premium is going to be less than someone who parks their car outside their gate. Things get better for drivers who may have taken extra precautions to ensure that their vehicle is safe wherever it is at. Hence, do the best that you can; the car is yours anyway!
The Amount Of Excess You Choose To Pay Affects The Premium
In the case of a claim and you decide that you will be paying more excess, then the premium that will be paid by the company will be on the higher side, and the insurance cost will be lower. However, if you choose to do the complete opposite, both you and the insurer will cough a lot of money. If you have any claims whatsoever, the insurer will pay more money, which will mean that you will pay higher premiums. This is a good option if you do not plan to take risks.
What Do You Do For A Living?
Many people think that their occupation plays no role in how much premiums they will be paying, which is not the case. If your job revolves around being on the road, it will always mean that the installment you will be paying will be high. If you work in an office environment, your installments will be cheaper; it goes without saying because working on the road will mean that you are likely to get into accidents frequently.
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