Confined spaces (such as storage tanks, ship compartments, pits, silos, wells, sewers, boilers, tunnels and pipelines) can be dangerous places. According to OSHA, accidents in confined areas kill an average of 70 American workers a year and injure hundreds, primarily due to atmospheres that were flammable, toxic, or corrosive.
To make sure that your employees know what they should do – and, just as important, not do – in case they need to deal with confined space emergency – safety experts recommend that they follow these guidelines.
What workers should do:
First, report the situation immediately to your supervisor, who will notify an emergency rescue team. If the people inside can rescue themselves safely, keep in contact with them throughout the procedure, and help them in any way possible without entering the space. If a rescue by an outside party is needed – and you’re trained, equipped, and authorized to do this – go ahead. If the emergency calls for a rescue team, let those inside the space know that help is on the way, keep in touch with them, and wait for the team to arrive.
What workers should not do:
Never let other workers attempt a rescue unless they have the training, equipment, and authorization to do so. Don’t allow anyone except the designated rescue team to enter a confined space in an emergency. Don’t leave the entry point to the confined space until the rescue team arrives.
We’d be happy to work with you on training your workers to deal with a confined space emergency – just give us a call at Scurich Insurance Services!
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By Elissa Richard | Compass – Fri, May 3, 2013 1:49 PM EDT
The legendary Loch Ness Monster might have turned 80 this week, but one overly cautious cruise company isn’t convinced that she’s any less of a threat. While “Nessie” hasn’t reportedly harmed a soul—or ship—to date (or actually been proved to exist, for that matter), Scottish cruise line Jacobite Cruises isn’t taking any chances.
Should the octogenarian lake-lurker turn up crotchety while any of their fleet is in operation, it’ll be smooth financial sailing for them all the same, thanks to their recently purchased $1.5 million insurance policy against any potential damages incurred by Scotland’s storied monster.
Jacobite owner Freda Newton explained to The Scottish Sun, “I don’t know what the odds of this actually happening might be, but this is Loch Ness and how silly would we look if it did and we weren’t covered for it?”
No, there’s nothing silly about this cruise line, which operates several sightseeing cruises in the Scottish Highlands region, including trips on Loch Ness. Just look at the free publicity storm they’re brewing on the heels of the 80th anniversary of the first sighting of the mythical lake creature.
Director of Inverness-based insurer Towergate Moray Firth, which issued the policy, admitted to the paper that “This is probably the most unusual insurance request we have ever had, but we were delighted to provide cover to Jacobite Cruises.”
Scurich Insurance Services has the coverage you need for almost any situation from
Commercial Packages to Group Insurance. Call them today! 800-320-3666
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Those of us who live in California know well that we are in an earthquake zone. Earthquakes are an exclusion of most standard homeowners insurance policies.
What can we do to protect our valuables in case one happens in our area? Here are a few suggestions that will help protect our home and its contents:
- Use brackets to secure wall units, bookcases and other tall furniture to studs in the walls.
- Install shatter-safe window films in order to help prevent breaking glass.
- Store fragile expensive items in closed cabinets with strong latches, and use plastic putty to secure them to shelves.
- Repair any cracks in the ceiling or foundation as soon as you notice them, as earthquakes can cause these to rapidly worsen.
- Make sure your water heater is strapped firmly to the wall.
Buying the right home insurance policy is a powerful step in helping to protect the people and things you love. However, it’s important to know exactly which perils are and aren’t covered. Work with a licensed agent to learn more about the exclusions in your policy so you can take steps to prepare for any problem that comes your way. You have a substantial investment in your home. Scurich Insurance Services will be happy to help you to cover your assets! Contact them today.
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Overtime is highly popular among employees who want to squeeze those few extra dollars out of the week for a job well done. It’s far less popular among employers worried about longer work weeks stretching a skimpy budget even thinner. In many industries, overtime has become a way of life. However, eager employees and employers aren’t the only ones interested in the type of work being performed “after hours.” Workers Comp insurance companies and the IRS have developed their own standards for overtime pay — and these rules could mean trouble for companies that violate them.
Here’s an example of a company that decided to ignore the regulations set by Comp insurers and the IRS. The owner of a New Hampshire trucking business decided that instead of confusing himself and everyone else about overtime pay for some of his workers, he would “reward” them by paying the difference in cash under the table. To make a long story short, the owner got slapped with a slew of federal conspiracy charges from the IRS and the Transportation Department — not to mention an angry Workers Comp insurance company.
The bottom line: Creative schemes to cut Comp costs are never an acceptable alternative. Businesses buy this coverage to protect both themselves and their worker in the event of a workplace illness or injury, regardless of whether it occurred during the regular work week or while working overtime.
Make a call to any of our insurance professionals at Scurich Insurance and learn what your first step is in designing and maintaining an affordable Workers Compensation program that can offer the protection you need without incurring legal penalties. To learn more about this and similar topics, follow us on Twitter.
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If you have a post-injury response program for your business, you probably know that it both slashes Workers Comp costs drastically and helps get employees back on the job — quickly.
The more injuries your workers suffer on the job, and the longer they’re off, the more you’ll pay for Comp coverage (not to mention their lost productivity). However, according to a recent insurance trade press report, an effective program that focuses on containing costs after work injuries can cut these expenses in half.
The report recommends that a post-injury program should include a promise that an injured employee will receive the best medical care available and will return to the job only after they’re cleared to do so. What’s more, says the report, the program must be applied consistently, deal with every injury, and list “who reports injuries, who an injury is reported to, who transports the employee to medical providers, and how medical restrictions are obtained.” The plan should be in a format that’s easy for managers, supervisors, and employees to understand.
A post-injury program might also include creating a transitional-duty job to help an injured employee ease back into the swing of things. There are many other steps involved in creating and carrying out a successful plan.
To learn how you can avoid becoming another Workers Comp horror story, contact our insurance professionals at Scurich Insurance Services today. To learn more about Scurich Insurance Services, follow us on Twitter.
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The American melting pot is fast becoming a smorgasbord of distinctive cultures. During the past 10 years, more than half (51%) of new entrants into the U.S. workforce have been minorities. The next 10 years will see a dramatic increase in minority workers, many of whom might lack English proficiency and familiarity with basic workplace safety precautions. To help you meet the safety needs of an increasingly diverse workforce — especially where language barriers are an issue — we’d recommend these guidelines:
- Speak slowly, explain fully, and repeat important points several times.
- Choose simple words and avoid technical jargon (whenever possible).
- Use a translator with groups of employees who have only minimal English skills.
- Team up non-English-speaking employees with English-speaking employees.
- Provide handouts in the language(s) that trainees speak and read.
- Make sure that workers are able to understand written materials. Don’t assume that they can read forms, signs, written directions, etc.
- Stress the importance of following safety regulations and policies.
- Show employees how to use safety protections and explain why they’re important.
- Demonstrate while you speak and use pictures, diagrams, props, etc., to supplement your words.
- Follow up on the job to make sure that employees properly apply what they’ve learned in training.
All of the helpful and friendly agents at Scurich Insurance Service care that your business has the best California Worker’s Compensation Policy available. Contact any of our agents at Scurich Insurance, located in Watsonville, to have your questions answered regarding your Worker’s Compensation Policy!
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