As the economy continues to putter along, we are continually hearing stories about employees committing desperate acts against their restoration-company employers and even their customers. Within the past year, we have seen the following scenarios happen to some of our clients: An employee stole inventory from his company and disappeared. Another employee used the company credit card for personal purchases, including a television, gas, and clothes. And yet another employee skimmed money from the company for over 12 months amounting to a total loss of about $20,000. The question we often get is on the possibility of purchasing insurance to cover these types of acts. There is insurance cov
Restoration contractors encounter a variety of hazards every single day, and one of the most important things you can do is effectively remove or control those hazards to protect your workers. While removing the hazard is ideal, it is not always possible. In those scenarios, it’s important to control the hazard through proper policies and procedures and person protective equipment. Removing Hazards The best way to protect workers from hazards is to remove hazards from the workplace altogether, or at least keep them away from workers. Removing a hazard typically includes redesigning your company’s processes. For example: Keep materials wet when grinding, sanding, using cutting tools, or s
One of the common questions we receive in regards to general liability insurance for restoration contractors is in regards to who is actually covered on the policy. Under the standard general liability policy there are two main types of insureds: named insureds and additional insureds. Named insureds are individuals that are named in the declarations pages of the policy or defined as an insured within the policy itself. Additional insureds are companies or individuals that are not named in the declarations page of the policy, but are afforded coverage under the policy by way of endorsement. Named Insured: In this post we will talk about the primary named insureds with respect to the type of
For many of our restoration contractor clients, it is necessary to work on roofs during the winter months. This can be treacherous and hazardous work, which is why we recommend following these safety tips to avoid harm or injury. Planning and Preparation When it becomes necessary to work on a roof in the winter months, you should ask yourself the following questions to ensure you are prepared: What special tools, equipment, protective devices, clothing, and footwear will be needed? Make sure all the necessary gear is on hand and ready for use. Do you have a means of safely elevating mechanized snow removal equipment to the roof? What type of fall protection will you need? On sloped roofs, y
