Archive by Author | Jimmy Kinmartin - Business Insurance & Risk Management

Intense Wildfire Escape Caught on Video

The “Valley Fire” in Lake County, California, northwest of Sacramento started as a 50-acre blaze on Saturday afternoon, growing steadily to a 50,000-acre inferno by Sunday night. A resident of the area recorded his escape from the inferno. The footage is intense:

The video was taken at 8:30 PM on Saturday night (9/12/15) on the way out of Anderson Springs, and really speaks for itself. This person was lucky to have gotten out alive.

-JK

Developing and Injury Illness Prevention Program

California Senate Bill 198 requires all employers to establish, implement and maintain a written effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program. This program must include the following elements:

  1. Identify a person or persons with authority and responsibility for implementing the program.
  2. A system for ensuring that employees comply with safe and healthy work practices, including recognition of employees who follow safe and healthful practices, training and retraining, and disciplinary actions for unsafe actions.
  3. A system for communicating with employees on matters relating to occupational safety and health. It should include provisions for meetings, training programs, posting written communications, anonymous notification about hazards without reprisal, and labor/management safety and health committees.
  4. Procedures for identifying and evaluating workplace hazards, including scheduled periodic inspections to identify unsafe conditions and work practices and a system to correct them.
  5. Procedures for conducting accident investigations.
  6. Maintenance of records of safety inspections and safety and health training for each employee. These records must be kept for a minimum of one year.

An Injury and Illness Prevention Program development guideline is available from Cal OSHA which provides more detailed information on the elements of the IIPP which are required (See Links ):

California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 3203. Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

Cal-OSHA Guide to Developing your Injury and Illness Prevention Program

Cal-OSHA Injury and Illness Prevention Program Online eTool

If this feels way too overwhelming for you, let me know. Give me a call or send me an email and I can work with you on developing an Injury and Illness Prevention Program for your business.

-JK

SUV Crashes Into Client’s Business; Driver Suspected of DUI

Last night, just after 10pm, a driver suspected of DUI crashed into a client’s business. This is a physical therapy office. Video from the scene showed a black SUV completely inside the building after crashing through the building’s exterior wall (see attached pic). Luckily nobody was hurt and we have the insurance carrier handling the claim now. Property loss and Business Income/Interruption coverage in effect until business is up and running again. On the bright side, this all happened during off hours.

DUI Crash

Credit: OnScene.TV

-JK

Insurance For Condo Homeowners Association in Harbor City

Effective 8/9, I finalized insurance for this Condo Homeowners Association in Harbor City. This is an 18-unit, 25,850 total square feet dual building property. Coverage’s include Commercial Property insurance for the structures, General Liability, and Director’s & Officer’s Liability to help protect the association board. The expiring policy didn’t include the D&O. I was able to add this coverage and still save premium dollars compared to the renewal terms the association received from the incumbent broker.

HOA 1-JK

Former Worker Sues Employer Over Leering Customer

A former employee of a Safeway store in Oregon has filed a lawsuit against the grocery store chain saying she was forced to quit because a customer repeatedly stared at her breasts and made vulgar comments.

Safeway

A former Safeway employee is suing the grocery chain, claiming sexual harassment by a customer. (The Oregonain/2006)

The Oregonian reported that 44-year-old Daphne Lannan says in a lawsuit filed last week in Multnomah County Circuit Court that she asked managers at the Lebanon Safeway to stop the customer but they did not.

According to the lawsuit, Lannan says a male customer began to comment about the size of her breasts, saying he wanted to touch them. Lannan’s attorney says the law allows employees to sue their employers for sexual harassment by non-employees.

The Takeaway: As an employer, you would need to have an Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance policy to defend a claim of this sort. This isn’t covered by a workers’ compensation insurance policy or general liability policy. EPL provides protection for an employer against claims made by employees, former employees, or potential employees. It covers discrimination (age, sex, race, disability, etc.), wrongful termination of employment, sexual harassment, and other employment-related allegations.

Additional Tip: To avoid gaps in coverage, make sure Third-Party coverage is offered and included by the carrier on your policy. This covers you if a customer or a third-party sues you for discrimination, etc., not just employees. For more information visit: Third-Party Employment Practices Liability Insurance or contact me with questions.

-JK

For more on the story: OregonLive.com

Insurance For Medical Office Towers In Torrance

Just wrapped up the insurance renewals for these two medical office towers in Torrance. 140,000 Square feet

  • Property Insurance
  • General Liability Insurance
  • Umbrella / Excess Liability Insurance
  • Earthquake Insurance
  • Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Medical Office Towers (618x800)

-JK

Earthquake Insurance for Apartment Building in Redondo Beach

I finalized a new Earthquake Insurance policy for this 6,000 square foot apartment building on the Esplanade in Redondo Beach this week. This complements the fire and liability policy which has already been in place for years. Nice view, huh?

Esplanade Building-JK

Shared Passion: Working with Independent Agents — Liberty Mutual

Have a business and want to get insurance coverage with Liberty Mutual Insurance? As an independent commercial insurance broker, I have appointments with numerous insurance carriers in both the standard and surplus lines insurance market. One of our primary carriers is Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

From commercial property to specialty risk to workers compensation, Liberty Mutual Insurance provides products and services to solve your ever-changing business needs.

Here’s a sample of what Liberty Mutual is writing in California:

  • Appliances & Accessories-Install, Servicing or Repair- Commercial
  • Beverage Stores – Liquor and Wine
  • Car Washes – Other Than Self Service
  • Carpentry – Interior
  • Caterers
  • Coffee or Espresso House – no cooking
  • Communication Equipment Installation – Industrial Or Commercial
  • Concrete Construction
  • Consultants
  • Contractors
  • Convenience Stores w/o Gas (limited grocery – no fresh meats)
  • Delicatessens – no frying on premises
  • Distributors – Food Or Drink
  • Distributors – No Food Or Drink
  • Electrical Work – Within Buildings
  • Floor Covering Installation – Not Ceramic Tile Or Stone
  • Glass Dealers And Glaziers
  • Ice Cream or Yogurt Stores
  • Importers
  • Janitorial Services
  • Landscape Gardening
  • Meat, Fish, Poultry Or Seafood – Distributors
  • Medical Offices
  • Office Buildings
  • Optometrists Office
  • Plastic Or Rubber Goods Mfg. – Other Than Household NOC
  • Plumbing – Commercial And Industrial
  • Real Estate Property Managed
  • Tile/Stone/Marble/Mosaic/Terrazzo Work-Interior Construction

Contact me today about insuring your California business with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

-JK

Boy Saves Father From Foul Ball

During Sunday’s baseball game at AT&T Park in San Francisco (7/12/15), a 10-year-old boy saved his dad from taking a foul ball in the side of the head off the bat of Brandon Crawford.

I’m going to drop a little metaphor here. Pretend I am the kid in this video and YOUR company/business is the Dad.

It’s what I do for a living. Save your business from potential disaster 😉

-JK