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March 26, 2014  

Dramatic Rescue of Construction Worker From Blaze

A construction worker is rescued from a giant fire at AIG campus in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday. The amateur footage, filmed by onlooker Karen Jones, shows a man trapped on a top-floor balcony of an apartment complex that had been under construction. He manages to escape as fire destroys the building. No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze. It is still unclear what caused the fire. You’ll get some sweaty palms watching this one! Especially when the construction worker swings down to the lower level balcony!

-JK

March 24, 2014  

Forklift Operator Knocks Over $100,000 Worth of Liquor

As seen in this Youtube video, “in a Russian liquor warehouse, a forklift driver hits the gas in reverse and plows into a warehouse rack filled with liquor, causing a domino effect that brings down half the warehouse. There was over a hundred thousand dollars in damage. The driver survived. No report if he is still employed.”

All joking aside, an accident like this can have a vast impact on your business operations such as Property Damage with the destroyed product. Think about the extensive clean up and reorganization; the suspense of business operations/ business income/interruption exposure. Also, from a Workers Compensation and Employee Disability standpoint, there are injured employees which means lost time, recovery, employee shortage, and training costs for other employees to fill the void. This can have a devastating impact on your bottom line.

Here are some Safety Tips For Forklift Drivers:

Maintenance

  • Each day, check that the forklift is ready for the day’s work and perform any necessary maintenance before operating.
  • Report any malfunction or poor performance to your supervisor immediately.

Loading

  • Use reverse when going down inclines and go forward up inclines.
  • Do not travel with the load elevated, and keep the load stable and as close to the floor as possible.
  • Avoid raising or lowering a load while the forklift is moving.
  • Always keep the load tilted back towards the carriage while raising and lowering.
  • Make sure the load is balanced and is within the capacity of the truck.
  • Never use the forks as a personnel elevator unless properly equipped.

Driving

  • Always make sure your driving path is clear.
  • Slow down for corners, blind spots and doorways.
  • Drive defensively by always being aware of your surroundings and watching for the unexpected.
  • Be aware of ground conditions and always take the smoothest possible path.
  • Never try to turn on an incline.
  • Cross tracks diagonally and slow down for uneven surfaces.
  • Keeps legs, arms, feet, hands and head inside the forklift.
  • Be aware of others around the job site, in case they do not see you.
  • Always give those on foot the right of way.
  • Stay out from under forks and loads.
  • Never show off or use the machine for anything other than your specified job tasks.
  • Never give anyone a ride or allow anyone who is untrained to operate the forklift.

Finally, here’s a Sample Performance Test for Forklift Operators for reference to monitor your employee forklift drivers.

Minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events before they happen. That’s what Risk Management is all about.

-JK

January 16, 2014  

Disaster Preparedness For Businesses

Did you know that:

  • Only 26% of small to medium-sized businesses have disaster recovery plans in place.
  • At least 40% of businesses affected by natural or man-made disasters NEVER re-open.
  • 53% of business owners never recoup losses incurred by disasters.

If you don’t have a disaster recovery plan in place for your business, call your current insurance broker for help, or contact me anytime for resources. Not only is your property insurance important, but you must be proactive with your risk management plans to mitigate loss.

Disaster Preparedness-JK

 

September 28, 2013  

Insurance For a Men’s Retail Clothing Store

I spent some time this Saturday morning working up some insurance quotes and options for a new men’s clothing retail store opening this Fall in Laguna Beach (CA). We’re looking into property, general liability, and workers’ compensation insurance coverage for the store.

Retail Clothing InsuranceSince my brain is on the subject of insurance for retail clothing stores, i wanted to share a brief risk summary that you should think about if you own a retail clothing store.

Property exposures are limited, but if a fire should occur, the clothing provides a combustible fire load and is highly susceptible to water and smoke damage. Theft may be a concern if any of the items sold have high value. Appropriate security measures should be in place.

Crime exposures are from Employee Dishonesty and Theft of Money and Securities either from holdup or safe burglary. Employee dishonesty is controlled through inventory monitoring, control of the cash register, disciplined controls and division of duties. Theft prevention requires controls of monies kept in the cash drawers and regular bank drops.

Premises liability is always a concern in a retail exposure where the public comes to the premises. Floor covering must be in good condition with no frayed or worn spots on carpet and no cracks or holes in flooring. Sufficient exits must be provided and be well-marked, with backup systems in case of power failure. Dressing rooms must be well maintained and privacy carefully guarded. Shoplifting procedures must be fully understood and utilized by all employees.

Parking lots and sidewalks need to be in good repair with snow and ice removed, and generally level and free of exposure to slip and fall. If the business is open after dark, adequate lighting and appropriate security for the area must be present.

Products liability for this type of operation is normally low. Direct importing of clothes and tailoring can add to the exposure.

Workers compensation exposure is from lifting, which can cause back injury, hernia, sprain, and strain. What kind of training do employees receive, and what types of material lifting or conveying devices are used? If tailoring services are offered, injuries due to sewing and cutting injuries are possible.

Minimum recommended coverage:

Business Personal Property, Business Income, Employee Dishonesty, Money and Securities, Accounts Receivable, Computers, General Liability, Employee Benefits, Umbrella, Hired and Nonownership Auto, Workers Compensation. Many of these coverage’s can be included within a single Businessowners insurance policy.

Other coverages to consider:

Building, Leasehold Interest, Real Property Legal Liability, Forgery, Computer Fraud, Bailees Customers, Fine Arts, Employment Related Practices, Business Auto Liability and Physical Damage.

Have a retail clothing store and need some guidance on your insurance? You can contact me anytime to discuss. I’d be happy to help you out.

-JK

Source: Rough Notes, Inc

September 10, 2013  

Fire Burns Through La Bodega Market In Long Beach

A two-alarm commercial building fire burned through La Bodega Market on 7th and Magnolia in Long Beach on Monday night. Long Beach Fire Department received the first report of a fire at 9:27PM. According to the Long Beach Fire Department, the building was heavy with smoke and fire upon first arrival and a second alarm was called within a minute. For the full story, read about it HERE in the Long Beach Post.

Here’s some video from the Long Beach Post of the fire:

Have a small business in Long Beach? When’s the last time you reviewed your business insurance policies to make sure your coverage is sufficient and accurate? Make sure you’re reviewing your policies at least annually with your insurance agent or broker.

Beyond insurance, you might want to consider establishing a fire prevention plan or a business continuity and recovery plan. If you need help in any of these areas, I have some resources that I can help you with. You’re welcome to contact me anytime to discuss.

-JCK

August 26, 2013  

Video From Cockpit of A plane Fighting the Rim Fire in Yosemite

Look at this unreal footage of the Rim Fire in Yosemite, California, taken from the cockpit of an Air National Guard plane:

Hot and dry weather conditions are well-known risk factors for forest fires. A majority of the forest fires are caused by a combination of these conditions and careless human activity. 

Officials expect some regions of the country like California to be at a higher risk for forest fires than usual due to low moisture and rising temperatures.

Here are some tips to keep top of mind when choosing a site to start a fire:

  • Check to see if open fires are allowed in your area.
  • Choose an area with an abundance of rocks and sand and little vegetation.
  • Do not start a fire underneath low hanging branches or nearby bushes.
  • Have plenty of water nearby in case the fire gets out of hand.
  • Keep the fire small.
  • Never wander away from a fire; it should be watched and kept under control at all times.

-JK

August 21, 2013  

Aerial Firefighting

This is a pretty cool video of a helicopter maneuvering in someone’s backyard to scoop up water from a pool to help fight a wildfire.

Planes and helicopters are critical tools in managing wildfires, particularly in California where we face wildfires annually. Although aircraft are often used to fight wildfires, aircraft alone cannot put them out. Firefighters rely on planes and helicopters to:

  • Deliver equipment and supplies.
  • Deploy smokejumpers and rappellers to a fire.
  • Transport firefighters.
  • Provide reconnaissance of new fires, fire locations, and fire behavior.
  • Drop fire-retardant or water to slow down a fire so firefighters can contain it.
  • Ignite prescribed fires

Thanks to all our fire service personnel who help protect us when we need it. We are grateful to have them.

Source: US Fire Service

August 20, 2013  

Scary Tornado Sirens in Chicago

Listen to these Tornado Sirens in downtown Chicago from 2008 apparently

What do you during a tornado? Well…Getting off a tall building would be job one.

Here’s an instructional guide to learn what to do before, during and after a tornado: (Tornadoes). <— Click here and feel free to share with others.

Luckily, tornadoes aren’t something we have to worry about much here in California. Unfortunately, earthquakes are.

-JK

August 13, 2013  

Huge Thunder Storm In Japan; Train Takes A Direct Hit

We don’t see thunder and lightning like this in Southern California! Watch this train get struck by lightning at the 1:20 mark in the video:

When a lightning storm is on the verge of striking your area, you need to take cover to get out of harm’s way. Here are some tips from a former post on Lightning Safety Considerations

-JK

August 2, 2013  

How Are Commercial Insurance Premiums Determined?

The way an insurance policy is rated determines how the policy premium is developed. Rating factors vary based on the line of insurance you are purchasing.

CalculatorIf you are purchasing commercial property insurance, the building rating formula is based on factors including square footage, type of construction, sprinklered or non-sprinklered, the fire protection classification, etc.

If you are purchasing general liability insurance, the rating formula can be based on square footage, payroll, or gross sales depending on the general liability classification codes used. These are known as rating exposures.

Once the rating exposures are identified and the deductibles selected (usually from information you have provided on the application), the premium is calculated by a simple formula: rate x exposure = premium. The deductible amount you choose will be calculated in the rate. The higher the deductible (the amount you choose to self-insure) the lower the rate. By utilizing higher deductibles, you can bring your premium cost down; however, you do not want to jeopardize your company’s financial future by choosing overly large deductibles.

Speak with your broker-agent for the deductible options available to you when purchasing commercial insurance.

The basic rating equation most often utilizes other modification factors, which can include experience modifications, schedule rating, or judgment rating. Because rating formulas can range from simple to complex, depending on the line of insurance, it is important to discuss how your policy is rated and how the policy premium is calculated with your broker-agent.

Source: California Department of Insurance

-JK

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