Fire Destroys 96-Foot Christmas Tree Outside Costa Mesa Hotel
Yesterday, A 96-foot-tall Christmas tree went up in flames outside the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel in Costa Mesa. The tree was reportedly a $120,000 Evergreen. Fire investigators don’t know how it started.The flames sent up a large plume of black smoke that could be seen from I-405 Monday morning. Here are a couple videos of the Christmas tree fire:
Here was the tree during the real lighting ceremony a few weeks ago:
Essentially, you can say there were two tree lighting ceremonies this year.
-JK
Commercial Building Insurance – 2401 N. Palm Ave.
Congratulations to a client who closed escrow on this fine 8,250 square foot commercial building in Signal Hill on Wednesday. We wrapped up the Property, General Liability, and Commercial Umbrella insurance for the building so it’s time to move in now.
-JK
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:
- Identify a person or persons with authority and responsibility for implementing the program.
- 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.
- 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.
- Procedures for identifying and evaluating workplace hazards, including scheduled periodic inspections to identify unsafe conditions and work practices and a system to correct them.
- Procedures for conducting accident investigations.
- 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
Premises Liability – Saloon Doors Episode
Whoops, sorry, kid!
-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.
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.
-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.
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
-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?
-JK
About Me
I grew up in Fullerton, CA and graduated from Servite High School in Anaheim. I have my Bachelors degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. I currently live in Tustin, CA.
Please contact me if you need help with any of the following lines of insurance for your business:
-Cyber / Data Breach
-Commercial Property
-Commercial General Liability
-Products Liability
-Workers Compensation
-Commercial Auto
-Umbrella/Excess Liability
-Errors & Omissions/ Professional Liability
-Employment Practices Liability
-Directors & Officers
-Life & Disability Insurance
Jimmy Kinmartin, CPCU 