Surplus Lines

“Surplus lines” is an insurance term that means non-preferred or special when it comes to insuring difficult to place risks.  For instance, Safeco, Fireman’s Fund, Liberty, and Travelers are all examples of standard, preferred companies.  Surplus lines markets include Lloyd’s of London, Scottsdale, National Fire and Indemnity - to name just a few.  Most surplus lines you’ve probably never heard of as they are not household names.
Surplus lines companies are generally very financially sound though and are niche driven.  They normally insure or market to businesses that the standard companies won’t touch because of the risk type.  They can be more difficult to deal with, though and much more inflexible.  If your business must be in a surplus lines company, make sure you talk to your agent about exclusions and limitations to make sure you don’t have unwanted gaps in coverage.

Teenage Drivers

Your Teen Driver

As a parent, it's up to you to help your teens become safer drivers. Here are some suggestions:

Choosing a vehicle: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which crash-tests dozens of vehicles each year, advises parents to choose a midsize vehicle with lots of safety features such as air bags and antilock brakes. Try to choose the newest model your budget will afford since most of today's cars are better designed for crash protection than vehicles even 6 to 10 years old. Before making that final choice on the vehicle your teenager will drive, check out the consumer information on car safety available from the US Dept of Transportation, the Insurance Information Institute, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and, of course, your Insurance agent.

Phase in driving privileges: Graduated licensing programs, now in force in 24 states, phase in privileges such as night-time driving, to allow young drivers to build experience. If you don't live in a graduated licensing state, you can do the job yourself. For example, have your new driver spend at least four months driving with you in the car, then another four months driving alone before you allow him or her to drive friends.

Spell out the rules clearly: Be specific about the time they should be home, when and how many friends they can have in the car, etc. You should always know where your new driver is going.

Spell out the consequences: Your teen needs to understand that if these obligations are not met, there will be consequences, including surrendering the car keys.

Make your driver pay: Another way to encourage mature behavior is to make your child financially responsible for buying and maintaining the vehicle.

Send them to school: It's a good idea to get your teen some supplemental driving instruction, whether it's a one-time safety course or a full-fledged driving school. 

*Be sure to speak with your agent ahead of time about adding a teen driver to your Auto policy and review your Auto Insurance coverage annually.

Daycare Facility Illness Guidelines

Illness Guidelines:
We cannot give your child the attention they need and deserve when they are ill; and it is in everyone’s best interest that a sick child stays home. If your child has any of the symptoms listed below, they will not be permitted to attend daycare until 24 hours after the last incidence of fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, or until 24 full hours after medical treatment has been prescribed by a physician.

• Fever of 100 or more without Tylenol or Motrin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Pinkeye or eye drainage
• Chickenpox
• Anything contagious- This policy is to ensure the health and safety of your children and our employees.
• If your child becomes ill while in our care, we will notify the parents and if necessary ask that they be picked up within a reasonable amount of time.
• We will require a two week notice (payment required even if they do not attend) if your child will be stopping daycare in our facility.

EPLI (Employment Practices Liability Insurance) Info

EPLI Info for Small Businesses:

·    Statistics confirm an employer is more likely to have an employment  claim than a property or general liability claim.

·   The average amount paid for out-of-court settlement is $40,000.

·    Defense of the average EPLI case, through trial, costs over $45,000.

·    The median compensatory award in EPLI cases is $218,000.

·    67% of all employment cases that litigate, result in a judgement for the plaintiff.

·    10% of awards in cases involving discrimination and wrongful termination are in excess of $1,000,000.

·    Six out of ten employers have faced employee lawsuits within the last five years.

It's said that 41% of all EPLI claims are brought against small employers consisting of 15 to 100 employees.

What do you know about ANSUL Systems?

In our business we insure a lot of restaurants and one of the basic insuring questions is: "What is your ANSUL protection?" 

So "WHAT IS IT"??

• By the way!  ANSUL comes from  ANhydrous SULfur dioside (SO₂).

An ANSUL System is a sophisticated method of extinguishing fires!  There are several types of ANSUL systems and products, which are each for use in a specific location or on a specific type of fire.  Components may be used individually or can be combined for the utmost in fire safety.

FUNCTION
ANSUL fire extinquishers remove one of the three key elements that a fire needs to burn.  These are fuel, oxygen and heat.  A fire extinguisher or an ANSUL system applies an agent that either displaces the oxygen in its surrounding or cools the burning fuel to smother fires effectively.  Carbon dioxide is commonly used and is a smothering material.

SIGNIFICANCE
The most important function of an ANSUL system is to save lives and property from fire and from fire related deaths such as by asphyxiation, which is obtainable when you install the correct system suited to your needs in the home or workplace.

FEATURES
An ANSUL system in its most complete form includes fire and heat detectors with an alarm system. The purpose is to notify occupants to leave the premises before being injured.  IT also includes an automatic release system of the appropriate chemicals to contain and stifle the fire before it causes extensive damage to the property.

TYPES
The simplest type of ANSUL is the portable fire extinguisher, which you manually operate.  These are available for HOME use as well as in small businesses that do not have highly combustible materials.  Companies with combustibles on the premises can use the large piped system that dispenses up to 3,000 lbs. of dry chemical.  This is the recommendation for paint booths, flammable storage areas and tanker decks.  The type F class ANSUL systems are for COMMERCIAL KITCHENS; these systems direct the chemicals at the stoves and fry baskets.  Offices with enclosed areas use the clean agent type so there are no harsh chemical fumes remaining after the fire is extinguished.  On a large scale, ANSUL systems are mounted on firetrucks for firefighters' use in large areas.

CONSIDERATIONS
Be prepared in advance for a fire to take place.  The best method of preparation is in planning and prevention both at home and in the workplace.  In the home, fires occur most of the time in the kitchen, and a portable fire extinguisher that is appropriate for grease fires should be nearby.

Back to School Safety Tips!

School’s in Session Again!!

Pedestrian-vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. Kids are back from summer camp, school is in session again and school buses are plying the streets. That means drivers need to step-up safety around school zones, crosswalks, bus stops and wherever children may be playing outdoors. Here are some back-to-school safe driving tips:

• Be familiar with school zones.

Get in the habit of noticing where school zones and crosswalks are on routes you normally take. Accidents, including pedestrian accidents, are far more likely to occur locally on routes with which drivers are more familiar and comfortable.

Stop for school bus lights.

Always

Obey crossing guards.

School crossing guards are given police training and the same authority as local traffic police in most areas, so disobeying a crossing guard could get you in serious trouble. Plus, driving on major streets where crossing guards and crosswalks are observed is safer than taking "short-cut" side streets where children may be unattended.

Anticipate the worst.

The speed and distance away of oncoming cars is more difficult for young children to judge. Always slow down and prepare to brake in anticipation that a small child might run in front of your vehicle.

Be careful around parked vehicles.

Be particularly careful in areas with parked vehicles on the side of the road. Children waiting to cross may be especially difficult to see behind parked sport-utility vehicles.

Avoid using cell phones when driving.

Cell phones are a known distraction. Never use hand-held cell phones while driving, and never use hands-free cell phones while driving in school zones or areas with children. The same goes for activities that distract the driver, such as changing CDs, looking at notes and reading maps.

Avoid reversing.

Try to avoid reversing your vehicle in areas with children. It’s more difficult to see short children and attend to your car’s blind spots while reversing.

Don't speed.

Remember that the speed limit in most school zones during school times or when children are present is 25 miles per hour or lower. Driving during bad weather, or in areas with limited visibility, will require an even lower speed. Your visibility to pedestrians, your ability to see them and your stopping distance can all be greatly impaired by weather or road conditions, so follow common sense and slow down. stop for school buses with flashing red lights. It’s the law! Drivers approaching the bus must come to a full stop for the duration that the red lights are on. Some school buses also have flashing yellow lights, meaning drivers may proceed with extreme caution. Bus drivers often engage the flashing yellow lights before the flashing red lights, signaling that they are about to stop.