October 18 – 24 is National Teen Driver Safety Week

Denise GillinNews, Personal Lines, Risk Management

Sponsored by the US Department of Transportation October 18 – 24, 2020 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. This week – and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers. Facts about Teen Driver Fatalities: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States, ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence. In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, …

YWCA Lancaster is on a mission – Women of Achievement

Denise GillinNews

Murray is delighted to be a supporter of the YWCA Lancaster’s Women of Achievement Luncheon. The YWCA is on a mission: It is time that we come together and celebrate the accomplishments and positive impact the women of Lancaster are making in our community. Too often, those who shine among us go unrecognized. With your help, YWCA Lancaster intends to pay tribute to four deserving women of Lancaster County at the Women of Achievement Luncheon. These extraordinary women selflessly give of their time and energy to make our community a better place. This event recognizes and honors women who have demonstrated qualities of leadership and excellence in their personal and professional endeavors while supporting, embodying, and complementing YWCA Lancaster’s mission of …

Get Smart About Credit

Denise GillinHome and Auto Insurance, Insurance, News

October 15th is Get Smart About Credit Day as well as International Credit Union Day. A good credit score is important for your financial health. The Balance lists the following as six benefits to having a good credit score: • Low interest rates on credit cards and loans • Better car insurance rates • Approval for higher limits • Easier approval for renting • Obtain certain contracts (like cell phone or utilities) with no security deposit • Better negotiating power Understanding your credit score is an important place to start. The following are tips for you and your family to help understand what affects your credit score. Help your children and grandchildren understand the importance of sound financial management. Learning …

October is ESOP Awareness Month

Denise GillinNews

By Amy G. Mitchell, CIC, CISR, Vice President, Commercial Solutions and Chair of the Murray ESOP Awareness Committee October is Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Awareness Month. As an ESOP, Murray is taking this opportunity to highlight our core value of Take Ownership. It’s our company. We’re accountable for our own outcomes. We champion safety – safeguard our health – protect our clients – serve our community. Whatever it is, we own it! The benefits of Murray being an ESOP Agency impact our service, our approach, and the benefits we can share with our teammates and our clients: Empowered Employees: Employee-owners have the autonomy and flexibility to take action to meet clients’ needs, streamlining our processes and increasing customer satisfaction. Preservation …

Sober October: Alcohol Use and Abuse During the Pandemic

Denise GillinHealth Benefits, News, Risk Management

By Josh Mountz, M.Ed, Prevention Specialist, Compass Mark This unprecedented time during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread social isolation and has caused a great deal of anxiety and stress.  This is especially true for people with alcohol use issues and those recovering from alcohol use disorders. According to a study published in “JAMA Psychiatry”, nearly one in eight Americans have an alcohol use disorder (Read more about the study at CNN.com).  The rate of drinking has only risen in the wake of the pandemic.  Compared to this time last year, online sales of alcohol have risen 243 percent. RAND Corporation, supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, reports that Americans are dinking 14 percent more …

October is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

By Eugene V. Schmitt, CSP, ARM, CHST, CFPS, Risk Control Specialist October is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of workplace deaths. In 2018, there were 276,000 people injured in distracted-driving crashes and more than 2,700 died in distracted-related crashes. Drivers must avoid visual (eyes), manual (hands), and cognitive (mind) distractions. Three ways to help make our roadways and our people safer: First – Commit to driving distraction-free: Take the NSC Just Drive Pledge*. Pledge to Just Drive for your own safety and for others whom you share the roads by not: Having phone conversations Texting or sending Snapchats Using voice-to-text features Updating Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo or other …

Dining Out During a Pandemic

Denise GillinBusiness Insurance, News

Shared from the National Restaurant Association  Research conducted by the National Restaurant Association indicates that the restaurant industry has lost $120 billion in sales during March, April, and May due to the impact of coronavirus in the United States. As state mandates allow for restaurants to reopen, jurisdictions that require face coverings in public spaces present a new challenge: guests refusing to wear masks. The Association’s Law Center partnered with Jackson Lewis P.C. to develop guidance for restaurateurs when dealing with confrontational customers or those who forgot their masks. Highlights include: What if a guest refuses to wear a mask on Constitutional grounds? Guests and employees have no constitutional free speech rights in a private business or workplace. The First …

Telemedicine Gains Importance During Pandemic

Denise GillinHealth Benefits, News

Shared from ZyWave, Inc. by Matt Pfeiffenberger, Vice President, Health Benefits Solutions As the number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases rises daily, hospitals and medical care providers are overwhelmed with phone calls and in-person visits. Telemedicine and telehealth services are emerging as viable solutions to help lessen the burden on health care facilities and staff, while still providing individuals with the care they need. What is telemedicine? Telemedicine is a form of technology-based communication that allows you to connect and communicate with a doctor without being in the same physical space. How can telemedicine be beneficial in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? The symptoms of COVID-19 are close to the symptoms of the seasonal flu, cold, and allergies. As …

September 14 – 18 is National Safety Stand-Down Week

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

By Eugene V. Schmitt, CSP, ARM, CHST, CFPS, Risk Control Specialist According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees. Those deaths are preventable.  It is critical that fall hazards such as holes and leading edges are recognized and employees are protected by guardrails or Personal Fall Arrest Systems. If an employee is working from a ladder above guardrails, fall protection is required. Also, anytime an employee has to wear a fall harness, a rescue plan is needed. Make sure your foreman know how to best protect employees from fall hazards. Use this information for a Toolbox Talk with your crew. For more information …

Protect Wildlife When Trapping Spotted Lanternflies

Denise GillinAgribusiness, News

We are starting to see the more and more Spotted Lanternflies everywhere around us. They are invasive and a threat to plants, people, and because of popular trapping methods – wildlife. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture outlines the serious damage the Spotted Lanternfly causes in trees and quality of life, including: Oozing sap Wilting Leaf curling Tree dieback Growth of black sooty mold due to excretion of a sugary substance called honeydew Swarming in the air Honeydew coating decks and play equipment Additionally, the Spotted Lanternfly is a threat to Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry. They threaten billions in economic impact and hundreds of thousands of jobs for those in the grapes, apple, hops, and hardwood industries. The pervasiveness of the Spotted …