Prevent Falls in Construction: National Safety Stand-Down

Denise GillinConstruction, News, Risk Management

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has designated May 3 – 7, 2021 as the National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 401 of the 1,061 construction fatalities recorded in 2019 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries. What is a safety stand-down? A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on “Fall Hazards” and reinforcing the importance of “Fall …

Stand by for Turbulence

Denise GillinInsurance, News, Risk Management

By Jared Shelly for Risk&Insurance.com A deadly virus and unruly passengers have shaken aviation safety. Crew members are bearing the brunt of a new wave of passenger harassment while the dangers of contracting COVID-19 are ever present. “Flight attendants have become the mask police,” said Nicole, whose real name is being withheld because she’s not permitted to speak publicly. “My number one job is not to serve drinks. It’s to keep people safe. But it became exhausting.” And, it’s not just impacting aviation. Insurance implications Unlike other industries, “there are no COVID-19 exclusions in aviation liability insurance,” said Brad Meinhardt, area executive vice president and managing director of aviation at Arthur J. Gallagher, “but such exclusions have started to appear …

Operating UAVs in Agriculture

Denise GillinAgribusiness, News, Risk Management

By Gina Ekstam for AssuredPartners.com The use of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture continues to grow as a way to improve efficiencies and control costs. From monitoring or spraying crops to managing livestock to irrigation mapping, UAVs (or drones) are allowing farmers to make informed decisions and take action based on real-time data. The FAA requires anyone flying a drone weighing less than 55 pounds for commercial or educational use to be certified. Further, the drone must be registered through the FAA Drone Zone website. The first step is getting familiar with the rules outlined in the Part 107 regulations. Click to read more>>>  

Alternate Funding Arrangements: Different Avenues to Access Care

Denise GillinHealth Benefits, News

By Kelly Hagan, Regional VP of Operations, Employee Benefits for AssuredPartners.com Employers continue to feel the crush of increasing health care expenses. To mitigate those costs, more and more employers are looking at alternate funding arrangements and different ways to access care.  Below are a few alternate funding options to explore. Self-Funding Level Funding Reference Based Pricing Direct Primary Care High Performing Networks Accountable Care Organizations Bundled Payments Read more here>>>

Surging Import Volume Creates Havoc in the Port Straining Intermodal Truck Drivers and Operations

Denise GillinInsurance, News

By Mike Edwards, CIC, for AssuredPartners.com Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020, intermodal trucking has gone on a roller coaster ride that has taken them to the highest of highs and lowest of lows. When the global lockdown first went into effect, imports fell due to most of Asia closing their ports and ceasing exports in an all-out effort to contain the virus. While U.S. port operations remained largely open, container volumes fell as there was simply less freight to import into the country. However, this trend quickly dissipated as the economy shifted from serviced-based to retail-based due to the growth of e-commerce and consumers purchasing more and more goods from online vendors. “U.S. containerized imports from …

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

The National Safety Council (NSC) is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, focused on eliminating the leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths. One of their initiatives is designating April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It’s easy to participate: Commit to driving distraction-free by taking the NSC Just Drive Pledge: More than 700 people are injured in distracted driving crashes each day. Encourage all employees and their family members to take the NSC pledge to drive distraction-free. Take the Pledge. Use the 5-minute Safety Talk and presentation: Kick off a meeting with a safety talk and / or PowerPoint presentation to help educate co-workers about the risks of inattention blindness. Grab a blindfold to really drive this point home. Display awareness …

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Six Manufacturing Tech Trends to Look for in 2021

Denise GillinBusiness Insurance, News

By Sharon Goldman for Forbes.com In the early days of the pandemic, manufacturers were hit hard with forced shutdowns, production slowdowns and serious questions about whether companies could navigate the disruptions. Manufacturing indicators had shown early 2020 momentum, but US industrial production in March registered a month-over-month decline of 4.5%, followed by a deeper decline of 11.2% in April. What did increase in 2020, however, was the speed of transformation. Companies made swift moves towards Industry 4.0, or the ongoing automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices. There is no time to waste: manufacturers looking to stay competitive need to serve their customers in new ways; become more agile and flexible; and attract the right skills and talent. Read the …

April 26 – 30, 2021 is National Work Zone Awareness Week

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

Each year in the spring, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is held to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. Work zone related changes in traffic patterns and rights of way, combined with the presence of workers, and the frequent movement of work vehicles, may lead lead to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Through NWZAW, the Federal Highway Administration and its partners hope to bring attention to the the critical issue of road user and worker safety in and around work zones. This year, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is hosting the 2021 National Work Zone Awareness Week kick-off event on April 27 with the theme, “Drive Safe. Work Safe Save Lives.” …

Meet Them Where They Are

Denise GillinDiversity & Inclusion, News

By Maureen Brody for LeadersEdge.com There’s an old maxim about pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps, but career achievement is more often a collaborative enterprise in which successful people spot, sponsor and promote their future replacements. In that vein, The Council and several of its members and valued partners are undertaking efforts to assist minority talent with entering the insurance industry – and thriving in it. Some questions executives can ask: How many of our executives come from racial minorities? Is this representative of the general population? If not, why? Are we recruiting from places that have substantial minority participation? If not, where can we turn for more access to minority candidates? Can we sponsor a scholarship, internship or apprenticeship? …

Guidance for Pennsylvania Businesses in Restaurant Industry Updated

Denise GillinNews

April 1, 2021 Update / Governor.pa.gov Businesses Subject to This Guidance – Click here for details All businesses in the retail food services industry, including restaurants, wineries, breweries, private clubs, and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales of food, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, as required by this guidance, including: Alcohol can only be served for on-premises consumption. Take-out sales of alcohol for the purposes of off-site consumption are permitted subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law. This guidance applies to all restaurants, private event spaces and wedding venues with food service, licensed clubs, and bars, …