Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

A growing thorn in employers’ sides has been the rise of worker’s compensation cumulative trauma (CT) claims. Cumulative trauma refers to the ongoing psychological and physical injuries that accumulate over time, often resulting from repetitive stress or exposure to adverse conditions. Employees missing time can lead to larger workers’ compensation claims, lower moral and less efficiency. It can be easy as an employer to take a defensive stance and fight every one of these but there are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration prior to deciding if you should settle or challenge these claims.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

How do you handle the situation when a great employee is injured but not quite ready to return to full duty? We do all that we can to prevent injuries and make sure once they do happen our employees are taken care of quickly and properly. The one true variable we have in our control, after a claim has been filed, is how to accommodate employees that are injured but not able to return to normal duties until deemed fully recovered.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

One of the biggest ongoing challenges in the construction industry today is hiring and retaining quality employees that can help build on a company’s foundation. Growing a construction company in a sustainable way through internal promotions while also integrating new hires can separate one company from its competitors.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Every year, OSHA publishes a “top 10 most frequently cited standards” list. Without question, ladders and fall protection consistently make the list. A Liberty Mutual 2023 workplace survey found that $6.26 billion was spent on falls as a result of working at height. Working at height is inherently dangerous but becomes more so when the incorrect ladders are used or improper setup for a job. Sending your employees to a jobsite without conducting a proper analysis to guarantee you have the proper equipment is setting yourself up to have preventable claims.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

We are going into uncertain times as some commercial auto carriers are electing to no longer write new business in California. This is leading to other carriers, that are still willing, to be overwhelmed with requests for insurance quotes. Carriers are limited in the increases they can take from one policy period to the next and have had increasingly bad losses which has made it impossible to be profitable. This will lead to carriers inevitably charging more over time as the losses have become staggering. Let’s take a look at what you can do as an insured to help your company look like a better risk for these carriers and mitigate premium increases?

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

With unemployment rates settling near 4 percent, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the right employees to help grow your construction company. With most able-bodied workers having secure employment, this leads to having either apprentice-type employees that come with unique challenges or pulling from an aging workforce that can bring cumulative injuries and risks. Navigating these issues can be complex and there is not a perfect solution, but employer’s hiring practices need to change in order to keep up with the current state of the industry.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

For many foremen and superintendents, weekly tailgate meetings can feel like a task that just needs to be checked off the list. However, while the purpose of these meetings is critical for the health and well-being of fellow field employees, the time required and repetitive nature of them can create challenges. To maximize the benefits of these meetings, construction firms must be proactive and thoughtful as they develop an inventory of topics.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

With the heightened safety regulations and OSHA guidelines over the past decade, many would think we are working in a much safer environment with fewer fatalities. Despite the rising number of employees and using a standard based off deaths per 100,000 employees, the data is showing that the number of fatalities are the same as they were a decade ago.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

One of the biggest concerns for contractors is their Experience Modification Rating (EMR). If your EMR exceeds 1.00 or 1.25, contractors can be removed from bid lists and premiums can escalate quickly. Most decision makers have little idea what factors contribute to the EMR and just how claims can impact them.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Over the past 15+ quarters, California employers have been experiencing a soft workers’ compensation marketplace. At some point, however, this will start to pivot and the companies that will secure the more favorable pricing must be able to differentiate themselves to their insurance carriers. As we continue seeing signs of the hard market coming, without this solid explicit differentiation, it will become harder for our carriers to be aggressive with their pricing. With all of that said, as a business owner, you may be asking how you differentiate yourself to the insurance marketplace and protect your company from large premium increases. Following are some proven methods.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Wage thresholds have increased consistently in the past decade. This has pushed owners to give sizable raises every few years to maximize employee compensation, but also reducing insurance cost. The experience modification (MOD) and payrolls are key factors in developing a company’s net rates for workers’ compensation, but average wage per hour represents a big differentiator for most carriers and can lead to even more savings.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Following up on a great article by fellow construction team member Kevin Howard, about anticipated wage threshold increases coming in 2022, I wanted to highlight the building problems resulting from substantial hourly wage increases.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Last year, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) updated their aerial lift standard, starting with renaming it Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP). This has been in the works since 2018 and is designed to align training, certifications, and equipment used on a more universal standard. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), roughly 26 people die from MEWP each year. This prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to increase training requirements to keep accidents to a minimum. Obviously, MEWP are essential for completing a wide variety of construction jobs. So, what should you, as a business owner, be doing to ensure your employees are safe and in compliance when OSHA comes by your jobsites?

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Year after year, falls are among the leading type of workers’ compensation claims and generate the highest claim costs. They account for multiple infractions on the top 10 most frequently cited standards, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. How can you, as a business owner, control your exposure and keep your employees productive and healthy?

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

We will take a look at factors that go into your bid and ways to ensure you are hitting your target profit margin. There are many factors that go into creating a profitable bid on a construction project. They include…

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Injuries, accidents, and mistakes happen. When a work-related injury occurs, a common reaction from many business owners is an instinct to NOT report the injury to their workers’ compensation carrier for fear of increasing their company’s Experience Modification (EMR). However, they couldn’t be more wrong. Timely reporting of all claims is the first step in controlling claim costs and lowering their EMR.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

When dealing with minor injuries, one of the last places you want your employees having to go right now is to a clinic or hospital emergency room. What are ways that you can keep your employees well cared for, without subjecting them to the added exposure of a waiting room? Telephonic Nurse Triage allows your employee to have a conversation with a registered nurse and possibly avoid the trip to a clinic or emergency room.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

When business owners are asked if their employee handbooks are up to date, they typically shrug and say “It’s something we have been meaning to tackle.” It is hard to blame them when it often feels as though a newly revised employee handbook quickly requires an update due to changes in employment laws! There is a significant need for an easy to use option where employers can have an up to date handbook throughout the year and, have it generated at no cost. Rancho Mesa provides that solution.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Auto insurance prices are continuously rising. What is the reason for this and what can be done to cut back on the cost? There are many factors that lead to the carriers needing to increase their rates. We are going to discuss exactly what some of the reasons for the increases are; and more importantly, what business owners can do to offset price increase as much as possible while receiving adequate coverage.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

California is in the middle of a construction boom. There is more work than qualified employees and contractors need people on their job sites. While fraudulent workers’ compensation claims are relatively low right now, California contractors are asking what will happen when there is not enough work to keep everyone busy?

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Year after year OSHA publishes the “Top 10 Most Cited Violations” and it always seems to include violations dealing with falls. Fall protection, scaffolding, ladders, and fall protection (training requirements) all made this list and all of them have been on this list perennially for over a decade. How can a company that is using ladders keep from becoming just another name on the list of violators? How can you ensure that your employees are using provided equipment properly?

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Having played professional baseball for several years, I know the importance of stretching to prepare oneself for the day. My team would stretch when we got to the field, then again before batting practice, and once more before the game started. Most people reserve stretching for sporting events. They forget the importance of stretching before work - feeling they will “loosen up” as the day goes along. However, there are countless ways for employees to become injured and those medical bills can grow all too fast.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Beginning December 2019, standards for using and renting aerial lifts will drastically change, globally. As a result, contractors are concerned they will not be prepared for the changes which could lead to loss of production and fines.

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Falls from elevated heights are the single most hazardous injury within the construction industry; representing 38% of all construction fatalities (NSC Construction & Utilities). That is a scary fact if you are a painting contractor that works off the ground. In years past, it was common to see painters working on multi-story scaffolding with few controls in place, or working from ladders on top of trucks to get those extra couple feet needed to finish a project. Workers compensation underwriters have difficulty with risks that work over 30 feet. Why is this 30 foot threshold so critical to insurance companies who write workers compensation?

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In an era where general contractors commonly require a Waiver of Subrogation from its sub-contractors before they are allowed to step foot on the jobsite, it is important to understand how a Waiver of Subrogation functions. Most companies simply tell their agent they need the waiver added to their contract, but what does this mean? How does it affect the policy?

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

At first glance, most painting contractors don’t think they need pollution coverage. One might think that if they're not pouring sludge into a lake or toxic gasses into the atmosphere, then it wouldn’t apply to their company. Everyone sees the oil spills and thinks that this is what pollution coverage is for, but how does it apply to your smaller business? How can one event jeopardize your company’s success?

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

It’s a birdie! It’s an eagle! It’s a bogey?! It’s the 12th annual National Association of Women in Construction golf tournament. On August 26, 2021, NAWIC San Diego hosted its golf tournament at the Twin Oaks Golf Course. The yearly event raised nearly $17,000 for Rady’s Children’s Hospital and the Future Construction Leaders Foundation.

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Advanced Painting & Wood Repair has been in the industry for over 40 years and with that comes experienced and expert staff. The proof is in the pudding. Or, is it in the paint? Recently, the Advanced Painting team had a number of their staff enroll in the RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ program. In just a few weeks they had a record number of participants achieve their certificates’ of completion and more keep coming in each week.

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Casey Craig, Rancho Mesa’s PaintOne™ program director, was the guest of Sentry Insurance Company at the Green Bay Packers vs. the Arizona Cardinals game played at historic Lambeau Field on December 2, 2018. Casey is pictured with Dennis Leveque, the Regional Vice President, along with Nick Hernandez, West Coast Underwriting Manager for Sentry.

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 started off like any other day at Rancho Mesa. Co-workers said their morning hellos, while greeting each other with a smile.

However, it didn’t take very for an awkward pattern to develop. Not two, but three people showed up to the office wearing the same shirt!

Kevin Howard, Sam Clayton and Casey Craig were accidental triplets for the day. We think they secretly enjoyed the extra attention.

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Casey Craig, an Account Executive in the construction group.