Risk Management

Artisans Captive – Risk Control Workshop Recap

Author, Amber Webb, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On January 20th and 21st of 2022, Captive Resources hosted the Artisans Captive Risk Control Workshop at The US Grant in San Diego, CA. The workshop was intended for all Artisans’ risk and/or safety mangers, human resources, claims managers, supervisors, owners, brokers and any others who wished to attend.

Hydraulics Safety in the Tree Care Industry

Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Tree care professionals regularly work with equipment that utilizes hydraulics: aerial lifts, stump grinders, and chippers, just to name a few. Injuries from hydraulic fluid leaks are very serious and can result in amputation.

SB 606 Broadens Cal/OSHA’s Enforcement Reach

Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law Senate Bill 606 (SB 606), greatly expanding Cal/OSHA’s enforcement powers and monetary penalty amounts. The new law will take effect January 1, 2022, so California employers have only a few months to tighten their safety practices or face steep monetary fines.

Mitigate Janitorial Industry’s Employee Theft Exposure

Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Employee theft can be detrimental to any business and can come in many forms. Janitorial businesses, in particular, have an inherent risk of employee theft as employees often work alone at the client’s property with little to no supervision and access to valuables. Employee theft can start with smaller items that are easily overlooked and can quickly escalate. These types of losses are not only a financial burden, but can also tarnish the business’ reputation.

Experience Mod KPI Provides Trend Analysis, Opportunity Assessment, and Vital Management Tools

Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In January 2021, we launched the Safety Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Dashboard to provide a tool for our customers to use as a bridge between their experience mod and safety performance.

Top Three Professional Liability Exposures for Tree Care Companies

Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Professional tree care companies must have a general liability policy that will cover incidents that cause bodily injury or property damage resulting from their operations. However, there are situations that will not be covered under a typical general liability policy and would require professional liability coverage, or, in the tree care industry it would specifically be Arborist Errors and Omissions coverage. Here are three exposures that tree care companies face that a professional liability policy would address.

Implementing an Effective Fall Safety Program Can Have Serious Impacts

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?

The Construction Risk Management Guide

Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As a business or firm, you are most likely aware of many risks that come with construction projects. Whether it is meeting the terms of a contract, maintaining employee safety on the job site, or dealing with natural disasters, every project has its own set of hazards. If not managed, these risks can compromise your projects and prove fatal to your bottom line.

Can Employers Mandate a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy?

Author, Sam Brown, Vice President of the Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As COVID-19 vaccinations become more available and the positive results of our efforts are realized, employers may ask how this impacts the workforce and a full-scale return to the workplace. More specifically, they may ask if an employer can mandate a COVID-19 vaccination policy.

The Heart of Rancho Mesa

Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

If you are reading this article, listening to our podcasts, and taking advantage of the meaningful risk management content we share weekly, you and your business likely find some degree of value in what is produced. While much of this content originates from our Media Communications Group, they, with other Rancho Mesa family members join together as the backbone of our operation.

Four Factors that Shape your Risk Profile

Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

How do you differentiate your company from your local competitors? Product, customer service, delivery, etc. The same can be said for your risk profile and insurance costs. Why are my insurance rates high when my competitors are low? This article breaks down four factors that influence your risk profile and impact pricing.

Total Cost of Risk

Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The total cost of risk is the sum of the measurable expenses that are associated with managing risk within any organization. Every successful business has a process for tracking and measuring performance to improve results. It is important for business owners to keep a pulse on key performance indicators. But, how are you measuring risk related costs? Some people may think that insurance premiums are the only cost associated with risk, but we need to look at the bigger picture.

4 Key Factors in Developing a Motor Vehicle Report Program

Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Auto liability is often one of the most substantial risks a business will have. Driver selection is one of the most important evaluations a business can do to prevent accidents. It’s been proven that drivers with a history of moving violations and accidents pose a higher risk for organizations. Best practices for reducing this risk allow only safe drivers to operate a company vehicle.

Safety Programs Can Reduce Workers’ Compensation Premiums

Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As California business owners continue incurring costs as they work their way through the maze of ever-changing COVID-19 regulations and protocols, prioritizing critical elements of your internal safety program can directly lower your insurance costs. Refocusing on key areas below will help present an effective, detailed submission to the marketplace that will lead to talking points with an underwriter for schedule credits and ultimately, lower rates and premiums.

Risk Management and the Virtual Workforce

Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As American employers navigate the Coronavirus Pandemic, many business leaders quickly adapted to a virtual office and virtual workforce. While many organizations anxiously wait for the day employees can all safely head into the office Monday through Friday, employers must adjust risk management practices to account for the virtual workforce.

CA Anti-Harassment Training Deadline Quickly Approaches

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Lately, we've been getting a lot of questions about California's required anti-harassment training, who has to complete it, when it's due, and how much it costs. This article will clear up any confusion; covering the history of the requirement, training conditions and deadlines, and the online training offered to Rancho Mesa clients.

Safe Cloud Computing for Contractors

Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many construction companies were utilizing some form of cloud-based systems to effectively streamline business operations and increase accessibility of information. While hosting sensitive data in the cloud has many benefits like shared access to data, applications and storage, there are some risks contractors should take into account before relinquishing their data to the cloud.

Strengthen Your Risk Profile During COVID-19

Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

While the effects of COVID-19 on the workers’ compensation marketplace vary among the different business sectors, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has approved a filing that will increase the 2021 pure premium advisory rates by 2.6%. With impending rate increases on the horizon, it’s more important now than ever to be proactive when it comes to your company’s risk management program. Carriers are already tightening up their underwriting guidelines and limiting schedule credits. In order to earn the most competitive pricing possible, a business must differentiate itself from other businesses. Below are three strategies you can use to strengthen your risk profile during COVID-19.

Topics Your COVID-19 Training Should Cover

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As states begin to lift COVID-19 restrictions and move into later phases of reopening plans, and companies begin to bring back their employees, it is important to take the necessary health and safety precautions in the workplace. Your staff should be well informed about safety precautions and resources to keep one another safe. When choosing a COVID-19 employee training, make sure it is comprehensive and includes all the necessary topics recommended by local, state and federal agencies.

Critical Elements of a COVID-19 Safety Plan

Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As businesses re-open across the country, it is important that we all do our part in preventing and slowing the spread of COVID-19. For many companies in construction and those in the service industry, employees often work in close proximity with others. Keeping your workforce and the public safe should be priority number one.