Are your workers sloshing around, knee- deep in water? Does your construction site look more like a swamp? If the answers are yes, you probably have a problem with storm water runoff. Studies have shown that earth-moving activities and poor erosion control can increase the amount of sedi- ment leaving an active con- struction site by more than 1,000 times pre-construction levels. Each year, rainwater transports tons of soil and other material from con- struction sites. Due to this continual problem, the Environmental Protection Agency has implemented a storm water man- agement program to be administered by state and local governments. This “Storm Water Pollution Prevention Permitting” process has two portions: One applies to sites of at least five acres in size; the other, to sites between one and five acres in size. Sites smaller than one acre must follow the same regulations as the one-to-five acre sites. Failure to comply with these regulations can be considered a pollution inci- dent that could result in lia- bility, fines, and damage to a company’s reputation. Steps to mitigate these problems include installing silt fencing and/or con- structing site-retention basins with hay bales around the collection basins. Contractors also should retain as much existing vegetation as possible and minimize disturbance of natural drainage patterns. Storm Water Runoff Woes I nsurance professionals always are hearing new tales about what folks think their insurance either does or doesn’t cover. As with any breakdown in communication, simple misunderstand- ings can turn into major disagreements, sometimes even resulting in angry confrontations and litigation. And in far too many cases, it’s all the result of one oversight: Failure to read the insur- ance contract. Often an insured’s belief about what their insurance might or might not cover is based more on myth and rumor than reality. And the wrong time to uncover such a misunderstanding is at the time of a claim. We’re not suggesting that you need to become an expert in deciphering insurance contract language. Just take some time to be sure that you understand the contract. Our experts are ready to discuss any con- cerns you might have about your current coverage. We believe that an informed insured is in the best position to make the right choices about proper coverage and to choose the right agency to support those choices. Give us a call today. Are You Assuming Too Much?
D angers lurk at every con- struction site. And one that’s especially lethal: Gaseous build-up. Inhalation of toxic gases, as well as fires and explo- sions resulting from gaseous build-up, are two of the leading causes of construction site injury. Although risk for these exposures is unavoidable on cer- tain sites, there are economical solutions that can reduce the potential for employee injury. According to experts, a three- step process can significantly reduce a contractor’s overall atmospheric exposure: 1. Consider and measure lev- els of toxic and combustible gases and oxygen deficiency on all sites with potential hazards 2. Always use gas detectors when working in an area where gases might collect 3. Properly calibrate the detector at regular intervals With the advanced, economi- cal, and easy-to-use gas detec- tors currently available, there’s no excuse for being unprepared for oxygen deficiency, toxic gas, or explosive gas hazards. Taking these basic steps can greatly reduce the potential for injuries and fatalities. Gaseous Build-Up Still a Threat According to the latest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statistics, when measured in incidents per 100 full-time workers, the construction industry came in second to manufacturing in the total number of workplace injuries, but led all other clas- sifications in injuries requiring at least one day away from the job. Even min- ing, a classification often considered to be extremely high-risk, didn’t outrank construction, with only slightly more than half as many total injuries. These statistics reinforce the never- ending need for workplace safety vigi- lance and training. Although the OSHA data doesn’t reveal the specific reasons for each injury, past experience indicates that they’re due to improper use of tools, inadequate safeguards, and lack of safety knowledge by less-experienced workers. Think about your workplace: • Do you regularly check guidelines in place regarding proper procedures for handling each daily task? • Do you regularly check equipment and tools for proper operation? • Do you make the necessary repairs? • If you supply safety equipment to your employees, do they know where to find it and how to use it properly? • Are your supervisors and other management staff well aware of the cost to your company in productivity and profitability from lost workdays? Our trained staff can help you keep up to date with the latest recommended safe workplace procedures. Think twice before letting your con- struction crew drive with a cracked or broken windshield; it puts both drivers and passengers at risk. Some states require insurance compa- nies to waive the deductible for dam- aged or broken windshields as an incen- tive for vehicle owners to make the appropriate repairs. But according to one major insurer, some glass companies are using this loophole to convince con- sumers that they can have new wind- shields for free, since they’re fully cov- ered by their insurance company. In many cases, glass companies will rent parking lot space from auto repair facilities, convenience stores, gas stations or car washes, and prey on those busi- nesses’ customers. The glass company representatives — also called “glass claims harvesters” — will approach vehi- cle owners, inspect their windshields, and offer to fix or replace them for free, whether or not the glass is damaged. Once the vehicle owner agrees to the deal, the harvester will subcontract the windshield replacement with another, less expensive glass company and turn a profit from the consumer’s insurance claim. Some more aggressive harvesters will even offer vehicle owners such incentives as free car washes, free steaks, or cash to replace windshields that don’t need repair. Some harvesters obtain the vehicle owner’s policy information, and then impersonate the insured and sub- mit multiple glass claims. Others will repair windshields and then claim them as replacements, or submit more repairs than were actually done. Give us a call for advice. Windshield Replacement Scams Construction Leads Way in Missed-Day Injuries
COPYRIGHT ©2004. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is under- stood that the publishers are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert advice is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. A journeyman HVAC worker was installing metal ductwork using a double-insulated drill connected to a drop light cord. Power was supplied through two extension cords from a nearby residence. The individ- ual’s perspiration-soaked cloth- ing/body contacted the bare, exposed conductors on one of the cords, causing an electrocu- tion. No GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters) were used. Additionally, the ground prongs were missing from the two cords. How could this happen? According to OSHA, due to the dynamic, rugged nature of con- struction work, normal use of electri- cal equipment at a site causes wear and tear that results in insulation breaks, short-circuits, and exposed wires. If there’s no ground-fault pro- tection, these can cause an accident that sends currents through a work- er’s body, resulting in electrical burns, explosions, fire, or death. To avoid these hazards, OSHA rec- ommends several guidelines: • Use GFCIs on all 120-volt, sin- gle-phase, 15- and 20-ampere recep- tacles, or have an assured equipment grounding conductor program. • Follow the manufacturer’s rec- ommended testing procedure to ensure that the GFCI is working cor- rectly. • Use double-insulated tools and equipment, distinctively marked. • Use tools and equipment accord- ing to the instructions included in their listing, labeling, or certi- fication. •  Visually inspect all electrical equipment before use. Remove from service any equipment with frayed cords, missing ground prongs, cracked tool casings, etc. Apply a warning tag to any defec- tive tool and do not use it until the problem has been corrected. Although we do our best to make sure that your insurance is here to help, we also believe the best claim is the one that never happens. Contact one of our protection profes- sionals at your convenience. No Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Means DOA I t’s a far too common story: A construction firm underreports its payroll to fraudulently reduce or avoid its workers’ comp pre- miums. The firm reports that it has two employees when it actu- ally has seven. It also pays work- ers with postal money orders and never reports the payroll. But what will the firm do if one of its “non-employees” is injured on the job? Often for- gotten in the attempt to reduce workers’ compensation premi- ums is the coverage that these premiums are meant to provide: The risk of an on-the-job injury, resulting in either minor or major claims exposure. State laws usually allow two forms of recourse for an injured employee against an employer who fails to carry valid workers’ compensation coverage. The employee may sue for the missing workers’ comp benefits (which the employer will then have to pay out of their own pocket), or pursue a full- blown liability suit against the business. Depending on the responsibility or negligence of the business in contributing to the injury, the result could be far higher than any amount payable under the benefits provisions of the workers’ compensation law. In effect, the injured employee (and their attorney) can choose whichever option will create the biggest judgment against the employer. So the choices seem clear. Should an employer comply with the law, provide the required benefits to injured employees at the time they most need them, and keep their business out of court — all for the amount of their workers’ compensation pre- mium? Or should the employer violate the law, risking fine, criminal prosecution, lawsuit, and possible bankruptcy? We hope that this scenario will never apply to you, but what about your subcontractors? Are any of them making the wrong choices? We stand ready to help. Don’t Neglect the Law
Thank you for your referrals. If you’re pleased with us, spread the word! We’ll be happy to give the same great service to all of your friends and business associates. D espite its high fatality rate, construction can be a safe occupation when workers are aware of the hazards and use an effective safety and health program. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created an online, self-paced learning “eTool” to help train construction industry personnel in procedures that can minimize workplace exposure to the five most-common causes of fatalities: Electrical incidents, falls, trenching/excavation and “struck- by” (vehicles, falling objects, and cranes). An eTool is a stand-alone, interactive, Web-based training resource that pro- vides guidance for developing a comprehensive safety and health program. To maximize effectiveness, the content includes elements that go beyond specific OSHA mandates, such as recommendations for good industry practice. To take advantage of this or other free online “eTools” created by OSHA, go to www.osha.gov, click on “construction,” then click on “construction eTools.” Online Help for Workplace Safety Training

 

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