Industry News
The Hidden Shift in Workers’ Compensation Pricing
The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has approved the recommended increase in hourly wage thresholds for all 16 construction dual wage classifications. The increases range from $2 to $5 depending on the classification and will go into effect for policyholders renewing September 1, 2022 and thereafter. The chart below outlines the increases for each classification.
A Contractor’s Best Practice Approach to Price Escalations in the Current Market
Author, Anne Wright, Surety Relationship Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Historically, market conditions and economic factors have contributed to both contractors and subcontractors having to deal with price escalations. Today, the uncertainties of how the tariffs will impact the construction industry is causing many to rethink their pricing models and contracts.
Mitigating Inland Marine Losses
Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Inland marine insurance can sometimes be a forgotten line item in some construction companies’ insurance portfolio. This insurance covers your materials, equipment and tools once they are in the field or in transit. Sometimes insured’s feel they have coverage through their property insurance but once the equipment, materials or tools leave your premises, inland marine is the line of insurance that covers you.
Utilizing Your CPA's Expertise with Nick Balaity
Andy Roberts, Rancho Mesa's Surety Account Executive, is joined by Nick Balaity, CPA with Aldrich CPA + Advisors, to discuss the tax law outlook for 2025 and offer insight on contractors’ business decisions in the coming year.
Five Tips to Protect Your HVAC and Plumbing Vehicles from Break-Ins
Author, Matt Gorham, Account executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Contractors’ vehicles have long been a preferred target for thieves. Due to their distinct shapes and often eye catching branding, contractors’ vehicles are generally easy to identify, and they often contain thousands of dollars’ worth of tools, equipment, and materials.
Market Update: Sexual Misconduct Liability in Healthcare Organizations
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s insurance brokers specializing in healthcare, education and non-profit organizations continue to navigate the hardening insurance marketplace, characterized by tighter underwriting guidelines, reduced limits of liability, increased deductibles, and higher policy premiums.
Cal/OSHA Releases Top Safety Citations for 2024
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released its Top 10 List of Most Frequently Cited Standards for fiscal year 2024. Each year, OSHA compiles a list of the most common workplace safety hazards. Understanding these new numbers can provide insight for employers on potential safety issues within their organizations. While OSHA’s list includes the top ten citations, we will focus on the top five critical violations.
Maximizing the Value of Your Next Loss Control Visit
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are a few different reasons for a carrier to schedule a loss control visit. Sometimes, a carrier may want to perform a loss control visit before they quote your insurance. However, for the purpose of this article, I’d like to focus on the loss control service offering provided directly from your current insurance carrier.
Employer’s Guide to Handling Cumulative Trauma Claims
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.
How Healthcare Staffing Agencies Can Prevent Claims
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Healthcare staffing agencies play a vital role in maintaining patient care standards. That is why it is critical for staffing agencies’ employees to be properly vetted, kept informed, and trained prior to being placed to reduce the likelihood of claims. Preventing such claims requires a collaboration between the healthcare staffing agency and the facility where employees are being placed. Healthcare staffing agencies can take steps to prevent claims and protect their operations.
Navigating Halloween Costumes and Celebrations in the Workplace
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Halloween is right around the corner, and while workplace holiday celebrations offer a chance for creativity and fun, there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid any HR violations.
Exploring Innovation and Problem Solving in the Commercial Construction Industry
Author, Andy Roberts, Surety Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Surety Account Executive Andy Roberts sat down and interviewed Miggs Borromeo, Commercial Surety Underwriter for Merchants Bonding, and discussed the current climate of the commercial surety world in Southern California. They also covered the bonding trends most commonly seen today, and the programs that Merchants Bonding Company offers.
Preparing Your Company for Winter Weather
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Winter is on its way, and companies are preparing for the colder months still ahead. Lower temperatures, heavy rain, and illnesses caused by the cold can all take away from the safety and efficiency of a business or job site.
New California Employment Laws for 2025
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Starting January 1, 2025, a number of new laws will be on the books for employers in California. Here’s a look at two of the changes business owners need to be aware of at the start of the new year.
Exploring the Current Commercial Surety Climate
Author, Andy Roberts, Surety Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Surety Account Executive Andy Roberts sat down and interviewed Miggs Borromeo, Commercial Surety Underwriter for Merchants Bonding, and discussed the current climate of the commercial surety world in Southern California. They also covered the bonding trends most commonly seen today, and the programs that Merchants Bonding Company offers.
Three Industry Benchmarks all Landscape Companies Should Track
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are three major benchmarks that all landscape companies should consider when looking at how well they manage risk: average claim cost, claim indemnity rate, and claim frequency rate. Knowing the importance of this, we designed a key performance indicator (KPI) dashboard that highlights these industry benchmarks, as well as benchmarks them against other landscape companies in their geographic area.
Protecting Your HVAC and Plumbing Business with Proper Classifications
Author, Matt Gorham, Account executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Within the construction industry, it is common for questions to arise about how to categorize work that a contractor performs. While organizations like the Insurance Service Office (ISO), Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB), and the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) have created classification systems, nuances in worksite demands can lead to confusion about which class code to use for a given business’s operations.
Trim the Risk: Professional Liability for Tree Care Companies
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Whether you have a consulting arborist on staff or not, every tree care company has a professional liability exposure. Your general liability policy will likely exclude professional liability claims. A misdiagnosis of tree disease, damage to property, or an injury resulting from an error or miscalculation can be extremely costly. So, it is important to understand the risk, then make a decision on whether or not you would like to transfer that risk by purchasing a professional liability policy.
Digitalizing Risk Management: A Step-by-Step Guide for Getting Started
Author, Alyssa Burley, Partner, Media Communications & Client Service Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Imagine you are working in a highly productive organization. Over many years of trial and error, the team has streamlined their operations to the point of a well-oiled machine using good ol’ paper and spreadsheets. Then, your insurance broker offers a digital risk management solution and you are faced with the prospect of transitioning your manual processes to a digital platform. This is the scenario that many Rancho Mesa clients have faced and successfully overcome.
Building a Productive Surety Relationship
Author, Anne Wright, Surety Relationship Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Having represented contractors and developers of all types and sizes for many years, I have plenty of examples of what works best for clients to maintain a level of surety support that helps them meet their growth goals and objectives: updated financials and proper communication.