Industry News
Mitigating Pollution Liability Exposure
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
No matter what trade, contractors face environmental risks from their operations. Contactors pollution liability (CPL) insurance has now become an integral part of a contractor’s insurance program. The industry is seeing contractual requirements for this coverage from a combination of owners, developers and general contractors for projects of all sizes.
Important Updates to Minimum Wage Policies for 2023
Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As businesses ring in the New Year, it is important for owners to note some key changes to state and local wage policies taking effect January 1, 2023.
Managing Your Surety Relationship for 2023 and Beyond
Author, Andy Roberts, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Over the past two years, there has been a lot of talk about a looming recession. If a recession happens, its severity remains to be seen, but regardless, it is important for contractors to be taking an active approach in building their relationship with their bond company and utilizing the services of a surety specific agent.
Employers Adapt to New Pay Transparency Requirements
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Pay transparency is becoming more common for companies, especially as laws are being passed making variations of it a requirement. Pay transparency is the idea that employers should be open, or transparent, about what they pay their employees, and how they decide on compensation for specific roles.
Employers Prepare to Submit OSHA Form 300A
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The time is here for you submit your company’s OSHA 300A Form. The OSHA 300A Form is a company’s summary of work-related injuries and illnesses within a given year. Employers must electronically submit their 2022 OSHA Form 300A data to Federal OSHA by March 2, 2023.
Closing the Installation Floater Coverage Gap for Landscape Contractors
Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Landscape contractors have varying levels of exposure when it comes to installation projects. However, they virtually all share the same common coverage gap for trees, plants, shrubs, and lawns.
Cal/OSHA Adopts New Non-Emergency COVID-19 Regulations
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On Thursday, December 15, 2022 the California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) voted on newly proposed COVID-19 regulations during a public forum meeting. With a 6 to 1 vote, the Non-Emergency COVID-19 Prevention Regulations were passed and adopted.
NIAC Reimbursing for Damage to Employees Personal Vehicles
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Many employees of non-profit organizations use their personal vehicles while performing work-related duties. Following an auto accident, the employee’s personal auto insurance will respond to a third party liability claim. Only once those policy limits are exhausted will the organization’s non-owned auto liability coverage respond.
Construction Death Rate Not Decreasing as Expected
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.
Utilize Payment Bonds as a Backstop for Getting Paid
Author, Anne Wright, Surety Relationship Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Contractors may do their work and meet their contractual obligations, but on some jobs it’s harder to get paid than on others. As in any business, your collection activities are key to getting your money. Don’t be afraid to be a squeaky wheel. There are a couple of things I’d like to share as either a reminder, or perhaps an education, that all contractors should know and consider.
Key Elements of a Lessor’s Risk Policy
Author, Kevin Howard, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As a landlord and owner of commercial property, you have exposures like fire, theft and bodily injury that must be addressed to protect your investment and, in many cases, a family asset from risk. As you look to finance these properties, most lenders will require checks and balances to ensure that your property is properly insured and that the mutual investment is protected.
All Licensed California Tree Care Companies Now Required to Carry Workers’ Comp. Insurance
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Within the last few weeks, all licensed tree care companies received a notice in the mail from the California State License Board (CSLB) stating that effective January 1, 2023, the CSLB is requiring that all companies with a D-49 Tree Service Contractor license must have workers’ compensation insurance, regardless of whether they have employees.
Five Things to Know Before Your Annual Surety Meeting
Author, Matt Gaynor, Director of Surety, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
November is the month that I meet with our contractor clients to discuss how the current year will end up and begin planning for the next year. We will also touch base regarding the items our surety carrier partners will want to hear about when we schedule our annual meetings (after the December 31, 2022 financial information is available).
Training Supervisors on Workplace Injury Protocol Can Improve Claim Outcomes
Author, Sam Brown, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
California employers work hard to maintain a safe workplace, but accidents and injuries can occur. While human resources professionals typically have an excellent understanding of the workers’ compensation claim process, proper supervisor training can improve workers’ compensation outcomes for employers and their injured workers.
Cal/OSHA Proposes Permanent COVID-19 Standards
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
With the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) scheduled to expire at the end of the year, Cal/OSHA has proposed new permanent standards.
Auto Insurance Carriers Struggle With Effects of Inflation
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Inflation continues to plague our nation with no end in sight. With a consumer price index (CPI) reaching as high as 9.1% in July of 2022, the trickledown effect is far reaching. In the second quarter of 2022, the auto insurance marketplace saw a loss ratio of 78.4%. This is quite a spike compared to the average loss ratio of 65% between the years of 2016-2020. Inflation is not the only contributing factor to the challenges within the auto insurance marketplace; we’ll discuss medical inflation, supply chain shortages, and labor shortages.
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Fleet Safety
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
From an insurance premium standpoint, one of the largest cost for any landscape company would be the auto policy, and for good reason. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a motor vehicle crash happens every 12 minutes. Of course, not all those accidents are from landscapers, but it’s still a staggering statistic none the less.
Contractors Prepare to Bid for $1.2 Trillion in Government Infrastructure Contracts
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Last fall, the federal government passed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to rebuild and modernize America’s roads, bridges, transit, rail, airports, broadband and wastewater infrastructure. With this tsunami of public funds starting to become available, state and local government agencies will require contractors to enter a pre-qualification process in order to bid upcoming projects. Many of these entities will look closely at the contractor’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR or ExMod).
Benefits of Offering Modified Work to Injured Workers
Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are many things the employer is required to do after a work related injury occurs. There are also additional things an employer can and should do after an employee is injured, though not required by any regulatory agency, like offering modified work.
Safety and Training Make It Easy to Do the Right Thing
In this podcast episode Joe and Rancho Mesa’s Landscape Group Leader Drew Garcia discuss the importance of making it easy to do the right thing when it comes to safety and training.