Industry News
Reviewing 2024 Insurance Landscape and Forecasting into 2025
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Now that we’ve turned our calendars and 2024 has come to an end, I wanted to give a brief review of the current state of the auto insurance and workers’ compensation markets within the green industries (i.e., lawn, landscape and tree care).
Trends Shaping the 2025 Insurance Marketplace and What’s on the Horizon for Rancho Mesa
As we enter the New Year, Rancho Mesa's Alyssa Burley sat down with President Dave Garcia to review the past year. They analyzed the state of the commercial insurance marketplace, reflected on Rancho Mesa’s accomplishments, and discussed what’s to come in 2025.
Construction Change Orders: What Contractors Should Know
Rancho Mesa’s Surety Relationship Executive Anne Wright and Pam Scholefield of Scholefield Law in San Diego, discuss what affects subcontractors and prime contractors when changes occur in their contract.
Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Slip and Fall Preparedness
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
With winter fast approaching, it’s important that employees are prepared to handle potential hazards caused by the change in weather. Slip and fall prevention is essential for any businesses operating in areas where employees will encounter rain, ice, and snow during the workday.
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.
Most Commonly Reclassified Lawn Care and Landscape Workers Compensation Governing Codes
Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The year 2025 will mark my 10th year working with landscape, lawn care and tree care professionals across the country. This long-term approach allows our team the time to learn and grow with the industry. Being able to understand landscape operations and accurately relay this information to the insurance carriers is a critical component to the overall insurance program we put together for our clients.
Advising Indemnification Agreements with Charles Stec, J.D.
In the second episode of a special two-part series, Executive Vice President Daniel Frazee interviews Charles Stec, J.D., accomplished attorney at Lanak & Hanna, to advise construction companies on what to include in indemnification agreements.
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.
Navigating Subcontract Agreements with Charles Stec, J.D.
In the first of a special two-part series, Construction Group Vice President Daniel Frazee and Landscape Group Vice President Drew Garcia, interview Charles Stec, J.D., accomplished attorney at Lanak and Hanna, to discuss how construction companies can best navigate subcontract agreements.
Recommended Strategies to Open Capacity for your Bond Program
Author, Matt Gaynor, Director of Surety, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Most of our contractor bond accounts are provided a single bond/aggregate capacity program to determine the size of projects they can bid and the amount of capacity that is available in the program for future projects. The most effective way to ensure you have available capacity for an upcoming bid is to communicate with your bond agent well in advance of the bid date to ensure the project will be approved by the bond company. On certain occasions, an upcoming project may put you over the top of your approved capacity. This is the time your agent must work hard on your behalf to represent to the bond company why this project makes sense to add to the program.
OSHA Tips to Protect Workers During the Holiday Season
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As the holiday season approaches, many businesses will experience an increase in demand that can put an extra strain on a workplace and its employees. The surge in work often means more safety challenges for an employer. To deal with the additional strain, employers may be hiring new or seasonal employees, bringing in additional volunteers, and/or expanding their hours. Despite these changes, safety should still remain a top priority.
Umbrella vs. Excess Liability: The Key Differences Contractors Need to Know
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When reviewing insurance requirements that contractors receive from municipalities and/or general contractors, two lines of coverage that are often misunderstood are umbrella and excess liability. These terms are commonly interchangeable in the contract, but have subtle differences. In addition, the limits required by contracts are increasing significantly.
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.
Best Practices Approach to Insuring Janitorial Companies
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Partner, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Running a successful janitorial company in California can often be cut throat. With low profit margins, janitorial companies continue to face daily challenges like increased wages and material costs, as well as aggressive competition that continues to under bid contracts. It is natural for business owners to explore ways of cutting costs to help their bottom line, but insurance should not be one of them. In fact, they should be looking to add coverages that are unique to janitorial operations and protect the long term health and viability of the company.