Industry News
Stay Ahead of Construction’s Seasonal Slowdown
Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The projected strong El Niño has arrived in California, and the decisions contractors make over the next few months will have a significant impact on profitability heading into 2027. For many construction companies, the first quarter presents unique challenges. Shorter daylight hours, weather delays, employee illness, and project schedule disruptions can all contribute to slower production and tighter margins.
Making the Most of Weather-Related Downtime
Author, Vanessa Hanna, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
With Winter right around the corner, construction, landscape and tree care companies are continuing to navigate challenging weather conditions. Inclement weather, including rain and snow, can result in project delays and temporary jobsite closures. While these closures help protect workers, they can also create challenges for both contractors and employees. Businesses may experience project delays and lost productivity, while workers can miss out on valuable hours and income they were counting on earning.
Building a Strong Foundation: Year-End Financials and Your 2027 Bond Program
Author, Andy Roberts, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
With contract amounts increasing, our surety team continues to have more frequent conversations with our clients about the importance of preparing their year-end financials. A company’s financials, their balance sheet and an income statement, are the primary sources of information that a surety uses when establishing a contractor’s bond program. The way this information is presented is very important as it determines the amount of credit that a bond company is willing to extend. There are a few different options for presenting year-end financials, with the two most common being internal financials and CPA reviewed financials.
Workplace Halloween Celebrations: Best Practices for Employers 2026
Author, Vanessa Hanna, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Halloween is fast approaching, and while workplace celebrations can be a great way to boost employee engagement, its important to keep a few HR considerations in mind to help ensure festivities remain inclusive, respectful, and compliant.
Caring for the Caregiver: Reducing the Top Three Home Care Workers’ Comp Claims
Author, Raysan Benito, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In California workers' compensation, Class Code 8827 applies to employees who provide in-home personal care services, including assistance with daily living activities, companionship, and, in some cases, nursing services. While these caregivers focus on the well-being of their clients, they often face significant injury exposures themselves.
Insurance Costs Are Rising— So Are The Costs Behind Every Claim
Author, Kyle Dunlap, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
For California business owners, renewal increases can be frustrating because insurance is one of the largest expenses that often feels outside management's control. But insurance should not be evaluated in isolation. The same inflation affecting fuel, vehicles, equipment, repairs, wages and medical care also increase the cost of the claims insurers pay.
Observations vs. Mobile Forms: Choosing the Right SafetyOne™ Tool
Author, Alyssa Burley, Partner, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As organizations replace manual safety processes with the SafetyOne™ platform, one of the first decisions administrators face is determining whether a process should be managed as a Safety Observation or a Mobile Form.
Contractors: When it Comes Down to Delays and Disputes, Documentation is your Best Friend
Author, Josh Hill, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Every contractor knows that project delays and disputes are just a part of life in the industry. The question is, how does one go about improving their chances of achieving the outcome they desire when this occurs and the answer is, documentation.
The True Cost of DSP Turnover in Developmental Disability Services
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Non-profit organizations supporting adults with developmental disabilities fulfill their missions and promise to individuals and families by employing a dedicated group of people, Direct Support Professionals (DSP). The evergreen challenge to attract and retain DSPs adds hidden costs and increases an organization’s exposure to risk. Below we outline these challenges and questions to raise with a National Best Practices insurance agency.
2026 Brings Another Increase in California Tree Care Work Comp Rates
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Pure premium rates are developed by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) and reflect the expected cost of workers’ compensation claims for a particular class of business. Each year, the WCIRB evaluates loss and payroll data reported by insurance carriers throughout California and develops advisory pure premium rates that serve as an important benchmark for workers’ compensation pricing.
Your Dashboards and AI Tools Are Only as Good as Your Data
Author, Alyssa Burley, Partner, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As businesses continue to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) tools and data analytics, the quality of the information entered into applications like Rancho Mesa’s proprietary SafetyOne™ Platform has become increasingly important.
Reducing Risk Near Traffic for Landscaping and Tree Care Crews
Author, Jessee Keirstead, Risk Control Consultant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Landscaping and tree care companies are already high-risk operations, but few job sites present more risk than roadsides, medians, and highway corridors. When employees work is near moving traffic, the potential for severe injury increases significantly, making effective traffic management a priority.
Accident Investigation: Turning Incidents into Opportunities for Improvement
Authors, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
During my recent podcast episode, I discussed how near misses can represent missed opportunities for general engineering contractors to prevent future workplace injuries.
Creating a Safer Workplace Through Effective Violence Prevention Planning
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Workplace violence is a serious safety threat affecting employees across all industries. In 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recorded 740 fatalities due to violent acts in the workplace. Preventing fatalities and injuries is a top concern when addressing workplace violence; however organizational, financial, and emotional consequences can also arise from violent incidents in the workplace. Employers should implement a clear Workplace Violence Prevention Plan to keep employees and their organization safe.
Developing a Strategic Business Development Process
Author, Anne Wright, Surety Relationship Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When your business development strategy aligns with your unique strengths and you are no longer competing solely on price, you have become your clients’ preferred partner because of the value you bring.
Introducing SafetyOne™ AI: Smarter Safety Insights for Better Decision-Making
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
SafetyOne™ Administrators now have access to SafetyOne AI Data Analytics. AI analysis capabilities are now available on the Observations and Mobile Forms screens. By analyzing your organization’s operational data stored in the platform, SafetyOne AI can produce relevant insights to streamline safety practices. Summarize inspections and observations, identify trends and recurring risks, compare projects, and draft toolbox talks in minutes to save time and resources while making faster and more informed safety decisions.
Critical Steps That Protect Employees and Your Business Following a Work-Related Injury
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In the landscaping industry, workplace injuries can occur despite the best safety efforts. When an injury does happen, the employer’s next steps can significantly impact the outcome for the injured employee, the employer, and the insurance carrier.
What to Do After A Vehicle, Equipment or Fuel Theft
Author, Jessee Keirstead, Risk Control Consultant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When a company vehicle, piece of equipment, or fuel supply is stolen, taking immediate and organized action is critical. A prompt response can increase the chances of recovery, support insurance claims, and help minimize business disruptions.
Your Plumbing or HVAC Website May Be Sending the Wrong Message to Your Insurance Carrier
Author, Matt Gorham, Account executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Most plumbing and HVAC contractors view their website as a sales tool. However, insurance carriers increasingly view it as an underwriting tool. The same website designed to attract customers is at the same time influencing how an underwriter evaluates your business, impacting carrier appetite, available coverage, and, ultimately, the cost of your insurance program.
Navigating the Future of Workers’ Compensation with Todd Lewis: Litigation Trends, AI, and Claims Management
Rancho Mesa President and CEO Dave Garcia sits down with Todd Lewis, Vice President of Claims at Republic Indemnity, to discuss the growing challenges facing California’s workers’ compensation system, including rising litigation and cumulative trauma (CT) claims. They explore how AI is helping claims organizations investigate and manage claims more effectively, along with practical strategies employers can use to reduce claim disputes, support employees, and foster a stronger workplace culture.