Utilize Down Time to Become a Safety Star™

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

If you are facing a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is an excellent time to train your management team to become Safety Stars™. The RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ offers modules specific to the construction industry as well as organizations in the human services.

These online programs are ideal for your supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators, upper management, administrators, directors of human resources, facilities/operations managers, and safety committee members. All participants take the Accident Investigation and Analysis module while choosing several electives like Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention or Patient & Resident Handling, Bloodborne Pathogens, and 15-Passenger Van Safety, to name a few.

Sending management through the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ can give a company a competitive advantage in the insurance marketplace, reduce the probability of claims, and lower its overall insurance costs.

To enroll in the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program, visit www.ranchomesa.com/rm365-advantage-safety-star-program and fill out the application.

Rancho Mesa’s 7th Inning Stretch Goes Virtual

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s staff is accustomed to their twice daily “7th Inning Stretch,” a walk around the neighborhood designed to get people moving and away from their desks. It’s a time to take a break from busy schedules, talk to coworkers, build strong relationships and get outdoors.

Since Rancho Mesa’s staff members are now working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some have found a fun way to continue their daily “7th Inning Stretch” as a group, while still practicing social distancing.

Using video group chats on their smart phones, coworkers are able to take their “7th Inning Stretch” walks with their peers.

As they each walk around their respective neighborhoods, coworkers chat and exercise while keeping a little sense of normalcy in this unprecedented time.

If you are working remotely and miss the face-to-face contact you used to have with your coworkers, consider incorporating your own virtual “7th Inning Stretch” at your company.

Stay healthy and safe!

Drew Garcia Gives Best Practices Advice in Safety+Health Magazine

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa and NALP’s Safety and Risk Management Committee Chair, Drew Garcia, was quoted in the article “Beware of Dog,” published on March 29, 2020 in Safety+Health, the official magazine of the National Safety Council Congress & Expo.

Drew Garcia, shared his insight with Barry Bottino about the threat that homeowners’ dogs may pose to working professionals.

Specifically addressing residential landscape professionals, Drew gives advice on performing a job hazard analysis, addressing any concerns with the homeowner, and then making a plan to keep any dog(s) away from the work area.

According to Drew, it is best practices to keep in mind that some dogs can be aggressive, and to never approach dogs you are not familiar with.

Drew’s complete responses and the full article can be found at SafetyandHealthMagazine.com.

Drew Garcia Provides Insight into COVID-19 and Workers’ Compensation Claims in Total Landscape Care Magazine

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As the country continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa and NALP’s Safety and Risk Management Committee Chair, shared his insurance expertise with Beth Hyatt Presley in her article “Take it out: Diving in deeper with COVID-19 preperation practices” published on March 20, 2020.

As a subject matter expert, Drew gives advice on COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims and business interruption as it pertains to property coverage.

According to Drew, each workers’ compensation claim is evaluated by its unique situation. In order for COVID-19 to be a covered workers’ compensation claim it, “must be caused or aggravated by a condition of employment.”

Drew says in order for COVID-19 to be considered a cause of loss, ones property policy must have pollution coverage. As a virus may be considered a pollutant.

Drew’s complete responses and the full article can be found at TotalLandscapeCare.com.

Podcast Episode 3 Now Available

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Episode 3 of the Safety and Risk Management podcast network is now available to be heard on demand.

In epsisode 3, Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, discusses landscape safety, operations, best practices, and industry advice with Fred Peratt, President of Enviornmental Enhancements.

About Enviornmental Enhancements
Founded in 2001, Environmental Enhancements is a landscaping company in DC and Sterling, Virginia that provides a full range of environmentally-friendly landscaping services to commercial property managers and homeowners. Washington Business Journal ranked them among the top ten leading landscaping companies in the DC and Sterling area. To learn more, visit eelandscaping.com.

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Subscribe to StudioOne™ Safety and Risk Management Network

Subscribe to the StudioOne™ Safety and Risk Management Network podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or Spotify to never miss an episode!

To find the StudioOne™ podcast in any of the above apps on your mobile device, type in “StudioOne Safety and Risk” in the search box. You can also listen from your computer by visiting www.RanchoMesa.com/StudioOne or anchor.fm/ranchomesa.

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Latest Episodes

Business Owners Stay On Top of Ladder Safety

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Thursday, March 12, 2020, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc. hosted the Ladder Safety workshop in La Mesa, CA.

Ladder safety has been in the top 10 OSHA Cited Violations for the past 5 years. As a business owner, it is important to find a way to get ahead of this potential oversight and improve your safety program, starting with ladder safety.

Owners, foreman, and safety managers gathered for an educational demonstration on ladder safety. This workshop covered:

• Alarming trends with ladder safety.

• Ways to reduce the frequency of injuries from ladder falls.

• Ways to ensure you are using the proper equipment for the job at hand.

• Components of a proper ladder safety program for your company.

The workshop was conducted by Rick Fineman, Risk Management Vice President, and Tom Jolliff, Sr. Risk Management Consultant at ICW Group. March is National Ladder Safety Month. This is the perfect time to review your ladder safety program an educate your employees on the importance of following proper protocols. 

About ICW Group
Based in San Diego, ICW Group Insurance Companies is the largest group of privately held insurance companies domiciled in California. Quoting more than $3 billion annually, ICW Group represents a group of Property, Auto and Workers’ Compensation insurance carriers, including Insurance Company of the West and Explorer Insurance Company. For more information, visit www.icwgroup.com.

StudioOne™ Films NAWIC San Diego Contest Video Entry

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Amber Webb from Ryan Companies and Shelby Ballow from Dowling Construction pictured on the set of their upcoming NAWIC San Diego Chapter video.

NAWIC San Diego Chapter 21’s Amber Webb from Ryan Companies (who is the chapter’s President-Elect) and Shelby Ballow from Dowling Construction (Vice President for the chapter) visited Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ on Monday, March 9, 2020 to film a portion of the chapter’s new video.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is hosting a nation-wide Marketing & Membership Contest. Chapters from throughout the country are encouraged to submit videos showing how NAWIC powers their members, the chapter and their community. Contest winners will be announced at the 2020 NAWIC Annual Conference in Houston, TX in August.

Good luck on the video contest submission and we look forward to releasing the finished video, soon!

Rancho Mesa is pleased to support the NAWIC San Diego Chapter and the local construction industry that it serves.

About National Association of Women in Construction San Diego Chapter
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter, chartered on April 30, 1959, is very active and involved in the construction industry and the community. Each year the chapter participates in a variety of events including educational seminars and conferences, Women in Construction Week (WIC Week), Block Kids (construction awareness program for children in grades 1 thru 6), CAD/Design/Drafting Contest (High School student activity), Camp NAWIC (a week long program designed to mentor high school girls planning to enter the construction industry), college scholarships, joint meetings with other San Diego professional organizations and various activities with local charities. For more information, visit www.nawicsd.org.

Rancho Mesa Sponsors CYT Musical

Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services was a proud supporter of Christian Youth Theater of San Diego’s recent production of Matilda The Musical. The show was performed across the final two weekends in February at the Joan B. Kroc Theater in San Diego.

Christian Youth Theater (CYT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational corporation celebrating their 40th year in existence. CYT is an after-school program promoting creativity, self-confidence, and collaboration through theatre arts training. They have grown to be the largest youth theater program in the nation, with programs across the country. To learn more about CYT, visit www.cyt.org. 

Ticket to the CYT San Diego production of Matilda The Musical.

Daughter of Rancho Mesa Executive Vice President, Daniel Frazee, pictured with fellow musical participants.

Employee Spotlight: Julie Eversoll Joins Surety Department

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Julie Eversoll as an Account Coordinator for the Surety Department.

Julie has years of experience working in customer service and managing accounts as she has previously held positions in accounting, finance, and sales.

Julie was born and raised in San Diego. She and her late husband of 33 years raised 2 sons together. Julie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, golfing, hiking, and loves spending time at the beach and desert.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to welcome Julie Eversoll to the RMI team!

Employee Spotlight: Sandra Broughton Joins Human Services Team

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Sandra Broughton as an Account Manager for the Human Services team.

Sandra has been in the insurance industry for 12 years. Her vast expertise and energetic personality makes her a perfect fit for the Rancho Mesa team.

Sandra enjoys hiking, gardening, playing sports, traveling, baking, spending time with her family & friends, and binge watching Netflix.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to welcome Sandra Broughton to the RMI team!