Blog
February 18, 2021
Maintaining Effective Sprinkler Heads
Sprinkler heads are largely responsible for detecting the presence of a fire at your commercial property and activating the sprinkler system’s water dispersal capabilities—thus suppressing the flames and mitigating damage. Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests that effective sprinkler systems can reduce total deaths and property loss from fire incidents by over...
February 17, 2021
Commercial Vacancies Are Reaching New Highs: How To Make The Most Of 2021’s Opportunities
By the end of 2021, some people will have returned to work on-site, but many others will never return. The pandemic has permanently changed how and where millions of people will work in the future. The change is expected to have a significant impact on real estate markets nationwide. Although some people, myself included, have...
February 16, 2021
Employers Concerned About Mental Health, Stress Impact on Safety
More than 90% of employers are concerned about mental health and chronic stress impacting their workers’ fitness for duty, according to the results of a survey released Monday by the National Safety Council. The Itasca, Illinois-based council surveyed employers about workplace impairment in 2020, finding that 93% of employers believe that fitness for duty extends...
February 10, 2021
Recruiting in Manufacturing During COVID-19
As it has for most industries, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created talent challenges for manufacturers. The pandemic’s initial impact led to many organizations making tough choices about reducing the number of employees to keep up with financial realities. Now, manufacturers face difficulties such as recruiting talent with the necessary technical skills, and finding talent...
February 8, 2021
Damage From Wildfire Smoke Extends to Infrastructure, Businesses, Other Communities
The damage caused by wildfires can be devastating, gutting structures and driving out people who live and work nearby. And researchers say the smoke from the annually recurring blazes also delivers economic damage to areas that were never touched by the flames. Beyond the toll wildfire smoke can have on the health of those in...
February 5, 2021
Fire Department Connections for Sprinkler Systems
In the event that a fire occurs at your commercial property, it’s vital to have emergency response measures in place—such as an effective sprinkler system—to suppress the flames as quickly as possible and minimize potential damages. In addition to a sprinkler system, a fire department connection (FDC) can also play a major role in your...
February 3, 2021
Communicating With Employees About COVID-19 Vaccines
Employee communications related to the pandemic have played a major role in keeping employees safe and healthy while navigating operational changes and challenges. Now, the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines have become available after the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for two vaccines. As initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines are allocated for people in...
February 1, 2021
OSHA Issues New Prevention Guidance on COVID-19 in the Workplace
On Jan. 29, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The guidance is intended to inform employers and workers in settings outside of health care of the risks of being exposed to or contracting COVID-19 at work. This guidance is meant...
January 29, 2021
Hard Property Market To Continue in 2021, With Higher Rates, New Exclusions: RPS
The property insurance market will continue to harden through 2021, with rising exposures and reinsurance costs driving primary rates higher, according to a report from wholesale broker Risk Placement Services (RPS). RPS expects rate increases in the high-single digits to 15% range on clean accounts. Increases are expected to be higher on accounts with losses....
January 28, 2021
Most Costly OSHA Violations for the Construction Industry
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) keeps records not only of the most frequently cited standards overall, but also within particular industries. An analysis of the most recent statistics from OSHA reveals the top standards cited in the fiscal year 2020 for the construction industry (NAICS 23). Many of these recurring violations are associated...