The manufacturing sector consists of businesses that utilize raw materials to generate finished products. Due to the range of items this industry plays a role in producing (e.g., food and beverages, textiles, apparel, wood products, chemicals, plastics, metals, electronics, machinery and furniture), it contributes significantly to the overall economy. Further, this sector has experienced considerable...
Commercial property and casualty (P&C) insurance carriers have been delivering strong financial performance in recent years despite the widespread disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other global events, according to a recent McKinsey report. The report noted that premiums have been driven by extensive risk-adjusted rate hardening on a year-on-year basis, resulting in an...
As markets harden, insureds from every sector may be experiencing hefty premium increases across lines. In recent years, as the insurance industry has attempted to balance its books in the face of inflation and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, rate increases have become the norm, even for businesses with good loss histories. Take the...
Workplace injuries are a reality that many small businesses face — especially those in higher-risk industries such as manufacturing, construction and transportation. Workplace accidents happen, regardless of the industry, so it’s important to understand the benefits of efficient reporting of workers’ comp claims. The amount of time it takes to report claims can have a...
The beginning of the year marked the return of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with the theme of “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”. For more than 50 years, the Davos Forum has brought together business leaders, governments, academics, and civil society experts to address and discuss the world’s most pressing challenges. Coinciding...
Since organizations rely heavily on email to communicate and conduct business operations, cybercriminals commonly target email as an entry point to access networks and breach valuable business data. In fact, 94% of malware is delivered by email, according to Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report. Following a cybersecurity breach, organizations may suffer financial, reputational and intellectual...
While the signals are mixed, there are signs that inflation is finally easing. We can debate the measures the Fed and the Biden administration have taken to push back against rising costs, but inflation control would undeniably be a good thing for the bottom lines of investment real estate properties. Job market and supply chain...
OSHA keeps records not only of the most frequently cited standards overall but also within particular industries for each fiscal year. Understanding these standards and taking proactive steps to avoid violations can go a long way toward ensuring workplace safety. When it comes to the manufacturing industry, the following standards were most cited in 2022:...
Safety is always important on a construction site, but that is even truer in winter when snow, ice, rain, high winds, and low temperatures can add to the risk of slipping, falling, or other types of injuries. Even equipment used during winter to warm the air for workers or to help concrete set carries its own...
Insured natural disaster losses hit an estimated $120 billion in 2022, with North America making up the bulk of the tally due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, according to Munich Re. Economic losses reached $270 billion, down from $320 billion in 2021. While overall losses were close to average, insured losses were well...