Many nonprofits run into problems with their Workers’ Comp. at audit time.  Workers’ Comp. companies are very strict when it comes to who is an employee and which people are required to be included in the annual payroll.  It’s helpful to know up front how these independent contractors will be classified.    Here are 4 criteria for a “down and dirty” assessment:

1)      Do they have a local business license?

2)      May he/she bring an assistant without prior approval?

3)      Do they have their own insurance coverage?

4)      Does he/she furnish their own materials or tools for their job?

For a complete independent Contractor Checklist please contact SteelBridge Insurance Services at 800-900-1068.  Or click here to visit our website for Social Service and Nonprofit Insurance.

 As an employer it’s important to establish strict guidelines as to what is and is not acceptable language, reference and innuendo.  We recommend making this a specific part of your employee handbook.  This might seem like overkill but in the long run these boundaries can create a happier and more productive work environment.

 Additionally, it’s not enough just to have Workers’ Comp. Coverage to protect your workers and your company.  Your complete insurance program should include an Employment Related Practices policy in order to ensure that all of your risks have been insured.  The good news is that EPL coverage is not difficult to obtain and is not usually very expensive.

For more information about workplace risk management and the associated insurance coverages contact SteelBridge Insurance Services .   For more information on this article please call us at 800-900-1068.

 Testifying in the House yesterday Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Krider stated “It’s really a question of fairness,” he says insurers should “look at the factors like a person’s driving records or how they maintain their property.”

 The insurance industry believes otherwise however applying the credit and insurance score system to both personal and business insurance citing studies that clearly shows credit scoring as an accurate predictive of risk of loss.

 The Senate will begin hearings on the subject on January 28^th.

At SteelBridge Insurance Services we feel it is important to keep our clients well informed about the insurance industry and news that might affect them.   

For more information on this article please call us at 800-900-1068.

Employers can get a good picture of how their employees behave on the road by reviewing their motor vehicle records (MVR).   However, there are pitfalls to doing this and it’s important to understand the boundaries set by federal and state laws.

Congress enacted the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) of 1994 to restrict access to personal information that may appear on an individual’s driving record. Personal information is anything that can identify a person, such as a name, photograph, Social Security number, phone number, address, or similar information. The law allows a motor vehicle bureau to release the record, including personal information, to anyone who has a permissible use.

A Bureau can release information to a business under one of these three circumstances:

1. The information will be used in the normal course of business to verify the accuracy of personal information provided
2. To obtain information related to the holder of a commercial drivers license
3. If written consent can be shown

Some employers ask their insurance agents to obtain employees’ driving records. The DPPA permits agents to order these records for insurance purposes and allows the agent to share the information with the employer provided that employer can show written permission from the employee

Businesses have a legitimate need for some information about how their employees drive. Employees have an equally legitimate concern about who will see their information and how it will be used. These laws attempt to balance business needs and employee privacy rights. All employers should familiarize themselves with these laws and state laws that may restrict their access to personal information.

At SteelBridge Insurance Services we feel it is important to keep our clients well informed about the risks they face, insurable or not.   For more information on this article or Business Insurance in general please call us at 800-900-1068.

To get the best coverage at the best rate, you should ask yourself a number of key questions before you meet with your insurance broker.

1)       Do You Know What Defines Commercial Vehicle Usage?

Although you may use a vehicle infrequently for commercial purposes, your personal auto coverage invariably excludes using a vehicle for commercial purposes. Also, each policy clearly defines what is meant by commercial use, so you need to be very clear on the differences so you do not end up having a claim denied.

2)      How Many Total Drivers and Vehicles Does the Company Require?

Insurers who provide commercial auto insurance may distinguish the available coverage options depending on both the number of drivers and the number of vehicles. Multiple vehicles and drivers may best be served by fleet insurance. Different insurers will vary in how they base their rates and will do so based not only upon the number of vehicles insured but also the class of the vehicles involved. The best insurance option may be to consider purchasing fleet insurance as opposed to having the vehicles insured individually.

3)      Do You Know Your Drivers’ Records?

Drivers with multiple claim records or violations are going to cause your premium rates to increase. Ensure that you are aware of the driving records of any new or current employees who will be driving the vehicles. Have all employees who drive report any and all accidents or driving infractions immediately. Make it company policy.

4)      What Kind of Deductible Can You Afford?

The amount of deductible you are willing to absorb can also have a dramatic impact on your premium because all insurers pretty much adhere to a simple formula: The higher the deductible – the lower the premium.

At SteelBridge Insurance Services we are committed to finding easy and cost effective solutions to our client’s needs.   For more information on this article or Business Insurance in general please call us at 800-900-1068.

Fact: The coverage available is in excess of the volunteer’s own auto coverage  

Auto Insurance follows the vehicle not the driver

There is no coverage for damage to the driver’s vehicle

There is no coverage for injuries to the driver 

 In the case of an accident in which a volunteer is driving his or her own vehicle on business associated with a nonprofit organization the volunteer’s personal automobile insurance will provide primary insurance. The volunteer’s coverage would be the first course of recovery for both the volunteer and the nonprofit organization.

The coverage available is for Liability Only

Neck and Shoulder Stretch

Let your head fall gently forward and to one side. Keep the shoulder down on the side where you feel the stretch.  Hold this position for five to ten seconds. Return to midline and repeat to the other side.

 Lower Back

Exhaling, lower your head and slowly roll toward your knees.  Let your hands drop at your ankles. Hold five seconds.  Inhaling, unwind, slowly raising your head and shoulders.  Exhaling, stretch your arms toward the ceiling.

 Arms, Shoulders and Rib Cage

Interlace your fingers and with your palms facing upward above your head, press your hands upward, stretching your arms.  Hold for five seconds.

 Wrist Rotation

With your hands in front of you and your elbows at a comfortable angle, bend your wrist down, to the side, back and around to the opposite side, continuing in a gentle rotation of your wrist. Repeat in the opposite direction.

Walking

The best and easiest activity for a warm-up is to take a short brisk walk. Two or three times around the worksite should do it.

At SteelBridge Insurance Services we are committed to finding easy and cost effective insurance solutions to our clients needs.   For more information on this article or Business Insurance in general please call us at 800-900-1068.

 1)       Does the person with the primary responsibility for your insurance speak the “lingo” or is there a member of the congregation that can?

2)      Do you always consider price as well as coverage when making your insurance decision?  And do you understand the risks associated with not purchasing the correct coverage?

3)      Does your broker offer to review your risks and insurance coverage with you every year?

4)      Do you have a contractor or appraiser help you to value your church building periodically?

5)      Do you have Improper Sexual Conduct Coverage in place as well as the associated risk management procedures?

6)      Does your church board understand the risk of serving on your board and the need for Directors & Officers Liability coverage?

7)      Do you understand the risk associated with your staff and volunteers driving on church business and do you carry an adequate limit for your Hired & Non-owned Auto coverage?

 SteelBridge Insurance Services is a Religious Institution Insurance Specialist and we are always happy to answer your questions no matter how big or small so Contact us today at (888) 647-4777 for more information.

The easiest by to transfer risk is to require, as part of your contracts with contractors, that those parties name you as an additional insured on their liability insurance policies. If the contractor is at least one percent liable for the accident, the endorsement gives the manufacturer rights to coverage under the policy for amounts necessary to settle a lawsuit. Perhaps more importantly, it covers the cost of defending the firm against the suit. These costs are often substantially higher than the cost of the settlement. The contracts should require that your contractor provide you with certificates of insurance showing that the liability policies include you as an Additional Insured.

Simple solutions such as this can protect your company, decrease the cost of your insurance and make your life much simpler in the event of a loss.   At SteelBridge Insurance Services we are committed to finding easy and cost effective solutions to our clients needs.   For more information on this article or Business Insurance in general please call us at 800-900-1068.