Insurance Insights ~ December 1997

Give Us Your Best "Snow Job"

Many of our contractors switch roles over the winter months. Landscape contractors shed their gardening tools; plumbers leave their wrenches behind; carpenters abandon their toolboxes. It is not uncommon to find these contractors out plowing snow to generate additional income. After all, it makes perfect sense. Typically contractors that work outside find their work halted during snowy days. Their equipment is usually idle during this time, and it's easy to attach a snowplow to the front of a pickup truck to earn revenue plowing parking lots and driveways.

While we agree that this seems to be a practical solution to what would otherwise be idle time and idle equipment, there are some important issues that must be discussed.

First and foremost, check your liability insurance policy to determine if snowplowing is a covered operation. This is probably one of the most overlooked classes of business that we come across, and one of the most costly when a loss occurs. While you have that insurance policy handy, take a look at your liability limits. Slip and fall injuries cost insurance carriers big money, in not only the judgement against you, but also in litigation, court costs, and legal fees.

Speaking of mounting legal costs, right about now would be a good time to put a "plug" in for our Business Catastrophe Policy. This policy serves as a financial reserve or cushion against a judgement beyond the limits of your primary liability policies. In other words, it gives you a lot of "bang" for your "buck." We would encourage you to add this vital protection to your insurance portfolio.

Another consideration to keep your risk of loss at a minimum is to be familiar with your customer base. We suggest that you keep your jobs local and try to stay away from businesses that generate a high volume of public business. The more populated the area, the greater the chance of a slip and fall injury, because of the sheer number of people walking on the surface you've plowed. Be familiar with your equipment, and how to operate it. Be sure your employees know as well. If you have employees who are driving, know their driving habits! Follow up your plowing efforts with salt and cinders to further reduce the icy surface conditions that contribute to slip and fall injuries.

Finally, you may be asked by your customer to add them as an additional insured under your liability policy. We believe that these requests should be denied, so much so that if they insist, move on to the next job. What they are attempting to do is shift the coverage to the individuals doing the snowplowing. Aside from negligence, you should not be responsible for slips and falls that may occur in the winter, regardless of how well an area is plowed or cleared of snow. The property owner still has a responsibility to provide this coverage, and should not be assigning that responsibility to others.

As you can see, there are clearly steps that you can take to avoid a claim from occurring. By demonstrating a proactive stance on loss prevention instead of a reactive stance, you will greatly reduce your risk of loss.

Prepare for Winter Driving

Winter is almost here! There is never a good time to be driving when the snow, ice, and sleet arrive, but with a little advance preparation, you can minimize your potential for getting stuck or stranded. So, if you can't leave your car in the garage for the winter months, make certain to include the following winter survival items.

First, put a 25 pound bag of sand or kitty litter in the trunk. The extra weight will help while driving, and if you do get stuck, simply spread the sand or litter around the tires for added traction.

A steel snow shovel will help for digging snow out from around the car, while heavy clothing, a hat, gloves, and boots are necessities when working to get the car unstuck. An ice scraper and brush will keep the car headlights, taillights, and windows clear of ice and snow. A blanket and hard candy in the car will help keep you warm, and ease hunger in case you need to wait for help to arrive.

Finally, always keep jumper cables and a tow strap or tire chains in the trunk. These items are useful in many situations, and can get you on your way more quickly.

Winter road conditions are quite unique, and can change to a more dangerous level very quickly. A few driving tips can make the difference between a safe trip and a catastrophe.

One of the biggest problems on a slippery road surface is stopping. By letting off the gas pedal sooner than usual, and gently pumping the brake pedal (if your car is not equipped with anti-lock brakes), your wheels will not lock up, and this will prevent a skid. Also, when starting out, use light pressure on the gas pedal. This will give your car better traction, and makes starting easier in ice and snow.

When approaching a hill, do not slow down. The steady momentum gathered will help you reach the top without slipping. As you head down the other side of the hill, try to maintain a slow, level speed by reducing to a lower gear. And always keep a safe distance between you and other cars.

If you do start to skid, keep your foot off the brake, and steer in the direction you want to go. As the car comes out of the skid, straighten the wheels. When your car is under control, gently apply the brakes.

Allow extra time to reach your destination, and remember not to do anything too fast! With these tips in mind, you can now approach the winter weather conditions with confidence. However, spring cannot get here soon enough!

Fire Safety Tips

As joyful as the Holiday Season can be, too often we hear of a preventable tragedy in the home. Some, but not all, are associated with holiday decorations. Fires are the number one threat to homes, yet they can almost always be avoided if you follow the right safety tips.

Avoiding holiday hazards:

• Christmas trees should not be sprayed with any type of lacquer to keep needles from falling.
• Decorative lights should be checked to make sure there are no missing bulbs or loose wires.
• Keep lights away from combustible materials and turn them off at night or when you leave the house.
• Never use real candles to decorate a tree. When candles are used, keep them away from flammable materials, such as drapes, and out of reach of children.

Here are some additional fire safety tips for around the house.

When using heating equipment:

• Keep things that can burn away from space and portable heaters.
• Hire a certified chimney sweep to clean and inspect the chimney regularly.
• Have a professional inspect heating equipment for proper design, maintenance, installation and operation.
• Install and fill both liquid- and gas-fueled heaters according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Never leave auxiliary heating equipment unattended.

When using cooking and electrical appliances:

• Don't overload wall outlets.
• Be sure to use properly rated fuses for each circuit.
• Don't use frayed electrical cords.
• Don't run extension cords under rugs or furniture

When in the kitchen:

• Keep the stove clean and free of grease.
• Keep the handles of pots and pans turned inward.
• Keep all flammable material (including shirt sleeves) away from burners.
• Keep a fire extinguisher rated for grease fires nearby.
• Never leave cooking unattended.

More than 90 percent of fire deaths each year are a result of careless smoking. Don't allow smoking in your home. If you do, have plenty of ashtrays on hand. Smoke detectors are also a must for your home. Install at least one smoke detector on each floor and one near each bedroom area.

From all of us here at Weimer Insurance Agencies, best wishes to you for a safe and happy holiday season, and for a happy and healthy new year!

INSURANCE INSIGHTS is an electronic newsletter published monthly by G. C. Weimer Associates, Inc. Information contained herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief as of 12/1/97. If you have a topic of interest for a future issue, e-mail us at info@gcwinsure.com.