The Importance of Training Employees from the Start

The Importance of Training Employees from the Start

OSHA requires employers to train all employees, including new hires and those given new job assignments for whom training has not previously been received.

All employees should receive new training whenever new substances, processes, procedures or equipment are introduced to the workplace and represent a new hazard or a previously unrecognized hazard. But to new employees, most of your company’s procedures will be new, so the training will need to be thorough and comprehensive.

It’s the employer’s responsibility to provide training that will enable workers to do their job in a productive manner and to comply with applicable safety regulations.

Safety training is most effective if it begins the day the worker is hired. Prior to starting work, they will usually receive a packet of paperwork from the HR department or bookkeeper. You should include in that packet a safety primer for their job description.

If you don’t already have one, develop a safety checklist to go over before they go to the shop, field or workstation. The manager or supervisor should explain and go over the list with the new employee.

Have the new employee sign the checklist, give them a copy and retain a copy in your files as proof that they received, read and understood it.

What to cover

Start by explaining and giving them a copy of the company Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

You should also explain:

  • The applicable company, state and federal safety policies and programs for their type of work.
  • Your enforcement procedures.
  • The safe use of tools and equipment.
  • The work clothes and personal protective equipment they need to wear on the job.
  • How, when and to whom they should report injuries.
  • Special hazards of the job.
  • Emergency procedures.
  • Workers’ compensation law.
  • Lifting procedures and any mechanical lifting means that the company provides.
  • Where the fire extinguishers, first aid kits and electrical panels are located.
  • Any other safety instructions relevant to their job duties.

Statistics have shown that most workplace accidents involve employees that have worked on the job less than one year. It’s crucial that new hires understand the training materials prior to going to work.

The employee and owner/supervisor must sign documentation of all training given, no matter how brief, and an acknowledgment of that training. The documentation should be placed in the employee’s file and kept for at least five years.

The benefits of training new employees:

  • It makes them more productive.
  • It makes them feel better about themselves and have more confidence in their ability to do the work safely, and lets them know you care about their safety and well-being.
  • It results in fewer accidents and injuries.
  • It helps retain employees.

The takeaway

Start new employees out on the right foot and prevent accidents before they happen by providing them with the proper safety training they will need to safely perform their work.

Continue the training with regular meetings and refresh and update old training as necessary.

Proper training can help the new employee get up to speed quickly, which in turn can reduce the costs associated with learning the job and the likelihood of workplace accidents.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Reviews

Paying your Mortgage when your Income Discontinues

Paying your Mortgage when your Income Discontinues

For many Americans, their home represents both security and peace of mind. It is typically both their greatest financial investment and their greatest asset (besides their retirement plan). An unpaid mortgage may be one of the most overwhelming financial threats a family can face.

Whether this comes from the passing of a primary earner in the home or high medical bills resulting from some disability that prevents them from working, the question is would your family be able to stay in their home?

In addition to paying your mortgage after a primary earner passes away, or a disability brings high medical bills along with a loss of income during the recovery phase, protecting your home means preserving important community and neighborhood connections with:

  1.  Friends
  2.  Schools
  3.  Church
  4.  Clubs
  5.  Relatives

Death or disability and its recovery can be emotionally devastating.  It should not have to also be financially devastating.

It makes good sense to protect your family against the loss of their home, in the event that the main breadwinner dies before the home is paid for.  You can have either a term life insurance policy, with a term for the length of your mortgage or some form of permanent insurance plan with riders or other features that can be converted or used for retirement purposes after the need for mortgage protection has passed.

But here’s the question that is not often asked. What if you should suffer a disability before your home is paid off? Should your mortgage insurance also have a disability provision?

  • One that pays you an income so you will know exactly how much money you are going to receive to help pay for uncovered medical expenses

If you suffer a disability and don’t die but have to spend a long period to recover, wouldn’t the loss of income while not working and the extra expenses of medical care pose just as much of a risk of losing your home as dying?

So having a mortgage plan with a disability provision might protect you not only if you die, but if you live, it can have provisions like optional hospital indemnity benefits to provide a daily benefit when you are hospitalized to help pay ongoing lifestyle expenses. Or a return of premium benefits, so if you suffer a covered disability or die while this coverage is in force, your family gets all the premiums paid, less any benefits paid or due, of course. Then these premiums paid are returned to the family.

So what are the questions you should ask?

  • What is your largest asset?
  • What is your greatest debt?

How would you keep up with the regular monthly bills (mortgage payments, utilities, etc.) if you suffered a disability and you were unable to work for a period of time?  How would you cover all of the unexpected costs associated with disability and still keep up with your mortgage payments? Talk to us today because when you take the risk and lose……..your family pays!

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

 If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Reviews

High Heat Increases Risk of Injuries for Inside and Outdoor Workers

High Heat Increases Risk of Injuries for Inside and Outdoor Workers.

As many parts of the country are wrestling with ever-increasing temperatures during the summer months, a new study has found that the hotter the weather gets, the higher the risk of workplace accidents and injuries for both indoor and outside workers.

The study by the University of California, Los Angeles, based on claims data from the California Workers’ Compensation Institute between 2001 and 2018, found:

  • When it’s more than 90 degrees: The risk of workplace injuries increased 6% to 9%, compared to when the temperatures are in the 50s and 60s.
  • When it’s more than 100 degrees: The risk of injuries increased 10% to 15%, regardless of if the work was conducted outside or indoors.

The report estimated that high temperatures result in some 15,000 injuries a year in California and that the cost of those heat-related injuries ranges from $750 million to $1.25 billion in the form of medical treatment costs, lost wages, lost productivity and workers’ compensation claims.

The main findings of the report are not surprising: That high temperatures put outdoor workers — construction, agriculture, landscaping and utility workers, for example — at risk of heat illness and workplace accidents.

What was surprising was that hot weather outside also resulted in higher frequency of workplace accidents and injuries for indoor workers.

For example, the UCLA study found that on days with highs above 95 degrees, manufacturing workers had a 7% higher risk of injury than on days when the temperatures were in the low 60s. One reason may be that most manufacturing facilities are not air conditioned. The same is also true for most warehouses and other large, production line-type operations, bakeries, printing facilities and laundries.

The researchers concluded that when temperatures rise, it increases your risk of making mistakes or errors in judgment. Heat stress can cause fine motor performance to deteriorate.

The more dangerous the work, the riskier the work is when it gets hot. In other words, the risk to office workers during hot days is negligent considering they are more likely to be working in an air-conditioned facility.

What to do

Heat-related illness is preventable, especially with management commitment to providing the most effective controls.

First off, if you have new workers who have not spent time recently in warm or hot environments and being physically active in the heat, they need time to build tolerance and acclimatize to the heat.

OSHA recommends that staff working in hot conditions (indoors and out) should be encouraged to:

  • Consume adequate fluids (water and sport drinks),
  • Work shorter shifts,
  • Take frequent breaks, and
  • Learn how to identify heat illness symptoms.

For indoor spaces, air conditioning with cooled air and increased air flow, leading to increased evaporative cooling, can make the workplace safer.

Other options for keeping body temperatures down in warm environments include making changes to workloads and schedules. For example, if temperatures reach a certain point, supervisors can:

  • Tell workers to slow down physical activity, like reducing manual handling speeds.
  • Schedule work for the morning.
  • Schedule shorter shifts.
  • Require that they take frequent rest breaks in the shade or away from heat sources.
  • Encourage workers to drink hydrating fluids regularly.
  • Train workers about heat-related symptoms and first aid.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

 If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Eight Tips for Improving Electrical Safety

Looking for a New Way To Learn About Up Coming Construction Jobs and Industry News?  Click here.

Article:

The construction industry has the highest percentage of electrical fatalities out of all industries.

While electricity is a crucial component in a construction project’s success, it poses a risk of harmful shock, horrific burns or fatal electrocution. These accidents can occur when workers come into contact with power lines, wiring, transformers or other electrical machinery.

Fortunately, there are steps that companies can take to minimize the dangers:

Provide protective equipment — Electrical safety starts at a personal level. All electrical work personnel or people working in an area with electrical materials should wear protective gear, such as insulated gloves and footwear.

This provides basic safety if they come into contact with electrical equipment, whether accidentally or intentionally.

Train workers in handling electrical equipment — Electrical mishaps can occur when there is misuse or mishandling of electrical equipment.

Workers should be trained on how to handle and operate the equipment safely. Conduct regular training to ensure your workers don’t become lax when they use the same equipment.

Use proper testing equipment — Proper testing equipment should be among the essential tools on a construction site.

Voltage detectors, receptacle testers and clamp meters are among the tools every worksite should have to enhance electrical safety and help prevent electrical accidents.

Install the right signage — Lack of awareness can lead to catastrophic electrical accidents. All electrical hazards should be marked to warn your workers of the dangers.

The signs should have labels in language and illustrations that can be easily understood by a layman.

Conduct a risk assessment — Conduct a risk assessment survey of the worksite before operations begin. This will help identify hazards that can compromise electrical safety and allow you to come up with solutions accordingly.

The assessment will also help your team develop a plan on how to lay out electrical infrastructure with safety in mind. The plan should indicate where and how electrical equipment will be placed and how the wiring will be done.

Use circuit breakers and voltage regulators — Emergencies can occur in case of a power surge, short-circuit or other electrical issue. That’s why it’s essential to have circuit breakers and voltage regulators to cut off power during such situations.

The ability to regulate or shut down power supply on time during a crisis can avert catastrophic damage.

Avoid wet conditions — Electrical equipment and infrastructures in the worksite should be shielded from coming into contact with water at all costs.

This should be done during the planning process. When the equipment comes into contact with water, shut off the power supply immediately. It should be turned back on under a professional electrician’s recommendation.

Organize and insulate all exposed cables — A construction area should never have messy or uncovered power cables. When unorganized, the cables can contact each other, resulting in short-circuiting and possibly fire.

If left uncovered, workers may accidentally touch them, leading to shock or electrocution. Cover all cables in a construction site with insulating material and organize the cables to enhance electrical safety.

The takeaway

While overall safety is a significant concern in the construction industry, electrical dangers can be contained if the right measures are implemented.

The above tips can help construction firms to boost electrical safety in their operations.

However, all the parties on a construction site must be diligent for maximum electrical safety.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Improving Electrical Safety at Construction Sites 

Building Risks Evolve, Creating Unique Challenges for Construction Firms

As the construction industry booms, contractors face evolving risks that, left unchecked, can leave their operation exposed to new liabilities.

If you already operate a construction firm, you know that there is a labor shortage that has made it difficult to find experienced workers, and that hiring entities are asking builders to take on more of the design function, as well.

Your liability picture has also likely changed with the increasing use of wrap-ups and, if you’re using technology in your operation, you now have rising cyber-security risks, too.

Lack of qualified workers

The bottom fell out of the construction industry in the U.S. during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many worksites were idled. Now that the industry has found its footing, it’s been dealing with a severe labor shortage.

As construction firms struggle to find workers, the ones who are on the job are having to take on larger workloads, which can put them at risk of injury or making mistakes.

Also, many contractors are having to take on younger, less-seasoned laborers, who may lack the experience to identify and avoid hazards, which puts them and others at risk of injury.

Those injuries in turn affect your workers’ comp premiums.

A lack of workers coupled with inexperienced new ones on sites, can also end up drawing out projects, forcing contractors to miss deadlines.

Construction Professional liability risks

As more project owners want an all-in-one job with the lead contractor designing and building the project, contractors now face a new type of risk: professional liability.

But the typical contractor’s insurance policy doesn’t provide protection for any design work you take on. Courts have ruled that:

  • Designers who perform “builder activities” lose limitation of liability typically enjoyed by design professionals.
  • Builders who perform “design activities” assume responsibility for design deficiencies.

Wrap-ups more prevalent

Many construction projects are now covered under one general liability policy to cover the work of the general contractor, as well as of all the subs. More lenders are requiring that liability is set up in one all-encompassing policy.

A properly assembled general liability wrap-up should provide coverage not only during the construction period, but also up to 10 years after the work is completed.

These policies often reduce the cost of coverage.

More cyber-security risks

Like all industries, the construction sector has grown increasingly reliant on technology to get the job done. That exposes contractors to a variety of cyber risks, including keeping project designs, client records and employee records confidential.

Many building contracts today include clauses requiring the contractor to be responsible for potential cyber breaches.

Given the increasing popularity of practices such as “building information modeling,” “integrated project delivery,” and file-sharing between participants in a construction project, contractors may be at increased risk of liability in the event of a data breach.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Do You Have Enough Insurance to Keep Up with Rising Home Repair Costs?

The cost of buying and installing home building supplies is going through the roof, and it may leave you without enough insurance to rebuild should disaster strike.

Lumber and other construction material prices have skyrocketed, and so has the cost of labor as the building industry struggles with a manpower shortfall. These issues are adding significantly to the cost of repairing and rebuilding homes, so much so that some homeowner’s policy limits may not be enough to pay for it all.

Sawmills slowed production in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced economic slowdown. Meanwhile, stuck-at-home homeowners went on remodeling sprees. The result? Between late October 2020 and early May 2021, lumber prices more than tripled. They’ve dropped from their peak, but they remain more than 50% above the previous levels.

Labor costs for home construction and repairs are also increasing. With borrowing costs at historic lows, contractors who build or remodel homes are in high demand. Many contractors complain of not being able to hire enough workers to keep up. And the ones they find are getting higher wages.

Do You Have Enough Insurance to Keep Up with Rising Home Repair Costs?

The effect on your coverage

Even if you are not building or remodeling a home, these cost increases are a problem for you.

Every homeowner’s insurance policy shows a dollar amount (known as a “limit of insurance”), which is the most the company will pay for loss of or damage to the home. (This limit is typically designated as the limit for “Coverage A ― Dwelling” on the policy’s information page.)

This limit is based on the estimated cost of rebuilding or replacing the home should it be destroyed. However, an estimate that seemed reasonable before material and labor costs jumped may not provide enough money now to rebuild the home.

You may have insured your home for $300,000 in 2019, but today it may cost $400,000 or more to rebuild. Your insurance company is obligated to pay only $300,000, leaving you to come up with the extra $100,000 on your own.

You may not be able to borrow that much on top of your mortgage. You may also have a deductible you’ll have to foot the bill for as well.

What you can do

  • Contact us and ask about increasing the amount of insurance on your home. We can give you a rough idea of the additional cost based on estimates of what it may cost to rebuild your home.
  • While you’re at it, this is a good time to ask us questions about your insurance. Does it provide coverage for rebuilding or replacing the home, or only for its cash value? Does it cover you for the increased cost of meeting new building codes? Does it fully cover you if you’re operating a business from your home or a detached garage? It is important to get the answers before a loss occurs.
  • If you remodel or add on to the home, it is essential that you notify us or your insurance company. Your limit of insurance is based on the way your home was, but the home is no longer the same. Your carrier needs to know about changes before it can properly insure you.

There is not much you can do about rising construction costs. However, you can take proactive steps to make sure your insurance will protect you the way you need.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

 If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Protecting Your College Student’s Property

While you already have enough to worry about when your child leaves for college, you don’t want the specter of them dealing with the theft or damage of their possessions while there.

For about $150 a year, you can protect your child’s possessions against theft or damage caused by fire, lightning, smoke, vandalism, electrical surges, windstorms or hail, water damage from utilities or appliances, and more. The same insurance also provides liability protection for students living off-campus.

Considering that a laptop can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, that $179 premium to replace such items doesn’t seem so bad.

Also, your child likely has a number of other expensive items, such as a smart phone, TV, tablet, computer, printer, furniture, clothes, jewelry or bike. In other words, plenty of pricey stuff.

What kind of insurance does your student need?

Renter’s insurance, but they may not need it — depending on your current insurance coverage.

An added benefit of purchasing a renter’s policy in the student’s name is that any claims filed will not be on the record of the your policy.

Some insurers allow students rooming together off campus to purchase a joint renter’s policy, whereas others require that each student has renter’s insurance.

Does your homeowner’s policy cover your child?

Homeowner’s policies typically cover the belongings of students younger than 26 who live away from home and are enrolled in classes. But policies vary, so call us to learn the specifics of what is and isn’t covered in your own policy.

But if you rely on a coverage extension from your homeowner’s policy, your student would have limited coverage on their possessions, as most policies limit the amount of insurance to 10% of the total coverage for personal possessions. Some possessions, like jewelry, electronics and computers, may have coverage limits.

If your child lives off-campus, the possibility exists that their personal property will not be covered by your homeowner’s policy.

How much coverage would I need?

Ask your child to create an inventory of the items they have at college. From that you can make an informed decision about the amount of coverage they need and whether any specific endorsements (like jewelry coverage) should be purchased.

Creating an inventory is easy. An Internet search will provide inventory templates that your child can fill out and send home to keep off-site. Your child can also use a free iPhone or Android inventory app called myHOME Scr.APP.book.

Back up this written list with photos or videos of valuables.

How else can you protect your kid’s belongings?

Aside from purchasing insurance, here are some common-sense tips you can share with your child.

  • Tell your college student to engrave their electronics and other possessions with their name and phone number or mark items with an invisible permanent marker – a simple action that can help police validate stolen items.
  • Keep digital copies of store receipts for high-ticket items.
  • Tell your child and their roommates to lock their dorm room door every time they leave the room. They should also store valuables like wallets and keys out of sight as a habit.
  • If they have something really valuable they can do without, ask them to leave it at home.
  • Tell your child not to leave their backpack, laptop or other possessions unattended in dining halls, in the library or anywhere on campus, including in classrooms. Use a laptop security cable to deter thieves.

It’s easy to gamble and say no to insurance. But for an average rate of under $15 a month, you can get peace of mind, and if the unexpected happens, you’ll be covered.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

 If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Seven Ways to Reduce the Cost of Insuring Your Teen Driver

While teenagers react with glee when they get their driver’s license, for parents it is a time of angst and the specter of higher insurance premiums.

Sticker shock is not uncommon when parents receive that first quote for coverage, but there’s a reason for those higher rates. Teen drivers are unproven and due to their lack of experience behind the wheel, insurers try to protect themselves with higher premiums.

And they do so for a valid reason: statistics show that teenagers are involved in a higher number of accidents with fatal or critical injuries than more experienced older drivers.

But don’t fret. There are a number of ways to reduce the cost of teen drivers’ insurance costs. Here are seven of them:

  1. Choose an older model car. Less flash will save you money. Two measures of insurance costs are horsepower rating and the theft rate. Older cars also have a lower book value, which in turn reduces the insurance premium.
  2. Consider raising your deductible. A higher deductible results in lower monthly premiums.
  3. Good student discount. You don’t need to have an honor student in your household to qualify, but every insurer has its own definition of a good student.Teens may still qualify even if they aren’t at the top of their class, and some discounts carry over to college.

    To qualify for a discount of up 20%, the student would typically need a B average or higher for all subjects combined. Many insurers offer discounts to students up to 25 years old.

  4. Drop some coverage. Consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage on older cars that are worth little more than the deductible. You may be paying more in premiums than you could ever get back from the insurer, even if the car is totaled.
    Whatever you do, don’t cut back on your teen’s liability coverage in your drive to reduce your insurance premiums. Try to aim for the following liability limits at a minimum:

    • $250,000 per injured person,
    • $500,000 per accident, and
    • $100,000 for property damage.
  5. Buy a safe car. Your teen’s insurance rates will be lower, and you will be less worried about your child when they are driving solo. You can check vehicle safety ratings at www.iihs.org.
  6. Discounts for safe drivers. Some insurers offer discounts for driver-safety programs, cutting costs for kids who take a special class, watch a DVD or read a driver safety book and take a test.
  7. Explore multi-policy discounts. Many carriers will give a discount if you insure both your home and car with them.You may get an additional discount if you include an umbrella policy. This provides extra liability coverage beyond your auto insurance limits and can be particularly valuable when you have a teenage driver.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

 If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

20 Passwords Hackers Can Crack Blindfolded

Cyber risks for all organizations are growing at a rapid clip. Not a day goes by that we don’t read about another breach of sensitive data or a company paying out a hefty sum to ransomware criminals to unlock the systems they took over.

Your company data is valuable and so are your databases and files. Your company’s computer systems may also be vital to your operations. But all of that can be destroyed if just one of your employees’ passwords is hacked by an outsider who gains entry into your database.

In fact, one of the softest areas for hackers to crack, the weak underbelly of your in-house network, is easy-to-decipher passwords.

While more complex passwords, with a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters as well as numbers and symbols, may also be hacked, the chances are far greater with simple passwords.

Safetydetective.com, an antivirus website, looked at more than 9 million stolen passwords in the U.S., resulting in this list of the most commonly hacked passwords:

  1. password
  2. 123456
  3. 123456789
  4. 12345678
  5. 1234567
  6. password1
  7. 12345
  8. 1234567890
  9. 1234
  10. qwerty123
  11. qwertyuiop
  12. 1q2w3e4r
  13. 1qaz2wsx
  14. superman
  15. iloveyou
  16. qwerty1
  17. qwerty
  18. 123456a
  19. letmein
  20. football

The next step

Safetydetective.com recommends that you require all of your staff to set passwords that are at least eight characters long.

Also, passwords should not be common words or pop culture names or sayings, and should contain at least one capital letter and one digit. To make passwords even stronger, they should contain at least one punctuation mark or other special character. For example: uSo38&_Xv3!0@

Require your staff to change their passwords every 90 days.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

 If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group

Disaster Recovery Checklist for Business Owners and Executives

If a natural disaster were to strike, would your company be ready? Has your management team hardened the business to continue operating in case of a disaster?

With natural catastrophes growing in number and severity, businesses more than ever need to have in place plans for a quick recovery for the sake of their investors, customers, employees and vendors.

Here are some basic tips to ensure the survival of a small business in the event of a disaster:

  • Create a written disaster preparation and recovery plan. This document should be in hard copy in your office and e-mailed to all workers, so that they can access the plan even if your offices are inaccessible.
  • Inventory on-site first aid kits and other emergency supplies.
  • Secure backup data offsite. What will happen if your servers are destroyed in a flood or fire at your office? If your business would be affected, you should prepare ahead of time by backing up your files at a remote location or in the cloud on a daily basis.
  • Designate an alternate meeting site. If your office is suddenly destroyed or inaccessible, your employees should know where to report for work. Managers should have a roster of phone numbers.

You should scope out alternate locations in case you need to arrange new office or warehouse space in a hurry.

  • Get a generator. Don’t count on waiting until disaster strikes to get one. There will be a run on supplies.

Ensure the generator has enough output to power your key equipment, whatever it is, from computers and printers to refrigerators.

  • Designate responsibilities. Who will come to the office prior to a massive storm to put up storm shutters? Who will be available to come fill and place sandbags? Who can clean up if there is severe damage, and when?
    Remember that some of your employees may be busy preparing their own homes and ensuring their families’ safety. Others may be members of the National Guard, and may be mobilized for disaster response. Take this possibility into account.
  • Review your insurance coverage. Check all of your polices for the possible hazards they cover, as well as your policy limits to make sure they reflect your needs. Double check flood coverage. Most regular insurance coverage doesn’t cover flooding.
  • Double check key-person life insurance and disability insurance coverage. The same disaster that disrupts your business could disable or kill key people, and cause severe disruption to the rest of the business as well.
  • Consider business interruption insurance. These policies provide a cash benefit to keep a business going in case of a temporary closure. Business interruption insurance can help you continue to meet payroll and even avoid going bankrupt, or to retain valued employees while your business has shut down.
  • Have a public relations plan. Designate a spokesperson for the company. Reach out to the local media with your recovery story. Don’t let people get the impression your business closed, particularly if you have to relocate.
  • Diversify your telephone systems. Hurricanes and other disasters may knock out Verizon phones but not AT&T service, and vice versa. It can take time before workers can repair towers or reroute signals.
    By ensuring your workers have different mobile providers, you can spread the risk out, so that your ability to communicate by cell phone is not wiped out by the loss of any one cell tower.
  • Some businesses need emergency funds if they are unable to operate after a disaster. The Small Business Administration can provide low-interest loans to qualified small businesses to help them keep running through a disaster and its aftermath.
  • Copy your tax returns and other key documents. Keep them online somewhere. Keep hard copies in a fireproof safe or deposit box off-site. If you live on the coast, keep it inland. If you live in a flood plain, keep it uphill.
    Identify your hazards, and don’t expose your valuable assets and papers to the same hazard in two different locations.

The takeaway

There is no cookie-cutter approach to hardening your business to cope with a disaster.

All businesses are different, and one may have different needs than another business next door.

Above all, though, use your judgment, critical thinking skills and work through the different contingencies that may affect your organization.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

 If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2021 – BGES Group