Businesses have learned a painful lesson over the last three years. An emergency can shut them down with little or no warning. Revenue can evaporate overnight, leaving them grasping to somehow continue operating, cover their ongoing bills and pay employees so they won’t leave.

Property insurance will pay for repairing or replacing damaged buildings and equipment after a fire or hurricane. It will not, however, make up for lost revenue or increased expenses to minimize the business’s downtime.

Fortunately, another kind of insurance exists that will cover those losses: Business income and extra expense coverage.

If an organization suffers property damage from a cause that the policy covers, such as a fire, and it is forced to reduce operations or shut down, business income coverage will reimburse it for the net profit it would have earned during the shutdown, plus necessary ongoing expenses.

The payment will be up to the amount of insurance purchased. The insurance covers the period from 72 hours after the loss occurred to the date that operations should resume with reasonable speed.

The policy may include an additional coverage called “extended business income.” This recognizes that, after a business resumes operations, revenue may not get back to its previous level right away. An extra 30 days’ coverage is standard, but that can be increased.

Extra expense coverage pays some of the increased costs the business may incur to minimize the length of the shutdown. This might include the unexpected purchase of computers and network equipment so that employees can work remotely while the office is repaired, for example.

To see how these coverages might work, imagine a small college that suffers extensive fire damage to two dormitories and an academic building. The displaced students will not pay room and board for living spaces they can’t use.

Students majoring in subjects taught in the damaged building may be forced to transfer (for example, physical science students who cannot access the building where they do labs). Here’s how the different coverages would play out:

Business income coverage — This would help offset the lost room and board revenue and tuition refunds to students who withdraw.

Extended business income coverage — This can help tide the school over until the student census returns to normal levels.

Extra expense coverage — This may cover the cost of quickly setting up remote learning arrangements and renting space from another college for the displaced science students to continue their lab work.

Virtually every kind of commercial enterprise that operates out of a central location needs these coverages. Some examples:

• Farms to cover the extra expense of storing harvested crops elsewhere after damage to their storage buildings.

• Restaurants would need extended business income insurance until their regular patrons get back into the habit of dining there after reopening.

• Manufacturers, particularly if they would take a long period of time to replace production equipment after an event, would need extended business income insurance.

• Theaters and concert halls to replace lost ticket sales.

• Hotels to cover lost ability to offer rooms to customers.

The takeaway

With the uncertainty spawned by the sudden shutdowns after the COVID-19 pandemic started, companies are aware that even one such stoppage can cause their revenues to dry up.

Having business income and extra expense coverage can make the difference between reopening after a disaster or shutting down for good. If you want to know more about this coverage, give us a call.

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.

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ 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 – 2022 – BGES Group

The mere mention of a workers’ compensation audit is enough to strike fear in nearly any business owner. For anyone who is scheduled for an audit, there is no need to worry or be fearful. With a little bit of common sense and preparation, much money and aggravation can be spared.

It is important to devote a few hours to setting up preparations. This small step can prevent days and weeks of hassles in the future. Business owners should plan to give their full attention to the auditor throughout the process, which can take several hours from start to finish. For this reason, it is important to make sure the time and date are both convenient. If the audit has been rescheduled or was not set for an appropriate time, call to reschedule it.

Start collecting and organizing the records that show payroll reports and overtime. Make sure insurance certificates and classification divisions are also available. Write up a summary of each one to make explanations easier and to more effectively communicate with the auditor during the process. If information is organized well, this will help expedite the process. The auditor may feel more comfortable in trusting a business owner’s data if all calculations can be reconciled to payroll records.

Prior to the meeting with the auditor, it is also important to make any necessary adjustments to payroll. For example, a business owner might need to subtract bonus pay from overtime pay. Minimum and maximum payrolls will need to be applied to the calculations when applicable. This may take some research, and the amounts will vary from one state to the next. They also vary between types of careers, partners, executive officers and sole proprietors.

Business owners should make sure they understand all employee job classifications and can explain them clearly to the auditor. They should also ensure employees are properly classified for the work they perform. If the auditor has questions or concerns, this can slow the process down considerably. Auditors usually ask about duties and classifications for multiple employees, so being prepared is essential. For help classifying them, discuss the details and any concerns with an agent.

When working with subcontractors, keep in mind that payments made to them will go against workers’ compensation if they did not have certificates. Ask for copies of their certificates, and check them carefully to ensure they are updated and show coverage for the entire time span when the subcontractor was working. After the auditor arrives, all of these preparations will be well worth the time spent. Most business owners are also pleasantly surprised to find that auditors are not the mean individuals they picture them to be. Most auditors are pleasant and fair, and this is especially true when all of the details are in order.

After the audit is finished, politely ask the auditor for a copy of the worksheet. An agent can review it for accuracy. Every person has a legal right to request a corrected audit if any errors are suspected or confirmed. Business owners also have the right to recover any over-payments that were made under the previous three audits.

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.

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ 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 – 2022 – BGES Group

There is a growing threat to companies that use online services to administer their employee benefits and payroll as cyber criminals increasingly exploit these cloud service platforms.

The results of a hacker gaining access to the company’s payroll systems, sloshing with cash, as well as employees’ personally identifiable information can be devastating both to the employer as well as its workers, according to a blog by the law firm McLane Middleton.

Do not assume that the payroll and benefit system you are using has safeguards in place to prevent these types of attacks. Sometimes you may need to activate them on your account or configure your account a certain way.

Cyber criminals that hack these platforms can tap into a gold mine of sensitive information about employees and their dependents, including:

• Social Security numbers

• Government identifications and numbers

• Bank account information for employees and dependents, and

• Health information.

The other vulnerability is the funds that go through these accounts. Large sums of money flow through a number of transactions for:

• Payroll

• 401(k) and other retirement accounts

• Health insurance, and

• Other benefits.

As you can see, these online payroll services have a rich smorgasbord of data and they facilitate numerous large financial transactions. For criminals, that’s a treasure trove.

Successful attacks on online benefits and payroll services can result in huge losses as well as liabilities for an employer. And worse yet, the damage is manyfold:

• The criminals can divert large financial transactions like payments to retirement funds and smaller ones like payroll payments, to a fraudulent account, which they promptly drain.

• The criminals steal personal information of employees. They can then demand the employer pay a ransom in exchange for not selling the information on the dark web. If the employer refuses to pay, they can demand individual employees pay a ransom.

What you can do

Often hackers will gain entry to a benefits and payroll website not through any fault of your own. So, it’s important that you choose a system wisely.

McLane Middleton recommends that you should look for online benefits and payroll platforms that value security and protect their clients’ accounts with the following:

Multi-factor authentication — Besides a password, a platform worth its salt will include multi-factor authentication. Typically, that entails sending an authentication message to a pre-specified e-mail or mobile phone number that can accept text messages every time there is a log-in attempt.

Other systems may use certificates that the employer installs only on computers used by employees who are authorized to access the platforms.

Multi-user notification and authorization — This entails notifying key personnel if an employee’s profile information (such as physical address, phone number or bank account number) is changed inside the payroll or benefit system. The website would then send an e-mail to a secondary person in the organization to approve the change by logging into the system.

Different levels of access privileges — One common approach is for hackers to target employees in your organization with administrator access to your benefits and payroll system. All of the employees that use the system often do not need access to all of it.

You can limit access of your human resources staff to only those functions necessary for them to do their jobs. This prevents them from accessing files and information they have no business seeing.

Logs of access and activity — If possible, try to find a vendor that has log files that can record dates and times of a breach, what the cyber criminals were doing in the system and what data they accessed and downloaded.

The takeaway

If you are using an online platform to administer your benefits and payroll, you should ensure that the vendor is taking the appropriate steps to protect itself, and you, from cyber attacks.

You may want to discuss with your vendor what kind of security they have in place and any extra steps you can take as an organization to reduce the chances that information and funds in your accounts are safe from abuse.

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.

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ 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 – 2022 – BGES Group

As ransomware and other cyber attacks increasingly hobble victim company’s ability to operate in the wake of an attack, more cyber insurance policies are including business interruption coverage.

When these policies first hit the market, they were mostly focused on covering the costs of notifying individuals whose personal data or credit card information may have been exposed, to any regulatory penalties and other compliance costs.

But many companies, when hacked, suffer far more damage to their operations, including websites or important systems being rendered unusable.

The larger danger to companies seems to be system failures resulting from a variety of novel attacks, including;

• Denial of service

• Brute force (an attack aimed at obtaining passwords)

• Malware or malicious code

• Ransomware

• Backdoor attacks

• Social engineering.

Business interruption policies have traditionally covered loss of income caused by disruptions in supply chains and events like a fire or natural catastrophe that render a business unable to operate.

But, property policies or traditional business interruption policies do not cover income loss from a cyber attack since these policies are only triggered after a direct physical loss or damage.

Meanwhile, for cyber business interruption coverage to be triggered, there must usually be a direct link between a cyber attack and the interruption of business or a loss of sales. For example:

• Criminals lock a company’s computer systems and demand that the company pay a ransom to restore its data. The company may lose income when it can’t use its systems and even when it is trying to recover after paying a ransom.

• A denial-of-service attack renders a website inaccessible to customers and users.

Typical business interruption provisions in cyber policies

• The policy will include a maximum payout for business interruption claims. The cap may apply to each individual event or it may be an annual limit.

• Policies may include a separate deductible for business interruption claims.

• Policies may include a specific waiting period of hours or days before it kicks in to pay a claim. If the event causes losses or a disruption that lasts less than the waiting period, the claim would likely not be paid.

• Policies usually will only pay for business interruption during the period that the company is restoring its systems and getting things running again.

• Coverage usually includes exceptions, like not covering third party liability, fines and penalties and the costs of restoring a network.

• Most policies include exclusions, like loss of market share or damage to computer systems caused by fire or other physical events that were not related to a cyber attack.

For more information, please call us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ 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 – 2022 – BGES Group

Much has been made of people’s identities being stolen through cyber attacks and other online means, but the majority of identity thefts are still being carried out the old-fashioned way by criminals finding documents bearing social security numbers and other personal information.

Identity theft is a growing problem with consumers reporting more than 490,000 incidents in 2015, up an astounding 47% from the year prior, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Certainly, a good reason for this increase is online data theft, but a surprising number of Americans are still having their personal information stolen because of improper disposal of paper documents.

The best way to combat this kind of identity theft is by regularly shredding paper documents when it’s time to dispose of them. But what documents should you shred and which ones can you just toss in the recycling bin? Here are our tips:

Anything containing your social security number – This is the number one bit of data that identity thieves want to get a hold of. With your Social Security number they can open checking accounts and credit cards – and sometimes even take out loans.

Your social security number can be found on a number of documents, including:

• Pay stubs

• ax returns

• Medical bills

• Health insurance cards

• Loan statements

Bank and mortgage statements – First off, you should keep these statements for up to seven years for tax audit purposes. After that time, there is no need to keep them and you should dispose of them.

These documents should be shredded. While they sometimes may contain your social security number, they do contain your bank account statements and crafty scammers can produce bogus checks that they can use to cash checks from your accounts.

Utility and other bills – Utility bills may contain personally identifiable information. Experts recommend that you keep these bills no more than a year. To avoid having your data exposed, you should then shred them.

Anything with your signature – It’s highly recommended that you shred any documents that have your signature on them.

That’s because a clever criminal can learn to copy your signature, and combined with other personally identifiable information they get their hands on, they could open accounts in your name and do real damage to your credit.

Receipts – While you may want to keep some receipts for your tax records, any others you don’t need to shred and can toss into the recycling bin.

Credit card receipts don’t contain your entire credit card number, so you don’t run the risk of someone gaining access to your card should they come across these receipts.

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ 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 – 2022 – BGES Group

Many business owners don’t think twice when asking a worker to run to the office supply store, to the bank or run another errand for the company while on the clock.

But as soon as that employee enters their personal vehicle on a trip for your business, you automatically become vicariously liable for their actions.

Think it’s not a big deal? There have been cases when employers have been found liable and ordered to pay up to $25 million for crashes involving employees using their cell phones while driving, according to the National Safety Council.

That means if your employee is in an accident and injures a third party, damages another car or injures themselves, your firm could be held liable.

For injuries to only your employee, your workers’ compensation insurance would handle the costs, but for injuries to others and third party property, you are liable since they were carrying out duties for your firm.

The employee’s auto insurance will be primary, but the problem arises when the coverage is insufficient. The employer can then be sued by the third party.

With that in mind, you should do all you can to reduce your exposure by writing a policy for your driving employees. Some things you might want to consider in your policy include:

• A list of expectations you have of your driving workers.

• No talking on a cell phone or using any functions like apps and texting.

• Avoid other distractions by barring other activities while driving, like eating and drinking.

• Train workers in the safe operations of vehicles.

• Make sure that any employees who drive for you are properly licensed.

• Requiring that they take breaks on longer trips.

• Require that their driving record be monitored periodically.

• Spelling out that they must buy personal auto insurance with certain minimum limits. The insurance policy should not include a business exclusion.

Beside having a driving policy in place, you can also make sure to hire employees who are safe drivers by checking their driving records during the hiring process.

Also, make sure that your management is on board with the policy. That means that managers should avoid texting or calling employees while they are driving on company duty. That would clash with your policy on barring cell-phone use while driving.

Insurance

Finally, you should make sure that you have proper insurance in place in case calamity strikes. And unfortunately, some employees will inevitably slack in following even best laid out policies.

Commercial auto will cover all of your workers who drive company vehicles for collisions but it won’t cover employees if they are driving their own vehicles while on the job. Such vehicles are considered non-owned autos because they are not owned by the named insured.

Employees are not insureds while driving non-owned autos, even if they are using the vehicles on company business.

But if you do have workers who use their personal vehicles for work, like sales reps, you can purchase an endorsement for your commercial auto policy: Entitled Employees as Insureds. This endorsement covers employees who drive their personal vehicles on behalf of their employer.

But it provides excess coverage only, meaning that the employee’s personal auto policy will apply first if the worker is sued after an accident involving his or her personal auto. The endorsement would apply only if the employee’s personal policy limits are breached.

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.

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ 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 – 2022 – BGES Group

Employees Driving on the Job in Own Cars are Your Liability

Workers in a number of construction occupations are exposed to crystalline silica. Breathing too much of this dangerous dust can lead to serious lung damage, resulting in long-term illness or even death.

Workers in cement, concrete or stucco operations, abrasive blasting, jack hammering, rock and well drilling, brick and block cutting, and tunneling operations are often exposed to crystalline silica. Any dust-producing operations should follow industry safety standards as well as OSHA regulations to protect workers.

Here’s where to start:

What happens when exposure occurs

When inhaled into the lungs, crystalline silica dust creates scarring or fibrotic nodules around the silica particles and may result in silicosis.

Silicosis may result in breathing difficulty, tuberculosis — and possibly death. Exposure ranges from cumulative (over many years of exposure) to acute (exposure to high concentrations of contaminated air in short periods).

Acute silicosis is identifiable by fever, shortness of breath, and cyanosis, or bluish-colored skin. Silicosis is incurable and may be progressive even after dust exposure has ceased.

Harmful silica particles, as small as 1/100th the size of a grain of sand, are impossible to detect by sight or smell. They can only be measured using air-sampling equipment. In comparison, a human hair is 70 microns, and the silica dust we are concerned with is as small as 10 microns.

Protections

There are a number of steps you can take to protect your workers. Most of these should be used in conjunction with each other:

• Engineering controls — mechanical ventilation for removal of contaminated air.

• Replace crystalline silica materials with safer substitutes whenever possible.

• Require workers to wear NIOSH-approved respirators.

• Practice wet-dust suppression measures like water sprays to wet the material so that it generates less dust.

• Isolation/enclosure/ventilation of dusty processes.

• Use handheld grinders with a shroud and vacuum.

• Use wet grinding/cutting methods.

• Wear aprons or coveralls and disposable clothing.

• Combine the use of more than one control measure.

• Conduct environmental monitoring.

• Educate and train workers and supervisors.

Good housekeeping is an essential part of workplace safety, and reducing exposure to silica dust is no exception. Consider employing the following housekeeping measures:

• Minimize your dry sweeping of the work area.

• Use vacuum cleaners to collect dust on a daily basis.

• Wet down the area prior to clean-up.

• Never use an air supply to blow dust off work clothing. Air pressure causes silica dust to become airborne.

• Remove dust-contaminated clothing at the worksite to minimize transportation and relocation of the dust.

Silica dust will have long-term effects on the health of your employees, so preventing exposure is an issue that requires significant attention. Be sure to minimize the possibility of exposure by following OSHA’S Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction and implementing robust protective measures.

Silica-containing material

The materials listed below contain silica which can be released through cutting, breaking and grinding, among other work:

• Asphalt

• Brick

• Cement

• Concrete

• Concrete block

• Drywall

• Fiber cement products

• Grout

• Gunite/Shotcrete

• Mortar

• Paints containing silica

• Plaster

• Refractory mortar/castables

• Refractory units

• Rock

• Roof tile (concrete)

• SandSoil (fill dirt and top soil)

• Stone (including granite, limestone, quartzite, sandstone, shale, slate, cultured)

• Stucco/EIFS

• Terrazzo

• Tile (clay and ceramic)

Additionally, under OSHA regulations, all employers whose workers encounter inhalable silica exposure should prepare the following documents:

• A written Silica Exposure Mitigation Plan.

• Documentation of compliance with Table 1 of the Silica standard.

• Documentation of regular exposure measurement.

• A hazard communication and training program.

OSHA has a handy guide for employers whose workers may be exposed to silica dust in the workplace. You can find it here.

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, Workers Compensation Insurance, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We can help contractors set up proper risk transfer. We offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening and numerous 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 money; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing coverage when you are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Workers Compensation Audit disputes;  5) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 6) Misclassification of payrolls; 7) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  8) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 9) Covering multiple states under one policy; 10) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 11) Timely issuance of certificates; 12) Always being able to get someone on the phone when you need to; 13. Finding you a new payroll/workers compensation plan.  We represent many and know who offers excellent service.

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 – 2022 – BGES Group

New York long ago adopted a scaffolding law designed to protect construction workers and others from certain unsafe work conditions, including those associated with scaffolding and construction.

The New York Scaffold Laws are important in a civil lawsuit because they impose strict liability on owners and contractors that fail to adhere to the law.

These statutes remove virtually all defenses owners and contractors otherwise have.  Instead, liability is based on a few questions, including:

• Was the construction project covered under these statutes?

• Did the owner or contractor fail to provide the scaffolding or other safety measures required by the statutes?

• Did an injury occur of the type that was designed to have been prevented?

When a violation of New York Labor Law by an employer results in an injury to an employee, the employer may be held absolutely liable for the damages caused. Absolute liability, also known as strict liability, means that the plaintiff/injured employee does not have to prove negligence on the part of the defendant Owner or General Contractor.

Judgments can range in the millions, tens of millions for a “Labor Law Claim.”  They can easily knock a contractor out of business.

Simply put, if an accident falls under “Labor Law 240 and 241” it’s not whether you are liable BUT HOW MUCH YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY!  That is why most insurance companies DO NOT want to insure New York contractors.

New York Contractors – Pay Attention To What We Now Have To Say

When purchasing Commercial General or Excess/Umbrella Liability policies, you want to make sure each policy covers “Labor Law Claims.”

Adding “Labor Law” coverage can double, triple, quadruple your policy cost!  Some New York contractors pay up to 30%+ of gross receipts JUST for these two policies!

Many New York City contractors purchase liability insurance from “Excess & Surplus Lines Carriers (SLC)” because no standard company is willing to insure them (because they would have to cover “Labor Law” claims and they DO NOT WANT TO).   “SLC” policies have lots of exclusions, warranties, restrictions and conditions.  You have to be very careful with their “fine print.” You may think you have coverage but you don’t!

Contractual Liability – Do you know if your policy covers the liability obligations you sign for with general contractor and building owners?  If you want a “Labor Law” claim covered, you better make sure.

Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement (BAI) – Many of you sign contracts with owners and general contractors that require 10 entities to be covered.  Most “BAI” endorsements ONLY cover the entity you have a written signed contract with.  The others entities ARE NOT COVERED!

Do you use subcontractors?  If yes, what does your liability policy say about covering them?  Some have strict “Hammer Clauses” written into them.  If you have not complied with every single requirement and your sub causes an accident, you will have no coverage.  It doesn’t matter you weren’t advised by your broker or no one stayed on top of you to make sure you obtained what was needed.  YOU WILL HAVE NO COVERAGE!

We Want To Make You an Offer You Shouldn’t Refuse!  It’s FREE and There are NO Gimmicks Attached – We are Very Sincere People:

BGES Group is a very well respected New York insurance agency that specializes insuring New York contractors.  We represent THE BEST programs and are “Construction Insurance Specialists.”

We have a network of insurance companies (50+) that combined with our leverage and the trust companies have for us, we can get things done that most other agencies cannot.

If you now have coverage for “Labor Law” but the cost is EXORBITANT, let us review what you have and see if we can get you the same if not better coverage for less money.  Again we represent programs a lot of brokers don’t and can work miracles.

Examples of How We Helped Contractors:

1. NYC contractor renewal umbrella annual premium $103,000, limit $3 million.  We found him a new company that offered annual premium $78,000, $5 million limit.  Coverage was much better too.

2. NYC restoration contractor Commercial General Liability Policy $265,000, our quote $165,000.  Our umbrella pricing $99,000, other brokers probably $140,000 or more.

3. Upstate demolition contractor paying $74,000 for their Commercial General Liability policy.  Our quote $40,000.  They were also paying over $50,000 for a $3 million Umbrella Liability Policy.  Our pricing, $23,000 for a $5 million Umbrella.  We got them better coverage too!

Here’s is What People Think About Us:

Sarah S.

Gary is a considerate and honest guy. I have nothing but respect for him and 5 stars isn’t enough.

Nick S.

Over 20 years of excellent relationship that has met all our insurance needs.

Steve S.

My previous Workers Comp insurer was always trying to reclassify employees to put them in higher risk groups to raise the premium (despite no claims in over 5 years). Broker at the time wasn’t helping. Gary was recommended by a friend and did a phenomenal job. Found new insurer for less money who then, a year later, further reduced premium after the audit! I’m now paying 40% less than I used to and only 1/4 of what my old insurer wanted to jack the rate to.

SANJA C.

Gary is a great, responsible, professional…someone you can rely on. I would highly recommend him.

George K.

Since I transferred my insurance policy to BGES Group I have saved a lot on the rates and service is a first class. Always get immediate response to all my needs. It’s a A Plus from me.

Elena E.

My broker, Gary Wallach, is the BEST!  He’s professional and a pleasure to deal with. Always has the answers for me and is quick to respond to my emails and phone calls. This is one reason I remain a loyal BGES Group customer. Good Rates on all my insurance needs too!

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.

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, Workers Compensation Insurance, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We can help contractors set up proper risk transfer. We offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening and numerous 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 money; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing coverage when you are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Workers Compensation Audit disputes;  5) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 6) Misclassification of payrolls; 7) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  8) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 9) Covering multiple states under one policy; 10) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 11) Timely issuance of certificates; 12) Always being able to get someone on the phone when you need to; 13. Finding you a new payroll/workers compensation plan.  We represent many and know who offers excellent service.

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 – 2022 – BGES Group

Here’s What We Can Offer You:

1. Very competitive pricing.

2. Great programs including stand-a-lone workers’ compensation policies, payroll/workers’ compensation, Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and state and assigned risk plans.  Instead of driving yourself crazy scouring the internet, call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 and he will take this headache away from you.

3. Excellent coverage.  We can cover you in multiple states.

4. Plans where you don’t have to do an audit!   How would you like to get away from invasive, costly audits every year?  Probably save a few thousand in accountant fees.  We can set you up with such plans.

5. A Pay-as-You-Go Policy – Only $200 deposit required to bind coverage.  This is one of our plans.

6. We are encyclopedias of knowledge.  We know all areas of the workers’ compensation system including coverage, companies, pricing, billing and claims.  Whatever your concerns, we can help.

7. When you call we immediately answer.  You will not be placed on hold.  You will not be told we are away from our desk, in a meeting, out to lunch or on vacation.

8. Immediate issuance of “Certificate of Insurances.”  We have a set up where you can issue your own!

9.  We offer boutique service.  We treat everyone like $10 million dollar accounts.  You’ll deal with a sharp, pleasant, helpful, responsible, trustworthy person who when you call, HELPS!

10. In addition to construction, we have programs for the following industries too:

    1. Auto Services

    2. Construction – We have programs for Asbestos, Demolition and Roofing contractors too.

    3. Limousine Services

    4. Logistic companies

    5. Manufacturers

    6. Trucking

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.

Problems We Can Help You With:

1. Pricing.

2. Getting you a new company.

3. Getting you a new policy if you’re a new business or been without coverage for a while.

4. Getting you new coverage if you are being cancelled or non-renewed.

5. If you have poor loss experience we can find a new company who will insure you.

6. Feel you’ve overpaid on past policies?  We can help you get your money back.

7. Setting you up in a program that does not do invasive, annual audits.

8. If you operate in multiple states, we can get you a plan that covers your properly.  State plans may not.

9. Setting your policy up on a “Pay as You Go” basis.

10. Eliminating annual deposits.  We have a plan that requires just $200 to get started!

11. Looking for a payroll/workers compensation plan?  We represent several.

12. Whatever your problem, we can help!

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.

Here is What People Have To Say About Us:

Sarah S.

Gary is a considerate and honest guy. I have nothing but respect for him and 5 stars isn’t enough.

Nick S.

Over 20 years of excellent relationship that has met all our insurance needs.

Steve S.

My previous Workers Comp insurer was always trying to reclassify employees to put them in higher risk groups to raise the premium (despite no claims in over 5 years). Broker at the time wasn’t helping. Gary was recommended by a friend and did a phenomenal job. Found new insurer for less money who then, a year later, further reduced premium after the audit! I’m now paying 40% less than I used to and only 1/4 of what my old insurer wanted to jack the rate to.

SANJA C.

Gary is a great, responsible, professional…someone you can rely on. I would highly recommend him.

George K.

Since I transferred my insurance policy to BGES Group I have saved a lot on the rates and service is a first class. Always get immediate response to all my needs. It’s a A Plus from me.

Elena E.

My broker, Gary Wallach, is the BEST!  He’s professional and a pleasure to deal with. Always has the answers for me and is quick to respond to my emails and phone calls. This is one reason I remain a loyal BGES Group customer. Good Rates on all my insurance needs too!

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.

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We can help contractors set up proper risk transfer. We offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening and numerous 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 money; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing coverage when you are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes;  5) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 6) Misclassification of payrolls; 7) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  8) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 9) Covering multiple states under one policy; 10) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 11) Timely issuance of certificates; 12) Always being able to get someone on the phone when you need to; 13. Finding you a new payroll/workers compensation plan.  We represent many and know who offers excellent service.

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 – 2022 – BGES Group

Sick & Tired of:

1. Not being able to get your broker on the phone when you call?

2. Waiting hours or days to get a response back to emails or texts?

3. Dealing with a broker who sells liability policies with tons of exclusions and doesn’t really understand what they are selling you?

4. Dealing with a broker who low balls your liability payroll and sales figures to keep your account? Basically a broker you can’t trust?

5. Dealing with a broker who on renewal never shops your account?

6. Being charged per policy $1,000 to $5,000+ fees?  Realize your broker gets paid a commission from your insurance companies.  The fees some brokers charge are just beyond greedy!

7. Being charged up to a 10% service fee on your Workers’ Compensation policy?

8. Dealing with a broker who is moody, rude, thinks they’re doing you a favor?

9. Waiting hours or days for certificates of insurance?

10. Never hearing from your broker?

Would You Like To Deal with a Broker Who:

1. ALWAYS answers the phone when you call?

2. You never have to wait for anything?

3. Represent the all the best contractor programs in New York State?

4. Does not play games to get your account?

5. Who is a straight shooter?  Honest?  Trustworthy?  Who you can always rely on?

6. Doesn’t charge ridiculous policy fees?

7. Who is always in a good mood, helpful, respectful and available Monday thru Sunday?

8. Who issues certificates in minutes?

9. Who when you need them is always there for you?

10. Who can get the job done for you?

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.

Here’s What 5 People Have to Say About Us:

V. Jakupi

Best Insurance Broker you can get period!  In the middle of the busy season we received a letter from our old carrier that they no longer service NY, only NJ. We had only 60 days to find a new company. We got in touch with Gary who is very knowledgeable, friendly and experienced, assured us that he will take care of our insurance and he did. It has been now more than 5 years without an issue. Glad we found them and looking forward continuing working with Gary and the group.

E Ezhova

My broker, Gary Wallach, is the BEST!  He’s professional and a pleasure to deal with. Always has the answers for me and is quick to respond to my emails and phone calls. This is one reason I remain a loyal BGES Group customer. Good Rates on all my insurance needs too!

R Lodato

Gary was very Helpful and Fast. He listened to my complicated insurance problem tried to solve it from different approaches before finding the best course of action for me. He selflessly spent a lot of time making sure that leaving the State Insurance Fund was definitely necessary before using his services. I am 100% happy with his services. I can’t recommend him highly enough.

E. Zaretsky

We have used BGES Group for our insurances for over 20 years and had an amazing relationship with Gary Wallach. Gary is always looking for the lowest cost insurance, the highest quality, and his speed at providing certificates cannot be matched by anyone.

WP Blue

We have been using Gary and his services for over 10 years now. He is absolutely amazing. Always right on top of things. Answers you back quickly and helps you through all your issues! Gets you certificates of insurances within the hour. We can’t recommend him enough!

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, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ 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 – 2022 – BGES Group