Here’s How We Can Help You 

1. BGES Group is one of Tri-State’s Workers’ Compensation specialists.  We are VERY easy to deal with because:
2. We answer the phone in seconds when you call
3. We respond to emails in minutes
4. We respond to texts immediately
5. We are available to speak to day or evening
6. You will be dealing with the same person every time you contact us who will make your life easier and who knows what they are talking about                                                                                                                            
7. We represent 40+ insurance companies and special programs for the industries listed above especially New York Contractors                   

• We have programs for:
  • Auto Services
  • Contractors especially in New York – We have programs that will insure asbestos, demolition and roofers
  • Limousine Services
  • Manufacturers
  • Moving & Storage Agents
  • Truckers

Problems We Can Help You Solve 

1. Getting lower rates
2. Poor loss experience causing difficulty getting new coverage
3. Being cancelled or non renewed
4. Sick of having to do invasive annual audits
5. Payrolls misclassified
6. Operating out of state and your company can’t cover you
7. Having to come up with a 10% to 25% renewal deposit – We have a plan that requires just $200 to bind coverage then you pay as you go
8. Takes too long to get certificates of insurance
9. Sick of paying extra policy fees or service fees
10. Poor agency service
11. Whatever your problem we can help

Types of Plans Available

1. Stand a Lone Workers’ Compensation Policy
2. Combined Payroll and Workers’ Compensation Plan
3. Professional Employer Organization (PEO) – These can combine Workers’ Compensation, Payroll and Group Health
4. State and Assigned Risk Plans – Avoid a lot of the headaches working with government plans.  Let BGES Group do the servicing

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, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you into, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

A home renovation can be a stressful but exciting and rewarding project. But it’s also a time of increased peril, from a homeowners’ perspective. Any time you open your home to strange people to tear things apart and engage in hazardous activities using ladders, scaffolding, flammable materials and power tools, with tens of thousands of dollars on the line, you have all the basic building blocks in place for something to go terribly awry.

Some examples of possible hazards:

• Uninsured property loss or theft
• Criminal activity on the premises by a contractor or employees.
• Workplace injury or death
• Faked workplace injuries
• Abandonment of projects mid-stride by contractors experiencing financial or personal difficulties
• Fires, flooding or weather-related damage while your home’s structure is compromised by construction.
• Kidnapping and/or extortion schemes (not unusual among high-net worth families).
• Bankruptcy or death of an important contractor

This is why your property and casualty insurance professional should be involved in the building or renovation project from the very beginning. An experienced insurance agent can help you identify a wide variety of significant – even life-changing – risks, and help you protect yourself and your family for a very small cost compared to the protection received.

Check the Basics 

The first step in the process is to check on your existing insurance coverage. Unfortunately, many high-net-worth families are severely underinsured. According to a survey commissioned by ACE – an insurance carrier that specializes in the protection needs of high-net-worth families, 40 percent of families with $5 million or more in investable assets had less than that figure in umbrella liability coverage. One high-net-worth family in five responding actually had no umbrella liability coverage. At the same time, actual claims history from jury verdicts and out-of-court settlements can rise to $10 million per case and even more.  

A smart homeowner embarking on a major project will inspect contractors’ coverage and make sure they have adequate coverage in place themselves. Your P&C professional can help guide you through this process, which is a vital part of due diligence on contractors. The idea is for you as the homeowner to know that the contractor has so much coverage in place that anything that goes wrong will be their problem to solve – not yours – and that they have the wherewithal, expertise, financial stability and insurance protection to solve it.

11 Mistakes People Make When Renovating Property

Major home renovation projects and construction projects are complex endeavors with a lot of moving parts. The more complex the endeavor, the more that can go wrong. Here are some of the major mistakes high net worth people make that put their hard-earned wealth at risk.

1. Insufficient umbrella liability coverage. Generally, your protection in place should equal your current net worth plus the net present value of expected future income. At a minimum, you should have enough to protect your investable net worth because that’s precisely what trial lawyers will be gunning for, in the event of a lawsuit.
2. Attempting to act as their own general contractor. Contracting is complex, and requires a full-time understanding of the process, rules and regulations. Plus, a good general contractor will come with their own insurance against a variety of mishaps-insurance coverage that protects you.
3. Failure to insist on background screening of all workers. Most construction workers are honest and hardworking tradesmen. But in some studies, we find as much as 30 percent of contractors, subcontractors and employees working a given home renovation job site are convicted felons.
4. Failure to ensure workers compensation insurance is in place for all contractors, subcontractors or employees. If someone is injured and there is no workers compensation coverage in place, the worker’s lawyers will be coming after you.
5. Failure to conduct due diligence on contractors. Does the contractor actually have the skill sets, financial stability and leadership/management in place to complete the project within the estimated cost range and on time? Do they have a track record of success? Have they had trouble paying their bills, workers and invoices? Does the management have a good reputation for integrity?
6. Failure to check licenses and bonds. Legitimate general contractors are very careful to use only licensed subcontractors. Some insurance policies may not cover events that arise because of actions by unlicensed contractors and their employees.
7. Insufficient insurance coverage. This isn’t just at the homeowners’ level. It starts with the contractor himself.
8. Failure to inspect specific language of contractors’ insurance policies. The language you want is something that establishes the contractors’ insurance as the primary insurance, with your insurance as secondary. You also want language that waives the contractors’ insurance carrier’s right to subrogate claims against your policy. Overall coverage amounts for your contractor’s general liability policy should at least cover the value not only of your home, but also its contents. Total amount of coverage is key.
9. Failure to establish a bond protecting you against the possibility that the contractor will fail to finish the job. If the contractor fails to perform, the bond company pays you a set sum you can use to finish the job. Contractor failure can happen for a variety of reasons beyond the contractor’s control. It will add a few percentage points to the cost, but it will potentially protect you against many thousands of dollars in damages.
10. Failure to protect oneself against a contractor’s failure to pay subcontractors. When this occurs, a subcontractor could put a lien on your house. If you’ve already paid the general contractor, you’ll have to pay the unpaid subcontractors twice to release the lien. To prevent this, you can require the general contractor to post a payment bond guaranteeing payments to subcontractors.
11. Failure to buy Builders’ Risk insurance, or add endorsements to homeowner’s’ policies. Your homeowner’s policy will usually have some general liability insurance, but generally not more than $500,000. This is not usually sufficient general liability coverage to protect you. Your standard home insurance policy is designed and priced to provide protection when you are simply living in your home. They are not designed to cover you when you have the place torn up and strange people crawling all over your property using hazardous implements. To protect yourself, speak to your agent about adding temporary riders or builders risk endorsements.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are there to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you into their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

Builders’ policies are not totally comprehensive, though. While specific policies vary, the vast majority of construction coverage policies are written based on a regulator-approved standard form. So for the most part, you can expect your policy to cover the buildings and structures on the property, including the systems directly installed thereto.  Usually, your standard policy will cover such items as heaters, electrical systems, HVAC systems and boilers. Policies will also usually provide coverage for temporary structures, as well as construction materials that are stored on the premises for use on site. But sometimes property owners and contractors alike are taken by surprise when a policy doesn’t cover something:

Not Covered

Unless you buy specific extensions or rider most policies will not cover items that are external to the structures, such as fencing, walkways, roads, swimming pools, and other external items not intrinsic to the main enclosed structures.

Landscaping is also not covered under this particular policy, though it may be covered under a flood or fire insurance or wind insurance policy, depending on the hazard that caused the damage and the type of structure.

Items that are normally underground are also not usually covered. Examples include plumbing and irrigation systems, drains and even building foundations.

Water Structures

Is the property adjacent to a body of water? Your standard builders insurance policy probably won’t cover items that interact with the water. For example, it generally won’t cover bridges, docks or wharfs.

All-Risk vs. Specific Peril

All-risk policies provide protection against any risk, while named peril policies only protect against damages from specific hazards. All things being equal, you can expect a higher premium from an all-risk policy versus a named-peril, or specific peril policy. On the other hand, if you have coverage against one type of occurrence already, it may not make sense to pay full price for an all-risk policy, doubling up your coverage. But be careful with this type of planning

Riders and Endorsements

Unlike personal lines of insurance, which are more tightly controlled by regulators to protect unsophisticated consumers, commercial lines of insurance, including builders’ risk insurance, features policies that are readily and easily upgraded to include additional coverages that may make sense for the builder. It is more efficient for an insurance company to cover an unusual risk with a rider than to build the coverage into policies for which it isn’t even relevant. It makes no sense for everyone who isn’t building a home with a swimming pool pay into swimming pool coverage for those few who are.

If you need coverage for a specific item not included in the base policy, your insurance company can probably write up a rider or an endorsement to cover the extra risk. You’ll have to pay an additional premium, and the maximum dollar amount for that particular risk will be clearly defined.

For example: Acts of war and acts of terror are frequently listed as exclusions on standard insurance policies. But if you are building a structure near a nuclear plant, for example, or a high-profile and logical target for terrorist groups or an enemy military, you may want to consider purchasing additional coverage.

When you buy this coverage, the insurance company grants an “extended policy.”

Read Your Policy

It is important to read and understand your policy in detail, paying particular attention to the policy exclusions. If one of the exclusions is a risk you’re concerned about – or if you would suffer a significant loss in the event of damage to or destruction of a specific structure or item on the property that’s excluded, bring it up right away with your agent, and have him or her draw up a rider, which will be attached to the back of the policy. The additional premium required is usually small, but it covers a big loss in the event something goes wrong. 

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are there to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you into their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

Here’s How We Can Help You

1. BGES Group is one of Tri-State’s Workers’ Compensation specialists.  We are VERY easy to deal with because:
   1. We answer the phone in seconds when you call
   2. We respond to emails in minutes
   3. We respond to texts immediately
   4. We are available to speak to day or evening
   5. You will be dealing with the same person every time you contact us who will make your life easier and who knows what they are talking about                                                                                                                                                      
2. We represent 40+ insurance companies                                                                                  
3. We have programs for:
   1. Auto Services
   2. Contractors especially in New York – We have programs that will insure asbestos, demolition and roofers
   3. Limousine Services
   4. Manufacturers
   5. Moving & Storage Agents
   6. Truckers

Problems We Can Help You Solve

1. Getting lower rates
2. Poor loss experience causing difficulty getting new coverage
3. Being cancelled or non renewed
4. Sick of having to do invasive annual audits
5. Payrolls misclassified
6. Operating out of state and your company can’t cover you
7. Having to come up with a 10% to 25% renewal deposit – We have a plan that requires just $200 to bind coverage then you pay as you go
8. Takes too long to get certificates of insurance
9. Sick of paying extra policy fees or service fees
10. Poor agency service
11. Whatever your problem we can help

Types of Plans Available

1. Stand a Lone Workers’ Compensation Policy
2. Combined Payroll and Workers’ Compensation Plan
3. Professional Employer Organization (PEO) – These work for tougher problem accounts
4. State and Assigned Risk Workers Compensation Plans – Avoid a lot of the headaches working with government plans.  Let BGES Group do the servicing.

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, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you into, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

One of the keys to instituting a good safety program is to get management and supervisor buy-in.

You need their support and belief in the system if you are to convince your employees to embrace your safety regimen. If your managers don’t believe in the safety plans you have put together, it will show through when they try to sell them to your staff.

If you don’t have buy-in from your managers, the chances are slim to none that your employees will embrace the changes you are proposing. Managers play a crucial role in getting employees on board with safety.

If you are serious about preventing injuries and want to keep your workers’ comp X-Mod low, the role of your management team is crucial.

You will often encounter a few different personality types among your managers and they need to be convinced of the importance of workplace safety in different ways.

• The excuse-makers: They are the ones that blame external factors that are out of their control for safety lapses, and they may pooh-pooh the harm that a high X-Mod has. They may talk the talk on safety, but they don’t walk the walk.
• Half-hearted bosses: These managers may actually buy into the safety program, but they are unable to show their commitment in ways that make an impression on the rank and file.
• Committed: These managers are fully committed and enthusiastically embrace your safety plans and discuss them with staff with exuberance.

You’ll need a different approach with each personality type to get them to embrace the concept. Once they do, they can effectively convey the urgency and importance of workplace safety to the rank and file.

Constructor Magazine recently had these recommendations for getting management buy-in:

Select the right leaders – Choose managers who are firm, yet fair with a passion for the safety of the workforce. They should have a track record of success so that they can be an inspiration to their teams. Also, they should not be afraid to get their hands dirty to make a point or demonstrate how something is done.

Talk about risk management holistically – Every facet of your operation needs to be addressed if you want a comprehensive global risk management culture to exist.

Executives can influence this by extending discussions of risk management beyond the worksite to help managers see the bigger picture of why safety matters.

Assessing the risk associated with every task, purchase order, estimate or piece of equipment used will reinforce the notion that risk management is a company-wide function and not only in the sphere that the manager is responsible for.

Make periodic site visits – Top leadership should make a point to get on the floor and visit various departments to watch the workflow and reinforce the importance of safety to the workers. They should make these visits with the manager who has been put in charge of safety for that department.

At the same time, they should not arrive and start nitpicking and being enforcers of safety policy. Instead, their role should be to start conversations with the workers about safety challenges and asking for advice and ideas to make the operation safer.

They can use these visits to also celebrate successes and challenge the team to do better and always look for issues that could lead to injuries.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

The newest cyber and financial fraud threat facing businesses is deepfake technology, which criminals are using to extract money from unsuspecting accounts payable personnel.

A finance worker at a multinational company in Hong Kong was duped into transferring $25 million to criminals who had used deepfake technology to pose as the business’s chief financial officer during a video conference call, according to local police.

A deepfake is an artificial image or video generated by a special kind of machine learning called “deep” learning. The creations have grown increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect.

What happened to this worker is an iteration of the growing threat of wire transfer fraud, where criminals pose as managers, clients or vendors in e-mails to try to dupe accounting staff into wiring funds to scammers’ accounts.

How it happened

The worker received an e-mail from what he thought was the company CFO, inviting him to attend a teleconference with him, other company executives and staff, according to Hong Kong police. The digitally recreated version of the CFO then ordered money transfers during the video conference call.

Based on instructions the employee got during that call, they transferred 200 million Hong Kong dollars ($25.6 million) to various Hong Kong bank accounts in a series of transactions. The employee did not interact with the deepfakes during the video conference, and he later told police that others on the call looked and sounded like people he knew in the organization.

In fact, all of the other people on the teleconference call were fakes of real people in the company. The criminals had used deepfake tech to alter publicly available video and footage found online to create convincing digital versions of the others in the meeting.

It was a week into the scam, when the employee contacted the company’s headquarters, that they realized something was wrong.

Police said that the case was one of several recent incidents in which criminals had used deepfake technology to change publicly available video and other footage to steal from people and companies.

Warning to US businesses

This type of attack is essentially an extension of the wire transfer fraud, a threat that’s been growing in recent years. These scams usually start with e-mails or even phone calls from scammers posing as someone higher up in an organization, a client or vendor. The end goal is to convince an employee with access to the company’s payment systems to transfer funds to the criminals.

Deepfake technology adds a dangerous new arrow to wire-transfer fraud criminals’ quivers, making the scam even easier to fall for.

To ensure your organization doesn’t fall victim, the law firm of Fischer Phillips recommended in a November 2023 blog that businesses:

Provide deepfake training to staff. You should already be training and providing refresher meetings on preventing cyber attacks of all sorts. Consider educating them about the dangers of deepfakes and provide the Hong Kong case as an example. Cover ways to spot deepfakes, including:

• Blurry details,
• Irregular lighting,
• Unnatural eye and facial movements,
• Mismatched audio, and
• Absence of emotion.

Urge staff to be suspicious. Your employees should be able to comfortably question the legitimacy of information and be urged to report suspicious activity.

Ensure strong authentication protocols. Put in place robust authentication measures for accessing sensitive information, systems and accounts. This could include multi-factor authentication and other tools.

Insurance coverage

If your organization has a cyber insurance policy, it might cover a wire transfer fraud loss.

The coverage provided by cyber insurance can vary significantly between insurance companies and policies. Some cyber policies may explicitly cover wire fraud, while others require additional endorsements or riders to provide adequate protection.

A commercial crime policy will cover losses resulting from the use of a computer to fraudulently transfer funds from inside the business premises or the insured’s bank to an outside party.

However, policies may only offer coverage if an employee was fraudulently involved in the wire transfer fraud. This type of funds transfer fraud is basically the only computer-related coverage that a crime policy offers.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

As the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing threat of natural disasters have shown us, disaster can strike suddenly.

Crises can take many forms, like the death of an owner, one of your products causing death or injury, or an earthquake damaging your building, forcing you to cease operations.

If your business suddenly became embroiled in a crisis, would you be prepared to handle it? To prepare for an emergency, you should start by creating a crisis management plan that includes various scenarios.

In the wake of a crisis, a plan keeps employees focused on your company’s top priorities and combats fear and uncertainty that can compound the damage. Moreover, the exercise of creating a plan helps you to identify threats, minimize their likelihood, and improve the response.

A crisis management plan can prepare your firm and its employees to cope with an unexpected calamity by:

• Shortening and reducing the impact of a crisis;
• Protecting employees and anyone else affected;
• Preserving operations and productivity as much as possible; and
• Safeguarding your firm’s reputation.

A recent article, Inc. magazine recommended the following crisis management steps every company should have in place:

1. Have a plan — Put in place clear objectives that you would want to pursue during a crisis. Objectives should include protecting human life, ensuring that the organization survives and that your stakeholders (clients, suppliers, employees, the public) are kept informed. Include specific actions that you would take in a crisis.
2. Different responses to different crises — Have plans in place for various crises that could strike your organization. You should conduct a brain-storming session where you can come up with as many potential crises as possible that could affect your company.
   If it’s the sudden loss of a key employee or owner, you should prearrange a succession plan and transfers of responsibility.

If it’s a natural disaster that disrupts operations, have plans in place to ensure that you can continue operating, such as arranging for alternate suppliers, or arranging for an alternative location if you are unable to function in your current facilities.

Some types of crisis may have similar responses, but not all, so it’s smart to map out how you would react to each different threat.

3. Be transparent — Being as open and transparent as possible can help stop rumors and head off any negative fallout.
4. Keep employees informed — It’s extremely important that you keep your employees informed, to keep morale up and so that they can help you keep your operations afloat. This also stops the rumor mill from circulating out of control.
5. Reach out to clients and suppliers — Head off any misunderstandings by communicating with your customers and suppliers before they learn it from another source. Keep them informed of what’s happened, how it has affected your operations and how it might affect them during this period.
6. Update early and often — Provide updates to your stakeholders when warranted to inform them of progress the company is making to return to normal operations.

Plan during smooth times

You should create your crisis management plan when your business is running smoothly and you have time to devote to thinking out a successful strategy.

This also gives you a chance to involve key employees in the process and open it up for brainstorming on how you would handle different crises.

You may want to include in this process advice and input from

• Members of your leadership team
• Employees
• Customers
• Communications experts
• Lawyers

The takeaway

Without a plan, your company may struggle to operations up to speed and you could end up bankrupt. If you don’t already have a crisis management plan, you should start on one. You never know what could upend your business.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

There’s a newcomer to OSHA’s top 10 list of violations that it cites every year: Fall Protection – Training Requirements.

While physical fall protection violations, like failing to install guard-rails or provide fall protection equipment, continue to feature at the top of the list, this is the first time that training requirements as a stand-alone category has made it onto OSHA’s preliminary list of most-cited violations has featured.

The fact that OSHA has doled out so many citations for such training-requirement violations reflects its increasing commitment to reduce injuries and deaths from trips, slips and falls – the most common cause of workplace injuries in the U.S.

Overall, OSHA issued about the same number of citations in fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, than it did in the previous 12 months, but the big change was the new addition, which pushed Electrical – General Requirements off the list.

The 10 most-cited OSHA violations were:

• Fall protection: 5,677
• Scaffolding: 2,939
• Hazard communication: 2,754
• Ladders: 2,462
• Lockout/tagout: 2,415
• Respiratory protection: 1,902
• Machine guarding: 1,737
• Powered industrial trucks: 1,593
• Fall protection – training requirements: 1,584
• Electrical – wiring methods: 1,405

Training done right
There are four levels of fall protection training:

• Awareness – Awareness-level training generally consists of brief, on-site sessions that provide an overview of fall hazards, fall protection equipment, and how it should be used.
• Authorized-user – A best practice to keep employees safe and comply with OSHA is to have any worker exposed to fall hazards undergo authorized-user training. This training is specialized for the type of job and specific fall hazards employees will be exposed to.
• Competent person – This covers a wider breadth of fall hazards because this employee, typically a supervisor, should understand all types of fall hazards and methods of protection, as well as applicable standards.
  The competent person needs a higher level of training and knowledge because they should be able to address any fall hazard situation in the organization, evaluate it, and recommend solutions. This employee also needs to recognize whether other workers are misusing equipment or working in unsafe conditions.
• Qualified-person training – This person typically has a specialized degree or training that qualifies them to address technical situations, such as making certified anchorage points or designing horizontal safety systems. 

The employer should designate someone who has sufficient training and a reasonable level of knowledge in fall protection to be the on-site “qualified person.”

Make sure to log it all
Keep accurate and detailed records to show that you vetted the training organization you use before hiring them.

OSHA also often requires detailed training records, such as dates and employee attendance.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

Researchers analyzed past workers’ compensation claims that were considered questionable by referrals, and the reports were submitted over the span of about six months. Although the total number of workers’ compensation claims submitted had dropped, the number of claims considered questionable had risen. Questionable claims are ones that experts at insurance companies refer to the National Insurance Crime Bureau for review. When the reports are submitted for review, they are closely analyzed for indications of fraud. In some cases, one report may have several red flags that put it in the questionable category.

The state with the highest number of questionable workers’ compensation claims was California, which had more than 2,250. Illinois followed with almost 700, and New York was close behind with nearly 690. In 2011, there were more than 3.3 million workers’ compensation claims in a major database. The number decreased to about 3.2 million within the span of one year, and it decreased again in 2013. There were about 3,475 questionable workers’ compensation claims reported to the NICB in 2011, and that number increased to more than 4,450 in 2012. This means that claims increased by more than 25 percent. During the first half of 2013, there were about 2,325 questionable claims submitted.

When it came to further describing questionable workers’ compensation claims, there were several reasons experts said they referred them. The main reasons were claimant fraud, prior injuries not related to work and malingering. There were more than 6,100 claimant fraud cases, more than 2,300 non-work-related prior injury cases and more than 1,375 malingering cases. Non-work-related injuries pertain to people who claim injuries during days off or recreational days but do not report the incident until they return to work. When they return, they claim the injury happened while they were on the clock. Malingering occurs when a claimant sustained a legitimate injury but kept pretending to experience symptoms in order to collect benefits much longer than necessary after recovering.

Insurance fraud is a growing issue for both consumers and insurers. Many companies are taking steps to prevent it from happening and are also working on ways to improve identification of signs of fraud. If fraud can be prevented before claims are paid, this helps keep premiums more affordable for consumers. When consumers suspect or know of someone committing insurance fraud, it is important to report it. To learn more about this issue or how to report fraud, discuss concerns with an agent.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group

Employers must buy insurance to cover workers’ compensation claims. This type of insurance provides funding for injured employees, and employers also receive protection from lawsuits stemming from a worker’s injuries. State laws govern workers’ compensation, and every state has a slightly different set of rules and payment rates. To learn about a specific state’s workers’ compensation laws, it is best to contact an agent for more details. The United States Department of Labor also provides information on its official site.

What Is Covered Under Workers’ Compensation
Only work-related illnesses and injuries are covered by workers’ compensation. However, this does not mean the injury has to happen in the workplace. If an employee is injured while out driving a company car off the premises of the workplace, the injuries will be covered. Both sudden and gradual injuries are covered if they are work related. An example of a sudden injury is an employee falling off of a ladder, and a gradual injury might be a foot condition that develops from walking or standing on a concrete floor every day for several years.

What Workers’ Compensation Does Not Cover
Some problems that happen in the workplace are not covered. Some of the following situations are examples:

– Self-inflicted injuries
– Injuries from drug or alcohol use
– Injuries resulting from horseplay
– Injuries following termination or a layoff
– Injuries sustained from fighting
– Felony-related injuries
– Independent contractor injuries
– Injuries sustained while off duty but on workplace premises

When Employees Can Sue Employers
Employers are not protected from employee lawsuits in all situations. When an employee’s injuries are due to the employer’s intentional actions or there is no workers’ compensation insurance, the employee is allowed to sue the employer in court for a wide range of damages. In some cases, employees may also be able to sue third parties that are involved and have caused damages.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits
There are several provisions made possible by workers’ compensation. These include the following:

– Replacement income when employees are off work
– Vocational rehabilitation training or placement assistance
– Medical expense payments for physician appointments, drugs and surgeries

If an employee is unable to work temporarily, that individual usually receives about 66 percent of his or her income as disability payments. There is a fixed ceiling amount for this percentage, and the benefits are available to people who are unable to do the same type of work that was done prior to the disability’s beginning. Some people may be able to perform other types of work, but there are people who are unable to work at all. If this is the case, such a person will usually receive permanent disability payments.

Workers’ Compensation And Employer Responsibilities
Under the workers’ compensation system, employers have several obligations. When requirements are not met, employers may face fines. In addition to this, employees may be able to sue such employers.

Carrying Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If a business does not have this type of coverage, the owner is vulnerable to lawsuits that may be filed by injured workers. In addition to carrying insurance, employers should post notices and provide employees with information about their legal rights. This should be done on a regular basis. Any posted notices should be placed in areas that employees use frequently during working hours. The literature should include the following bits of information:

– The name of the workers’ compensation insurance carrier
– A self-insurance statement for employers who have their own insurance
– The name of the entity responsible for claims adjustments
– A statement that workers have the right to change doctors
– A statement that injured workers have the right to medical treatment
– Details about workers’ compensation benefits

When hiring new workers, employers should notify them of all these points prior to starting work. Within 24 hours of an injury happening on the job, employers must provide workers with claim forms. They must also provide written information again about that worker’s rights under the insurance plan and state laws. To learn more about workers’ compensation insurance and how it works, discuss concerns with an agent.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU! 

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits 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.

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2024 – BGES Group