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Month: October 2017

Recent Storms Demonstrate Why Builders Risk Protection is Important

Recent Storms Demonstrate Why Builders Risk Protection is Important

Building during hurricane season carries risks for entrepreneurs and construction companies. Storms tear into construction sites ravaging materials and destroying site preparation. Beyond the physical toll, construction companies shoulder extra staffing, transportation, and other costs due to delay. Construction continues year-round, regardless of hurricane season. Each year, builders take a gamble projects will safe from major storms. Builders risk insurance protects residential and commercial construction projects from damages caused by storm activity.

Often, the language in a builders risk plan is specific to an insurance agency. Standardized insurance formats for builders risk plans have yet to take hold, making these plans difficult to understand. This leaves many entrepreneurs and builders in a lurch if insurance claims are filed. Many claimants receive less compensation than owed. This is due to confusing policy language and coverage on most builders risk plans.

Builders risk protects projects under-construction. This includes protection for plans, materials, tools and more. If a claim is submitted there are a number of steps the insured is expected to take. Rigid timelines, complicated paperwork and more create hurdles for filing in the requisite amount of time.

Builders Risk Insurance: Claims

Filing claims correctly and on-time helps avoid unnecessary claim denial or delay in compensation. To increase chances for compensation without delay or rejection, here are 5 steps for filing a builder’s risk insurance claim:

1. Understand the Builders Risk Policy

Insurance policy paperwork grows in size with each added layer of protection. Arrange proper coverage with an agent and review all policy materials. A solid understanding of coverage protection, policy limitations, claims processes and timelines all help expedite the claims process.

2. Build an Insurance Claims Team

A designated team of individuals dedicated to insurance matters expedites the claims process. Persons educated on processes, language and timelines for filing builders risk claims are better able to react to damages. Teams may include members from legal, accounting, management sections and more. Train teams to respond to insurance matters and improve chances for the effective filing of claims for compensation payout.

3. Create a Single Point of Contact

Insurance claims are legal matters where the right language matters. Create a single point of contact on the claims team for communicating to the insurance agency. Insurance agencies take statements into effect deciding claims; ensure statements are controlled. Including legal counsel for representatives creates additional protective layers.

4. Thoroughly Record Losses

On a builders risk insurance claim, the details matter. Record all losses regardless of size. Independent experts are a valuable resource for thorough inspection of potential losses. This helps capture all potential insurance payouts for both hard costs and soft.

5. Contact Insurance Carriers Promptly

Builders risk policies created by local agencies often bundle services from several carriers for complete protection. Each of these carriers extends coverage for specific risks, shouldering a percentage of claim responsibility. For claims filing, contact each carrier promptly and begin the claims process.

Unexpected weather wreaks havoc on construction projects of all sizes each storm season. Builders risk insurance protects from losses due to hurricane and storms. To find the right builder’s risk policy talk to an insurance agent. Builders risk policies are tailored to fit. A local insurance broker has the best perspective on coverage necessary in your area. Contact an agent today and discover all the layers of protection available under builders risk insurance.

Have questions related to personal and business insurance matters? An article topic to suggest? Contact an agent today!

Making Workers Safe With Guardrails

Making Workers Safe With Guardrails

Construction sites are active environments. Active transfer of people and materials creates the potential for anything to happen. Site safety is a regulated industry. Safety standards and guidelines in place by OSHA and the International Code Council help maintain site and worker safety

These agencies recommend safety measures developed following years of real-world learning. In the early 1990’s, builders discovered gaps in standardized building safety ordinances. By 1997, the ICC published the first international safety guidelines: the International Building Code (IBC). Alongside OSHA, these agencies set the standard for construction site safety measures.

ICC and OSHA regularly publish standards recommending guardrails on construction sites, keeping workers safe. These safety standards help keep workers safe and reduce insurance costs:

1. Guardrails for Construction Sites

Guardrails help prevent falls on construction sites for workers and visitors. Builders can seal-off areas and secure open walkways for safety. Construction guardrails are for securing:

  • Platforms
  • Stairs
  • Rooftops
  • Pits
  • Wells
  • Materials

Guardrails are required anywhere 30 inches or more separate two walking surfaces. Per ICC and OSHA regulations, rails are to be constructed of rigid materials built to a height of 42 inches above the platform. OSHA regulations stipulate areas separated by 6′ of difference or more be equipped with guardrails or fall-protection system.

2. Construction Site Guardrail Installation

Site guardrails are subject to OSHA and ICC guidelines on proper construction. Regulations for guardrail construction protect workers and visitors. Builders employing properly constructed guardrails:

  • Keep workers safe on constitutions sites
  • Keep visitors and passerby safe
  • Keep access limited to authorized persons
  • Keep insurance rates low
  • Keep building costs low
  • Keep construction companies operationally compliant

Properly constructed guardrails built to code limit builder insurance and legal obligations. This translates to saved time and reduced costs for construction companies and builders alike. Load requirements are determined by architectural design. The forces and stress-levels specific to a site determine guardrail load limits.

3. Guardrail Load Requirements

OSHA and the ICC set guardrail load requirements for the construction industry. Load requirements may vary due to the site and architectural layout. Construction site guard rail general load limit guidelines express rails be able to support:

  • 50lbs of weight per foot
  • 200lbs of direct force, anywhere rails are present

Rails may shift during building, and wear-and-tear is a part of guardrail construction. Regular inspection of guard rails by site managers and safety personnel helps keep rails safe and compliant.

4. Staying Compliant

Construction companies and builders following the guidelines in place by OSHA and the ICC will avoid penalties and fines. Local authorities enforce construction site safety. Each governing body has authority to issue fines and other reprimands for non-compliance. Repeat violations result in increased severity of penalties. Fines may reach as high as $100,000 per violation.

Construction companies also have the moral obligation to workers for creating a safe work environment. Builders work on reputation, among other traits. Companies holding positive reputations and safe track-records are much more likely to secure bids and contracts. Safe employees can perform better knowing the site is safer, keeping building and insurance costs low.

Construction and insurance topics directly affect health and pocketbook. Topic suggestions are always welcome. Contact an agent for any insurance-related questions or for an insurance quote.