A Leap Into New Blogging
Posted: February 29, 2012 Filed under: Bonds, Construction, Employee Benefits, General Commercial, Hospitality, Personal Lines | Tags: commercial insurance, personal insurance, SIA blog, sia group, SIA Group insurance Leave a comment »
(From Don Mills)
Happy Leap Day! Since an occasion like this comes around only once every four years, I thought this would be a great time to let you know about some unique changes to our blog!
We will be expanding our blog to include a broader range of topics, as well as give a glimpse of what it is like to be part of the SIA Group family. In future days and weeks, look for blog changes from SIA Group team members that will include the following:
- A broader range of topics coverage – we will discuss personal lines of insurance as much as our commercial ones and other topics.
- Entries from team members sharing their own experiences in personal and commercial insurance lines.
- Insight into our community involvement throughout North Carolina and the other markets that SIA Group serves – we as a company are committed and involved in making these cities a better place for people to live and work.
As always, we plan to give you timely and informative news on personal and commercial insurance. These changes will help you know SIA Group a little better, as well as what we do in and beyond the insurance industry.
Feel free to use the comments section to give your thoughts on our posts, as well as ask any questions you might have. These changes are occurring to serve you better, so we want to know what you think. Thank you!
If you have any questions about personal or commercial insurance, our team at SIA Group is here to meet your needs. Give us a call at (910) 455-7576 and we will be happy to help.
OSHA Offers Employers Information On Responsibilities For Winter Storms
Posted: February 16, 2012 Filed under: Construction | Tags: construction, employee rights, sia group, SIA Group insurance, winter storms Leave a comment »
Recently OSHA added to its website a page on employer responsibilities and employees’ rights regarding winter storms. This information is vital to know at this time of year, particularly for employers who own company vehicles.
As the page notes, according to the National Weather Service, about 70 percent of injuries during winter storms result from vehicle accidents, and about 25 percent of injuries result from being caught out in the storm.
These seasonal hazards can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Being struck by falling objects such as icicles, tree limbs, and utility poles;
- Driving accidents due to slippery roadways;
- Carbon monoxide poisoning;
- Dehydration, hypothermia and frostbite;
- Exhaustion from strenuous activity;
- Back injuries or heart attack while removing snow;
- Slips and falls due to slippery walkways;
- Electrocution from downed power lines and downed objects in contact with power lines;
- Burns from fires caused by energized line contact or equipment failure;
- Falls from snow removal on roofs or while working in aerial lifts or on ladders;
- Roof collapse under weight of snow (or melting snow if drains are clogged); and
- Lacerations or amputations from unguarded or improperly operated chain saws and power tools, and improperly attempting to clear jams in snow blowers.
Employers who want to avoid being held liable for injuries sustained from these circumstances should contact an insurance agency with experience in identifying such exposures to loss and helping clients control these loss exposures. With appropriate coverage and steps taken to avoid risks, complying with OSHA’s rules regarding winter storms for your employees can be accomplished smoothly and effectively without costing your company penalties and fines.
If you have any questions about OSHA regulations, contact Clifton Waters at cwaters@siagroup.net or call (252) 560-8778.
Photo Credit: Flickr User pingnews.com
Watch for These Initiatives for Health Care Reform in 2012
Posted: February 1, 2012 Filed under: Employee Benefits | Tags: employee benefits, health care, health care reform, sia group, SIA Group insurance Leave a comment »
Many of the programs and initiatives promised by the health care reform signed into law by President Obama in 2010, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), will take effect this year. One program where businesses will notice significant changes will be with Medicare, in particular Medicare Advantage programs handled by private employers.
The government will reduce rebates for Medicare Advantage programs but will provide bonus payments for MA plans judged to be high-quality ones. The overall score for grading the quality of those services will remain as before the ACA became law, with 36 different topics in five categories for plans covering health services, 17 different topics in four categories for plans covering drug services and all 53 topics for plans covering both health and drug services.
Beyond Medicare, other ACA initiatives in effect this year involve the launch of the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program, which will foster the creation of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers to offer competitive health plans in the individual and small group markets (businesses with less than 1,000 employees). This new offering is meant to spur more options for health care among these areas. For large employers, there will be more incentives to subsidize medical coverage and requirements to improve insurance plans by eliminating exclusions, as well as new tax reporting obligations on W-2 forms.
An informed insurance provider will assist business owners and operators with updated information on how they can accommodate all of these changes and respond to them in a cost-efficient manner. Although the results of the 2012 election can affect how long these provisions remain in place, they apply to businesses and individuals at present, and compliance is necessary by businesses in order to avoid large fines for violating the terms of the ACA.
If you have any questions about health care reform, contact Lisa Jolly at ljolley@siagroup.net or call (910) 478-3379.
Photo Credit: Focus Laser Vision
