Responding to Bomb Threats or Suspicious Items

by Grant Davis | Insurance, Risk Management, Safety Tips

Responding to Bomb Threats or Suspicious Items

Each year, thousands of businesses, schools and other establishments are mailed suspicious items (e.g., unmarked packages) or are the target of bomb threats. These threats can be made via phone calls, letters, social media channels, emails or other similar means.

Bomb threats and suspicious items are often used to cause alarm, panic, disruption or, in extreme cases, direct harm. However these threats are made, organizations of all kinds need to take them seriously and know how to respond appropriately.

What to Do If You Receive a Bomb Threat

Businesses often wrongly assume they aren’t at risk of a bomb threat. However, the truth is that no organization is 100 percent safe from malicious attacks or threats, making proper preparation all the more important. In the event that your organization receives a bomb threat—whether it be over the phone, via email or another means—follow these procedures.

Threats Made Over the Phone

Remain calm. Keep the caller on the line for as long as possible, and don’t hang up even if the caller does.
Signal or pass a note to another staff member, instructing them to notify the authorities. If this isn’t possible, call 911 from another phone after the caller hangs up.
Document as much information about the call as possible. Details related to a caller ID number, the wording of the threat, the time of the call, background noises on the caller’s end, and the tone and inflection of the caller can all aid investigators. If possible, ask questions to infer specific details about the threat itself, including:
1. Who is making the threat and where they are calling from
1. The type of device and when it might go off
1. What the device looks like
1. Where the device is located
1. Who the target is
Record the call if possible.
Be available for interviews.
Follow any instructions from facility supervisors and local authorities. These individuals will also provide specific guidance related to facility lockdowns, searches or evacuations.

Threats Made Via Email, Online Platforms, the Mail or Other Source

Call 911.
Preserve the threat. If the threat is made online, take a screenshot. If the threat is made through the mail, store it in a safe place and handle it as minimally as possible.
Note where the threat was found, who found it and when they found it.
Wait for further instructions from the proper authorities.

In the event of a threat, staff members should avoid using two-way radios, cellular phones or any other electronics, as signals from these devices could potentially detonate a bomb. In addition, you should avoid activating alarms or evacuating the building until the proper authorities evaluate the threat. Law enforcement officials will direct the evacuation if one is necessary.

What to Do If You Find or Receive a Suspicious Item

In general, a suspicious item is any item—like a bag or package—that is believed to contain explosives, improvised explosive devices or hazardous materials. When it comes to identifying these items, you should watch out for unexplainable or unusual wires, electronics, sounds, vapors, mists or odors.

It is not uncommon for establishments to find or receive suspicious items and, while they may end up being harmless, it’s good practice to be overly cautious. As a good rule of thumb, any item that is Hidden, Obviously suspicious and not Typical (HOT) should be deemed suspicious.

In the event that your organization finds or receives a suspicious item, you should:

Remain calm.
Avoid touching, tampering or moving the item.
Notify the proper authorities and your facility supervisor. Follow any and all of their instructions carefully.

Plan Ahead and Stay Safe

When it comes to bomb threats and suspicious items, every situation is unique. Typically, facility supervisors and law enforcement officials will be in the best position assess the situation, determine if a real risk is present and provide instruction on how to respond.

For even more protection, businesses should review guidance provided by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Doing so can help you better prepare for potential threats. For more workplace safety advice and risk mitigation tips, contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. today.

California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management

As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more.

We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive business insurance quote!

Does Your Business Need A Dress Code Policy?

by Grant Davis | Business Insurance, GDI Insurance, Risk Management, Safety Tips

Does Your Business Need A Dress Code Policy?

Employees often express themselves and their unique personalities through their fashion and dress. However, certain workplace clothing may not always be appropriate, whether it be for safety or professional reasons. Because of this, a carefully drafted dress code policy that accounts for all potential safety and workplace concerns is crucial.

However, drafting an adequate dress code policy may not always be a simple process, as it must adhere to discrimination laws and clearly define what is considered appropriate. Your dress code policy should be designed to fulfill your business needs, apply some uniformity within your employee body and not infringe on your employee’s civil rights.

This blog provides some general considerations to keep in mind when drafting a dress code policy. For additional help, and to ensure your policy is thorough, it’s important to consult legal professionals as well as a qualified insurance broker.

Best Practices to Consider for a Dress Code Policy

There are some special considerations that you must make when drafting and implementing a dress code policy at your organization. The following are some best practices to keep in mind:

Take into account the unique safety needs of your workplace. Depending on the type of work your employees perform, there may be specific types of clothing employees are/are not expected to wear. In fact, OSHA sets guidelines that employers and industry associations must use to define what type of clothing provides adequate protection within specific job roles in their industry. In general, clothing must protect employees from chemical hazards, environmental hazards, radiological hazards and irritants. Some examples of safety-related considerations to keep in mind when drafting your policy include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Footwear—Shoes should be comfortable for the task at hand and nonslip to prevent trip and fall injuries. In more dangerous work areas, employees may need to wear steel-toed or chemical-resistant shoes.
- Jewelry—In your policy, you may want to prohibit loose jewelry, particularly if employees work with or around machinery. This is because dangling necklaces or bracelets can easily get caught in machines, leading to potentially serious injuries.
- Pants—To avoid trips and falls, pants should be relatively well fitting. Pants should not drag along the ground or be loose enough that they could get caught in workplace equipment.
- Shirts—Shirts should be comfortable and appropriate for the jobs being performed. For instance, shirts may need to be more loose and flexible in workplaces where employees are lifting or performing other manual tasks that require mobility.
- Headgear—Headgear like helmets and hats may be useful when it comes to protecting against the elements and workplace hazards.
Ensure policies have a basis in social customs and do not significantly differentiate the standards for men and women.
Explain the reasons for the policy to employees so that they understand that it has business-legitimate goals. These may include maintaining a corporate image for your organization, promoting a productive working environment for all employees and/or complying with health standards.
Use employee handbooks or newsletters to vocalize the policy, and explain the policy to potential employees during the interview process.
Apply the dress code fairly to all employees at your organization. This will prevent legal claims stating that the policy is implemented unfairly onto certain groups.
Make reasonable accommodations and exceptions, when necessary. Specifically, accommodate religious requests and requests for leniency based on disabilities.
Apply consistent discipline for dress code violations across all employees.
Be extremely specific about what type of dress is permitted.

Questions to Ask After Drafting a Dress Code Policy

After drafting a dress code policy, you should assess it by asking yourself the following questions:

Does the policy create an undue burden on one gender over another?
Does the policy infringe on religious beliefs?
Does the policy infringe on cultural norms of a specific race or origin?
Do any covered disabilities limit employees from complying with the policy?
Is compliance with the policy more difficult for those of a certain age?

At the highest level, these questions must be asked to ensure you’re accounting for potential policy issues.

California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management

Devising a properly articulated dress code policy will minimize your risk of legal action by employees and ensure that employees present themselves in a professional manner. For more assistance creating a dress code policy for your organization, contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. today.

The Dangers of Installing Solar Panels

by Grant Davis | GDI Insurance, Risk Management, Safety Tips, Solar Installers

The Dangers of Installing Solar Panels

Solar panel installation is a risky job, particularly due to the combination of electrical hazards and working at dangerous heights. Because worker safety is our top priority, we are providing this overview to teach you about the dangers you face while installing solar panels and how you can keep yourself safe from each hazard. GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. your solar panel installer insurance experts. Call us today 209-634-2929 for your free quote!

Fire and Explosions While Installing Solar Panels

Contrary to popular belief, the risk of fire and explosion from solar panels does not stem from the possibility of overheating or spontaneous combustion. Rather, it is the result of faulty wiring and careless installation near flammable gases or vapors. To prevent fires and explosions while installing solar panels, use the correct wire size and ground all electrical systems and tools properly. Check for hazardous gases or vapors in the area before beginning the installation process to protect from the risk of explosion.

Electrocution from Installing Solar Panels

Electrocution is a major concern when installing solar panels. Solar modules generate up to 600 volts of DC electricity when exposed to sunlight, and when several modules are connected in series, the hazard increases exponentially. Always use the DC disconnect switch when working on a string of PV panels.

Some inexperienced solar panel installers do not realize that unlike a normal power system, turning off the main breaker will shut down the building’s utility power, but it will not stop solar systems from producing power. Therefore, you should keep the module(s) packed in a box until the last minute, and during installation, cover the face with opaque material to halt electrical production. Also, do not touch the terminals while the modules are exposed to light, and as with any electrical work, only use insulated tools.

In addition to the possibility of electrocution while working with the actual PV module, several PV technicians have also been seriously injured by accidentally coming into contact with nearby high-voltage power lines during the installation process. To prevent electrocution from nearby high-voltage power lines, make sure you assess the worksite before beginning a job and insist on adequate on-site supervision to warn workers when they are within 10 feet of a power line.

Chemical Leaching

The manufacturing process for solar panels involves heavy, toxic metals. It is important to note that broken modules may leach dangerous chemicals, though officials still debate the validity of this hazard. Experts agree that it is not possible for chemicals used in manufacturing to leach onto rooftops or into buildings from a properly functioning module. However, there is debate surrounding whether chemicals from a broken panel could leach and cause harm, whether broken during installation or after disposal.

The best defense against this potential hazard is to prevent breakage altogether by leaving the panel packed until use, taking care not to drop items or accidentally step on the module, and continually making sure the panels are supported and secured at all times. To avoid causing a break in modules post-installation, plan ahead by trimming trees and other objects that rise above the panels. Remember, do not use a module if there is any evidence of broken glass.

Trips, Slips and Falls

As with any job performed at heights, installing solar panels carries the risk of dangerous slips, trips and falls. Stay sure-footed by wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including non-slip shoes, and by only working in dry conditions with the proper tools. Always look in the direction you are walking, and cover skylights and other roof openings in the area.

Burn Hazards

When performing solar plumbing jobs, burns are one of the largest risks. Applying fluid to a hot solar system may result in the liquid flashing to steam and causing serious burns to the face or arms. In addition, the system’s collector manifolds may become extremely hot. While most of the collector can be handled safely with bare hands, you should always wear gloves in case you come in contact with the collector manifolds. Also, it takes a good deal of time for solar collectors to cool down after sitting in direct sun, so be mindful of this fact when performing maintenance even if the work is done after dark.

Summary

The installation of solar panels is still a relatively new business, so establishing healthy work patterns is extremely important. Working with power sources is a historically dangerous industry, but solar power does not have to be. Learn about the causes of the many hazards we have discussed, and actively work to correct and avoid these hazards in order to maintain a safe working environment for everyone.

California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management

We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive solar panel installer insurance quote!

Landscaping Employee Safety Plan

by Grant Davis | Insurance, Landscape Business, Risk Management, Safety Tips

Landscaping Employee Safety Plan

As a Landscaping Business Owner you recognize that employees drive a lot of your business. Employees should be safeguarded through training, work surroundings and procedures that foster protection of health and safety. Implementing your Landscaping Employee Safety Manual and committing to these landscaping employee safety tips can prevent many workplace accidents. GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is your landscape insurance specialist. Give us a call today 209-634-2929 for your free quote.

Commitment To Landscaping Employee Safety

Being firmly committed to the safety of your employees is essential for landscape business owners. By implementing processes that prevent workplace incidents will provide a safe working environment for all employees.

Be sure to encourage your employees to report any unsafe work practices or safety hazards encountered on the job. All accidents or incidents, no mater how slight, should be immediately reported to the supervisor on duty.

Landscaping Employee Safety Agreement

All accidents are preventable through implementation of effective safety and health control policies and programs.
Safety and health controls are a major part of our work every day.
Accident prevention is good business. It minimizes human suffering, promotes better working conditions for everyone, holds in higher regard with customers and increases productivity.
Management is responsible for providing the safest possible workplace for employees. Consequently, management of is committed to allocating and providing all of the resources needed to promote and effectively implement this safety policy.
Employees are responsible for following safe work practices and company rules, and for preventing accidents and injuries. Management will establish lines of communication to solicit and receive comments, information, suggestions and assistance from employees where safety and health are concerned.
Management and supervisors of will set an exemplary example with good attitudes and strong commitment to safety and health in the workplace. Toward this end, management must monitor company safety and health performance, working environment and conditions to ensure that program objectives are achieved.
Our safety program applies to all employees and persons affected or associated in any way by the scope of this business. Everyone’s goal must be to constantly improve safety awareness and to prevent accidents and injuries.

Landscaping Employee Safety Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of employees is to perform their duties in a safe manner in order to prevent injury to themselves and others.

As a condition of employment, employees MUST become familiar with, observe and obey ’s rules and established policies for health, safety and preventing injuries while at work. Additionally, employees MUST learn the approved safe practices and procedures that apply to their work.

Before beginning special work or new assignments, an employee should review applicable and appropriate safety rules.

If an employee has any questions about how a task should be done safely, they are under instruction NOT to begin the task until they discuss the situation with their supervisor. Together, they will determine the safe way to do the job.

If, after discussing a safety situation with their supervisor, an employee still has questions or concerns, they are required to contact the Safety Coordinator.

NO EMPLOYEE IS EVER REQUIRED to perform work that they believe is unsafe or that they think is likely to cause injury or a health risk to themselves or others.

General Landscaping Employee Safety Rules

Conduct

Horseplay and practical jokes are forbidden. Employees are required to work in an injury-free manner displaying accepted levels of behavior. Conduct that places the employee or others at risk, or which threatens or intimidates others, is forbidden.

Drugs and Alcohol

Use and/or possession of illegal drugs or alcohol on company property or on company time is forbidden. Reporting for work while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol is forbidden.

Housekeeping

You are responsible for keeping your work area clean and safe. Clean up several times throughout the day, disposing of trash and waste in approved containers, wiping up any drips/spills immediately and putting equipment and tools away as you are finished with them.

The following areas must remain clear of obstructions:

Aisles/exits
Fire extinguishers and emergency equipment
All electrical breakers, controls and switches

Injury Reporting

All work-related injuries must be reported to your supervisor as soon as practicable. Failure to report injuries can result in loss of Workers’ Compensation benefits. After each medical appointment resulting from a work-related injury, you must contact your supervisor to discuss your progress. You must also give your supervisor any paperwork that you received at the appointment.

Providing Transitional Return to Work (light duty) jobs for persons injured at work. Transitional work is meant to allow the injured or ill employee to heal under a doctor’s care while remaining productive. Employees are required to return to work immediately upon release.

Off-site Safety

Employees are required to follow all standard safety and security procedures during off-site visits.
If your contact person does not advise you regarding safety hazards:
Note emergency exit location(s) when indoors.
Keep your eye on the path you are walking and avoid any tripping/slipping hazards. When on stairs maintain three-point contact (hand on rail and feet on stairs).
Look for features on a property that could present a unique hazard to the task at hand.

These rules are established to help you stay safe and injury free. Violation of the above rules, or conduct that does not meet minimum accepted work standards, may result in discipline, up to and including discharge. When working at a customer location, employees are required to follow the above rules, as well as all customer rules and procedures, and work in a manner that reflects positively on the company. Before operating any equipment at a customer location, permission must first be secured from the customer contact.

California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management

We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive Landscape contractor insurance quote!

The Real Life Benefits of Cyber Liability Insurance

by Grant Davis | Business Insurance, Cyber Liability, Risk Management

The Real Life Benefits of Cyber Liability Insurance

As technology becomes increasingly important for successful business operations, the value of a strong cyber liability insurance policy continues to grow. The continued rise in the amount of information stored and transferred electronically has resulted in a remarkable increase in the potential exposures facing businesses. The real life benefits of cyber liability insurance can protect your California business from costly cyber attacks.

In an age where a stolen laptop or data breach can instantly compromise the personal data of thousands of customers, protecting your business from cyber liability is just as important as some of the more traditional exposures businesses account for in their business general liability insurance policies.

Outsourcing Gone Wrong

The company: A national construction company that outsources some of its cyber security protections

The challenge: A construction firm partnered with a third-party cloud service provider in order to store customer information. While this service helped the company save on server costs, the third-party firm suffered a data breach.

As a result, the construction firm had to notify 10,000 of its customers and was forced to pay nearly $200,000 in incident investigation costs. The incident was made worse by the fact that the firm did not have a document retention procedure, which complicated the incident response process.

Cyber liability insurance in action: Following a data breach or other cyber event, the right policy can help organizations recoup a number of key costs. Specifically, cyber liability policies often cover investigation and forensics expenses—expenses that can easily bankrupt smaller firms who forgo coverage. What’s more, when third parties are involved, managing litigation concerns can be a challenge. By using cyber liability insurance, organizations have access to legal professionals well-versed in cyber lawsuits and response.

Pardon the Interruption

The company: An online retail store that relies heavily on e-commerce

The challenge: A small-sized, online retailer partnered with a data center to host its website and store its data. This is not uncommon, as many small businesses don’t have the IT infrastructure to host products, process payments and fulfill orders on-site.

Unfortunately, the data center was targeted in a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. As a result of this attack, the retailer’s website went down for several days. While functionality was eventually restored, business interruption costs from lost sales and website downtime was over $165,000.

Cyber liability insurance in action: DDoS attacks are one of many weapons cyber criminals use to infiltrate and disrupt businesses. These attacks can impact any organization that owns a website, regardless of where it’s hosted.

Cyber liability insurance is one of the only protections organizations have against costly DDoS attacks and similar disruptions. This is because cyber policies offer business interruption loss reimbursement. Following a disruption caused by a cyber event, policies kick in and help organizations recover from any financial losses.

Download Our Cyber Security Planning Guide

There are many things you can do to protect your business from cyber attacks. You can download our Cyber Security Planning Guide to start protecting your business today!

Benefits of Cyber Liability Insurance

Data breach coverage—In the event of a breach, organizations are required by law to notify affected parties. This can add to overall data breach costs, particularly as they relate to security fixes, identity theft protection for those impacted by the breach and protection from possible legal action. Cyber liability policies include coverage for these exposures, thus safeguarding your data from cyber criminals.
Business interruption loss reimbursement—A cyber attack can lead to an IT failure that disrupts business operations, costing your organization both time and money. Cyber liability policies may cover your loss of income during these interruptions. What’s more, increased costs to your business operations in the aftermath of a cyber attack may also be covered.
Cyber extortion defence—Ransomware and similar malicious software are designed to steal and withhold key data from organizations until a steep fee is paid. As these types of attacks increase in frequency and severity, it’s critical that organizations seek cyber liability insurance, which can help recoup losses related to cyber extortion.
Legal support—In the wake of a cyber incident, businesses often seek legal assistance. This assistance can be costly. Cyber liability insurance can help businesses afford proper legal work following a cyber attack.

Learn More About The Benefits of Cyber Liability Insurance

When cyber attacks like data breaches and hacks occur, they can result in devastating damage. Businesses have to deal with business disruptions, lost revenue and litigation. It is important to remember that no organization is immune to the impact of cyber crime. As a result, cyber liability insurance has become an essential component to any risk management program.

Cyber exposures aren’t going away and, in fact, continue to escalate. Businesses need to be prepared in the event that a cyber attack strikes. To learn more about cyber liability insurance, contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. today.

If you think it won’t happen to your business, be sure to check out our blog post! A Cyber Attack Won’t Happen To My Business

California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management

As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more. We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive cyber liability insurance quote!

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