Why Motor Vehicle Records Are Import For Your Business
When it comes to running a business, vehicles—whether they’re leased, rented or owned—are crucial for a variety of tasks. Transporting materials and tools to worksites, hauling goods for deliveries, driving to meet clients—companies of all kinds rely on safe and functioning cars and trucks to service customers and generate profit. To protect their vehicles and employees, avoid accidents, and prevent insurance claims and business disruptions, companies should hire qualified drivers. That’s where motor vehicle records (MVRs) can help. This Risk Insights provides a general overview of MVRs, including what they are, how to obtain them and what to look for once you’ve secured them.
What Are Motor Vehicle Records?
Put simply, MVRs are historical driving records that businesses can use to evaluate current and potential drivers. Specifically, MVRs provide an overview of an individual’s:
Driving history over a specific period of time, usually several years
Moving violations
Chargeable accidents
DUI offenses
Suspensions or revocations
Point accumulations
Driver’s license and restrictions
Vehicular crimes
This information is crucial for businesses, as an individual’s accident and violation history is a good indicator of their driving performance and habits. Typically, drivers with a poor record are more likely to be involved in future incidents.
Furthermore, insurance carriers use MVRs when assessing risk. If one of your drivers has a poor driving record (e.g., several suspensions, revocations or moving violations), you could end up paying more for coverage. Or, worse still, insurance carriers may disqualify a driver from insurance coverage altogether.
By obtaining and reviewing MVRs for every one of your drivers, you are ensuring the individuals you hire are able to perform their job duties safely, helping you secure affordable insurance coverage and reduce costly vehicle accidents.
How to Obtain Motor Vehicle Records and What to Look For
When it comes to obtaining Motor Vehicle Records, businesses have several options. Specifically, you can secure an Motor Vehicle Record through:
Your state’s department of motor vehicles
A qualified insurance professional
A third-party service, usually at an increased cost
Before you request a current or prospective employee’s Motor Vehicle Record, you must first obtain their written consent. Motor Vehicle Records should be reviewed before making a hiring decision and at least annually thereafter.
For workers whose roles include driving as a key component, acceptable Motor Vehicle Records should be a condition of employment. The definition of an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record can differ from business to business, but it’s important to set clear standards that employees can understand. Some general guidelines to consider include the following:
The current or prospective employee must have a valid driver’s license for the state in which they reside.
The current or prospective employee must have at least five years of driving experience.
The current or prospective employee should not have any serious violations in the last three to five years. Examples of serious violations can vary by state but may include:
Speeding excessively (e.g., driving 15 mph faster than the posted speed limit).
Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. It should be noted that refusing to take a chemical test can also qualify as a serious violation.
Passing a stopped school bus.
Driving with a suspended, revoked or invalid license.
Driving recklessly or negligently. Drivers involved in vehicular assault, homicide or manslaughter should be disqualified from employment.
Fleeing the scene of an accident (e.g., hit and run incidents).
The current or prospective employee should not have:
Three or more moving violations within the last three years (e.g., speeding, changing lanes improperly, running a red light or failing to yield)
Two or more at‐fault accidents within the last three years (e.g., accidents where the driver receives a citation or causes a collision due to their negligence)
More than one at‐fault accident and one moving violation combined within the last three years
Again, it’s important to review your drivers’ MVRs at least annually. Some states provide services that notify businesses when one of their employee’s MVRs change, which is a great way to intervene and provide the necessary coaching.
Continued Safety
Having a consistent system for collecting, retaining and reviewing MVRs can go a long way toward hiring qualified drivers and preventing accidents. However, even if you take every reasonable precaution, collisions can still occur. As such it’s important to secure the proper insurance coverage to protect your 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. The GDI team has developed an “insurance cost reduction” quoting plan, that provides you with the best coverage at the best rate!
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 commercial fleet insurance quote!
OSHA Guidance for Reopening Nonessential Businesses
On June 18, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released guidance to help employers plan how to reopen nonessential businesses. The guidance also addresses issues employers should consider as they ask their employees return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OSHA’s guidelines for reopening nonessential businesses provide general principles for updating restrictions that were originally put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
OSHA’s publication includes charts, examples and illustrations of how safety principles can be implemented for reopening. Specifically, this new guidance covers:
How to plan a reopening
OSHA standards and required protections in the workplace
Available OSHA assistance programs
Answers to employer frequently asked questions.
OSHA has stated that this new guidance is meant to supplement the White House’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again and the Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19developed by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. A as a result, businesses should follow local timelines and phased reopening plans as they implement OSHA’s guidance. Employers should also continue to monitor federal, state and local updates about community disinfection, best practices and transmission mitigation measures. For example, employers can visit OSHA’s coronavirus webpageand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for updates.
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!
Motor carrier inspections often occur at weigh stations and ports of entry, but they can occur wherever inspection officers feel it is safe to perform one. When it comes to inspections, there are differing procedures for drivers and vehicles.
Motor Carrier Inspection Driver Inspections
Approximately 5% of driver inspections result in OOS orders, underscoring the importance of understanding what the inspection process entails. The following sections provide an overview of the main components of driver inspections.
The Interview
Driver inspections typically begin with an interview. In this portion of the inspection, the inspection officer will start by approaching the vehicle, making note of its general condition. The more issues an inspector notices as they approach the vehicle, the more likely they are to perform a full inspection as opposed to a driver-only inspection.
Once the officer reaches the driver, they will introduce themselves and begin the interview. Typically, officers will start with general questions, which can include the following:
What is your name?
Who do you work for?
What are you hauling?
Where are you coming from?
Where are you going?
Where and when did you start your day?
What problems have you encountered lately?
Officers will compare the driver’s answers to these questions to other information gathered throughout the inspection. Furthermore, during the interview, the officer will provide basic instructions to the driver and prepare them for the rest of the inspection.
It should be noted that inspectors will also examine the driver’s behavior throughout the interview and inspection. Specifically, the inspector will try to determine if the driver may be impaired by illness, fatigue, drugs or alcohol. Based on the inspector’s suspicions, drivers could be subjected to:
A fatigue assessment
A field sobriety test
An examination by an officer trained in drug recognition
In some cases, drivers may be arrested and asked to take a drug or alcohol test.
Motor Carrier Inspection Document Verification
As part of driver inspections, officers will verify what motor carrier the driver works for and whether or not that driver is qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Often, inspectors will ask drivers for the vehicle’s registration, logs, shipment paperwork, medical cards, licenses and similar paperwork.
In terms of motor carrier-related information, inspectors will check that:
The motor carrier’s DOT number is current and not inactive.
The motor carrier does not have any outstanding OOS orders.
The motor carrier’s Unified Carrier Registration is current (used for interstate carriers).
The carrier has valid for-hire authority, if applicable.
The vehicle’s required credentials are correct and valid.
For drivers, inspectors will:
Run driver’s licenses to secure a motor vehicle report (MVR). This is done to verify that the driver’s license is current and valid. Inspectors will also note any classes, endorsements and restrictions detailed on the license, ensuring drivers are qualified to operate the vehicle.
Verify that the driver is medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. For commercial driver’s license holders, this involves ensuring medical information listed on MVRs is current. For other license holders, inspectors will review the driver’s medical card. Inspectors will also check that drivers are complying with any medical terms listed on their license or medical card (e.g., checking that the driver is wearing corrective lenses).
Check that drivers have the necessary exemptions if they have a condition that would normally disqualify them from driving.
HOS
As part of the inspection process, officers will review a driver’s RODS, as well as any supporting documents (e.g., bills of lading, shipment paperwork and fuel receipts). This is typically the most time-consuming portion of driver inspections.
As part of this process, inspection officers will examine logs for the previous seven days, checking that:
The correct logs are being used, whether it be electronic or paper logs.
There isn’t any missing information or entries.
There are no HOS violations.
Records aren’t being falsified.
The specific steps involved in an HOS review will depend on the type of log the driver is using.
Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs)
As part of driver inspections, officers will ask for DVIRs. While drivers aren’t typically required to carry DVIRs, officers can request that drivers present them if they are readily available. When officers review DVIRs, they will check for unresolved vehicle issues and ensure any DVIRs that indicate issues were completed correctly. This is important, as there are significant fines for drivers who operate vehicles with known defects.
Annual (Periodic) Inspection
Inspection officers will verify that the vehicles have undergone an annual inspection, also referred to as a periodic inspection. For combination vehicles, officers will ask for proof of an annual inspection for each piece of equipment in the combination. To prove annual inspections were completed, drivers can provide a copy of annual inspection reports or show the inspection officer a decal that indicates an inspection was performed.
Once proof on an annual inspection has been provided, officers will verify that the inspection took place within the last 12 months. If drivers can’t provide proof of an annual inspection, or if an investigation shows the inspection didn’t occur in the last year, the officer will write a citation.
Motor Carrier Inspection Wrap-up
Driver-only inspections typically conclude after officers verify an annual inspection was conducted. When completing the inspection, officers will make note of the driver, motor carrier, vehicle and any violations that were discovered.
Officers will then compare any issues to the CVSA’s North American Out-of-Service Criteria to determine whether or not the driver should be allowed to continue to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Again, drivers may be placed OOS for a variety of reasons, including if they are caught driving with a suspended license, carrying the wrong type of license, operating a vehicle impaired or violating HOS regulations.
After the inspection is complete, officers will provide drivers with a copy of the report. If the driver is placed OOS, they will be given clear instructions as to what they need to do before they can operate a commercial motor vehicle again. If the driver received a violation, but that violation did not result in an OOS order, drivers must rectify the issue as soon as possible.
Vehicle Inspections
Approximately 20% of vehicle inspections result in OOS orders, underscoring the importance of understanding what the inspection process entails. The following sections provide an overview of the main components of vehicle inspections.
Driver Prep
Before beginning the vehicle inspection, officers will generally provide an overview of the process and highlight safety precautions to ensure the inspection goes smoothly. For instance, officers may instruct drivers not to move the vehicle or operate any of the controls unless explicitly asked.
It’s critical for drivers to follow the officer’s instructions throughout the entire inspection process. A lapse in concentration could result in injury or failed portions of the inspection (e.g., the officer asks the driver to activate headlights, but the driver doesn’t follow their instructions).
Walk-around
During the walk-around portion of the vehicle inspection, officers will review all visible lights and mechanical components. They will not look under the vehicle at this stage of the inspection.
To begin, drivers will be asked to open the hood of the vehicle so all engine and steering components can be examined. In particular, officers will be looking for damage as well as loose components, connection points or hardware. They will also examine the compressor and look for any leaks. For full vehicle inspections, officers may check brake adjustments as well.
After inspecting the engine and steering components, the officer will walk around the vehicle, performing a visual inspection as they go. At this point, they will check that the following components are functioning and free of damage and excessive wear:
The windshield and side windows
The windshield wipers and washer system
Any required lights
Visible air and brake lines
Cargo securement systems
Coupling devices
The exhaust system
Visible portions of the vehicle’s frames
The fuel system
Visible suspension components
Wheel assemblies, including the tires, rims, lugs, wheels and hubs
In some cases, inspections will end after the officer completes the walk-around. In these instances, the officer will document the driver portion of the inspection as well as any vehicle defects.
The Undersideof a Motor Carrier Inspection
For full vehicle inspections, officers will inspect the underside of the vehicle after performing the walk-around inspection. During the full vehicle inspection, officers will examine the following:
Brake systems, including the lines, chambers, connecting hardware, pads and any other related parts
Brake adjustments
Driveshafts and driveline components
Lower exhaust components
The inside of the frame
The lower fuel system components
The inside of suspension components
Braking, Steering and Coupling Testing
Following an inspection of the vehicle’s underside, inspectors will work with the driver to test braking systems, steering systems and coupling devices:
Braking systems—Officers will check tractor protection valves and trailer emergency brakes. For air brake vehicles, drivers will have to disconnect air supply hoses. Drivers will then be asked to step on the brakes, which allows inspectors to verify whether or not the protection valve has closed. As part of their review of braking systems, inspectors will also verify that ABS and low-air warning lights function as intended.
Steering systems—To test steering systems, officers will position themselves where they can measure the steering wheel movement. The officer will then have the driver move the steering wheel, measuring how far it travels before the tire moves.
Coupling devices—To test coupling devices, the officer will remove the chocks. They will then wiggle the truck or tractor against the trailer while the trailer brakes are locked. This is done to measure free play in the coupling system.
Inspection Wrap-up
When completing the vehicle inspection, officers will make note of the driver, motor carrier, vehicle and any violations that were discovered. Officers will then compare any issues to the CVSA’s North American Out-of-Service Criteria to determine whether or not the vehicle should be placed OOS.
Again, vehicles may be placed OOS for a variety of reasons, including the following:
The vehicle has a flat tire.
The brakes are defective or damaged.
A critical required light is not functioning.
Cargo is secured improperly.
Steering components are defective or excessively worn.
If a vehicle is placed OOS, the issue must be corrected before it’s allowed to leave the inspection site. For critical issues that cannot be fixed on-site, vehicles may need to be towed away. For violations that do not result in OOS orders, issues must be rectified as soon as possible.
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 commercial auto insurance quote!
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought ambiguity and a general feeling of not knowing what to expect when returning to the workplace. One thing for certain is that businesses are reassessing their strategies to help plan for a smooth and thoughtful transition back to the workplace. This includes everything from sanitizing your business to commuting post-coronavirus.
Part of that plan is acknowledging that previous work routines may need to change. Work forces will again need to be adaptive like they did with remote working. Employers should continue to demonstrate their willingness to be flexible to support employees. One of the most noticeable changes will be how employees commute.
People are craving normalcy. The majority of commuters will see no change in their post-pandemic travel habits; however, some people might shift to new travel modes if given the chance. This article explores how commute options may change and ways that employers can support employees commuting in a world altered by COVID-19.
Public Transportation and Commuting Post-coronavirus
It wasn’t that long ago that a workday commute meant standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the subway, trying to find an open seat on the train or holding a handrail while standing in a crowded bus. As the pandemic threat shifts, those types of transit situations may cause anxiety for commuters who are practicing social distancing and avoiding large gatherings of people—especially people they do not know.
Employees who rely on public transportation for their commute may be worried about contracting COVID-19. As a result, keep in mind that employees may prefer to travel at off-peak times or take a less busy route to reduce the number of changes.
Vehicles Commuting Post-coronavirus
It’s not surprising that experts predict that people will likely want to drive alone in their personal vehicles to avoid exposure to COVID-19 while commuting.
Discourage carpooling with co-workers or others not living in the employee’s household. For employees who rely on carpooling or other formal ride-sharing services to get to the workplace, encourage them to ask drivers about their cleaning procedures, and practice social distancing and good hygiene (e.g. wash hands, use hand sanitizer and avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth).
Walking, Bike and Other Transportation
For employees who live close to the workplace, they may opt to walk, or ride a bicycle or e-scooter as an alternative. However, these may be impractical modes of transportation due to local climate or geography.
Consider understanding your employees’ locations and transportation needs as you’re working on a return-to-work plan and outlining commuting post-coronavirus benefits. Employees may change how they were getting to work before COVID-19.
Commuter Tax Benefits
Even before the pandemic, employers may have offered benefits for employees to use a variety of ride-sharing services. Now, there may be more financial reasons to start encouraging efficient commutes. The COVID-19 pandemic qualifies as a disaster for which an employer may reimburse employees for disaster-related expenses on a tax-free basis.
Employers may consider the following strategies to assist employees when returning to the workplace:
Disaster relief payments—Employer payments for mass transit alternatives might qualify as a disaster relief payment under Section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. Employers in states receiving Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance could make direct qualified disaster relief payments to their employees. Such payments are tax-free to employees and tax-deductible for employers. They also are uncapped and do not require validation.
Mileage reimbursement—Employees who have relied on public transportation to commute but switch to a personal vehicle for safety reasons could be reimbursed for mileage tax-free.
Transportation reimbursement—Employees who switch from public transportation to private car services, taxis or ride-sharing services could be reimbursed or paid directly for those costs if the pandemic is the reason for the commuting change.
De minimis fringe benefits—If local transportation is provided for commuting to or from work because unusual circumstances make other modes of transportation unsafe, only the first $1.50 of the value of each one-way commute is taxed to the employee. The remainder of the value is excluded as a de minimis fringe benefit. The IRS may recognize that employers are paying for ride-sharing because mass transportation poses higher risks of COVID-19 community spread, and because employees are working hours outside their normal hours, overtime or late hours. If the unsafe conditions and unusual circumstances exclusion applies, such payments should also be deductible by employers.
Additional tax complications may happen for workers who have already purchased parking or transit passes that will go unused, as well as workers who have requested a pre-tax salary deduction on the assumption that parking expenses would be consistently incurred.
Employers who wish to provide mass transit alternative payments should continue to check for new IRS guidance.
Other Considerations
To limit employees’ exposure to many other commuters, employers could offer parking subsidies or shuttle buses. If possible, renting a temporary, additional workplace that is centrally located to employees could shorten the commute or eliminate the need for public transportation. Understandably, investing money in another workspace during the pandemic may not be the most ideal option.
If your company already has a remote work program in place, consider extending that for those who can get their work done from home—or allowing employees to work on-site and also remotely. Consider offering flexible hours to accommodate personal responsibilities that are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., caring for children or other family members). By standardizing a mix of on-site and off-site remote work, employees could come into the workplace when it’s necessary for meetings and stay at home when it’s not. If it is essential to have everyone back in the workplace, consider staggering schedules so that employees do not have to travel during peak times. Most importantly, encourage employees to stay home if they are sick.
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!
Insurance Considerations for Riots, Vandalism and Civil Unrest
Riots, vandalism and civil unrest can create unique challenges for business owners—resulting in stolen, damaged or defaced goods and extensive property damage. That’s why it’s crucial to secure proper commercial insurance coverage to adequately protect your business in the event that such a situation occurs within your community.
Review the following guidance for an outline of various insurance solutions that can offer compensation for losses related to riots, vandalism and civil unrest, as well as best practices to consider when making claims in these situations.
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Coverage for Riots, Vandalism and Civil Unrest
The following forms of commercial insurance coverage can provide protection in the event that your business suffers a loss related to riots, vandalism or civil unrest:
First-party property insurance—This form of coverage can offer compensation for physical losses or property damage to the insured premises and contents. Losses caused by riots, vandalism or civil unrest are typically covered on both “named peril” and “all risk” commercial policies. However, be sure to review your policy to ensure it doesn’t exclude these situations. Keep in mind that your policy might utilize different terminology for these situations (e.g., “civil commotion” as opposed to “civil unrest,” or “riots” and “malicious mischief” as opposed to “vandalism”). Make sure you understand all policy definitions.
Business interruption insurance—This type of policy (also known as business income insurance) can provide coverage for loss of income that results from having to temporarily halt business operations to recover from a physical loss or property damage to the insured premises. For your policy to be triggered, the halt of business operations must be directly caused by a physical loss or property damage that was incurred by a covered peril—such as a vandal smashing your property’s windows with a brick. In addition, some insurers might not allow your policy to be triggered unless the physical loss or property damage results in a “complete and total” halt of business operations. This means that if the physical loss or damage only affects some of your operations—but not all—you might not be covered. With this in mind, be sure to review your policy wording to understand the full extent of your coverage.
The civil authority clause—Most business interruption policies also include a civil authority clause, which can offer compensation when an action or order of civil authority temporarily prevents or restricts access to the insured premises—forcing the affected business to either limit hours or halt operations altogether. Although this clause still requires a physical loss or property damage to occur in order to be triggered, the damaged property does not necessarily have to be owned by your business—it typically just needs to occur within a set distance of your operations.
Extra expense insurance—This type of policy can provide coverage for additional expenses that result from continuing business operations while the insured premises is being repaired or replaced due to a physical loss or property damage that was incurred by a covered peril. This might include costs such as the added expense of shipping necessary business supplies overnight rather than at the standard delivery rate in order to resume operations as soon as possible.
Best Practices When Making a Claim
If riots, vandalism or civil unrest take place within your community and result in losses for your business, consider these best practices when making a claim:
Report it immediately—Be sure to report the incident right away to the local authorities and consult your broker for immediate claims assistance.
Prevent additional losses—When the loss occurs, try to do everything you can to mitigate the risk of further damages (e.g., boarding up your property’s windows and doors). However, only take these precautions if it is safe to do so. Avoid any mitigation measures that could put you or your employees at risk of injury or fatality.
Beware of waiting periods—Make sure you consider any waiting periods or other deductibles that might apply when making a claim. For example, most business interruption policies are subject to a 72-hour waiting period—meaning that you won’t be covered for any loss of income that occurs for the first three days following the incident.
Document all expenses and damages—To ensure the best possible compensation for your loss, be sure to document the full extent of the damages that your business incurred by taking plenty of pictures as evidence. Further, make sure you keep track of all expenses related to the loss by saving receipts and bank statements.
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!
Civil unrest can create unique challenges for businesses. Specifically, business owners face the risk of vandalism, stolen or damaged goods and extensive property damage. With this in mind, it’s crucial to take steps to mitigate the risk of potential damages to your business during periods of civil unrest.
Review the following guidance to help keep your business protected in these situations.
Stay Informed
First and foremost, make sure you stay informed via local authorities, news outlets and social media on potential events or issues that could lead to civil unrest within your community. This practice will allow you to be more aware of when civil unrest is most likely to occur and take a proactive approach to protecting your business.
Assess Property Vulnerabilities
Next, it’s important to assess your business property for potential vulnerabilities. In doing so, you will be able to better determine where to focus your mitigation efforts.
Be sure to conduct a thorough inspection of both your own property and the surrounding area—including neighboring businesses, parking lots, alleys and streets—for specific risk management issues (e.g., gaps in security measures, potential traffic or crowding concerns, the type of property at risk and concerns for employee and customer safety).
Protect Your Property
After assessing potential vulnerabilities, make sure you implement adequate security measures to help keep your business fully protected. Potential security practices to consider include:
Utilizing security cameras
Implementing an intruder alarm system
Boarding up property windows and doors
Ensuring proper locks on all windows and doors
Installing motion-sensing external lighting and glass break sensors
Hiring security guards
Remove Valuables
Try to remove as much cash, merchandise and high-value supplies or equipment from your property as possible. In particular, if your business utilizes a fleet of vehicles, consider moving them to a temporary, secure storage location. This way, you will be able to proactively minimize your losses in the event that your business is targeted.
Further, consider utilizing signage to communicate that money and high-value items have been removed from the premises to help deter potential thieves.
Alter Business Hours
If you suspect that that civil unrest could take place near your property, consider temporarily altering your business hours (e.g., opening or closing earlier than normal) to avoid putting your employees and customers in a dangerous situation. However, make sure you properly communicate these changes with your staff and customers to prevent any confusion. In some cases, it may make sense to temporarily close your business.
Avoid Unnecessary Conflict
In the event that civil unrest takes place while your business doors are open, it’s crucial to educate your staff on how to respond appropriately and avoid unnecessary conflict. Establish an evacuation plan that allows for employees and customers to safely leave the area during a dangerous situation. Designate specific staff to be responsible for securing the property (e.g., locking doors and boarding up windows) before evacuating.
If a potentially dangerous individual confronts any of your employees before an evacuation can occur, encourage them to react calmly and avoid using violence or responding aggressively. Designate specific staff to be responsible for contacting the local authorities or emergency services, if necessary. If the individual attempts to loot or rob your business, allow them to do so—no items are worth the risk of an employee injury or fatality.
Consult Local Authorities
Be sure to express any concerns you have regarding civil unrest in your community with local authorities—including the police department, fire department and government officials—and utilize any resources or guidance that they provide. Consider requesting additional police presence or temporary street closures near your business if you are particularly concerned about the threat of civil unrest.
Secure Proper Insurance
Apart from these loss control methods, you can ensure ultimate protection during periods of civil unrest by securing proper commercial insurance coverage. For additional risk management guidance and insurance solutions, contact us 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!
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