Our President, Matt Davis, just obtained his Associate in Risk Management (“ARM”) designation. Looks like he now thinks he’s some kind of a “big deal”.
Congrats to Matt on the accomplishment, and we look forward to being able to provide even better guidance and service to our clients.
Matt posing with his official new certificate.
About the ARM Designation
Associate in Risk Management – ARM – is the is the industry leading designation for Risk Management operations and design, and is held by Professional Risk Managers throughout Insurance, and nearly ALL other industries. Being that Insurance is just one component of a robust Risk Management Program, we are proud that Matt obtained this designation.
To learn more about what GDI can do for your business through insurance and risk management, click the link below.
Successful companies aren’t just companies that make a lot of money.
Successful companies are those with a glowing outside and a healthy inside.
They are businesses that take care of their employees just as much as their customers.
Recently, there’s been a big push for cheap or cut-rate workers’ compensation insurance. And, when considered as part of your safety program, workers’ comp is an investment in your business’ most important asset – your employees.
Here are three reasons why a good workers’ comp policy is everything:
✔️It’s required in most states
✔️It helps injured workers get what they need
✔️And, it protects your business
But what matters most is choosing an insurance broker that helps you through the policy selection process and helps you choose a policy for your business that is the best it can be.
At GDI, we know how hard it can be sometimes when choosing. Workers’ comp requirements change by state, and policies vary by company.
So, we let you lead us. We’ll help you compare policies, prices, and allow you to choose the right one for you. And we help you save money too.
Our programs allow you to insure your own employees and give them the peace of mind that you have prepared for anything.
It shows not that you’re thinking about yourself, but that you care about them. You see them as the lifeblood of your business, because they are.
Driving a personal car in lieu of a company-owned vehicle may seem to minimize an employer’s liability, but companies can be held partially liable for damages in the event of an accident, and if an insurer discovers the individual was driving for business it may take action against the employer for subrogation purposes. When employees will be driving their own cars for work, there are several actions that you can take as an employer to reduce the risk for your company.
If the employee is making a work-related phone call or taking part in any business-related activity, the employer will be held accountable. When employees will be driving their own cars for work, there are several actions you can take as an employer to mitigate risk.
Understanding Non-owned and Hired Business Auto Liability Insurance
Does your California business have potential automobile loss exposures that you are not aware of? You’ve taken all of the necessary steps to ensure that your own fleet operation is properly insured in the event of an accident. But what about the potential loss that arises from individual employees who operate their own personal vehicles for company business? This is where non-owned and hired business auto liability insurance comes to play.
Do Your Employees Drive Their Own Car For Business?
There are many situations that present a potential for you to be held accountable for the actions of your employees while they are driving their own vehicles:
Do administrative employees use their own vehicles to go to the post office or bank on your company’s behalf?
Do you occasionally send an employee to pick up a visiting client at the airport?
Have you sent employees to pick up lunch, drop off mail or pick up office supplies?
Have you ever rented a vehicle while on a business trip?
Do you have a sales force to which you provide a car allowance for business use of their personal vehicles?
If an employee has an accident under any of these situations, your business can be held accountable and sued for damages. Basic business automobile policies only cover employees while they operate company-owned vehicles to perform company business. Your best protection: non-owned and hired automobile liability coverage. This type of coverage will kick in if there is an accident and your company is found legally liable.
Typically, an employee’s personal automobile insurance will provide primary insurance to both the employee and the business if the employee is using their own vehicle on company business. However, there is the chance that charges will exceed the employee’s policy limit and would then be passed on to the company. Without non-owned and hired automobile liability coverage you may be vulnerable to a potentially costly exposure.
Purchase Hired and Non-owned Coverage
Any company that allows or requires employees to use their personal car for business should either purchase hired and non-owned coverage or add it to an existing automobile policy. Hired coverage is for autos that are not owned by the company or the driver, and non-owned coverage protects vehicles owned by employees but used on behalf of the company. In the event of an accident, these policies supplement the driver’s personal auto policy, which is typically activated first. For minimal yearly premiums, these policies generally protect the company only, not the car or the driver.
What Does Non-Owned Auto Liability Insurance Cover?
Non-owned and hired automobile liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage caused by a vehicle you hire (including rented or borrowed vehicles) or caused by non-owned vehicles (vehicles owned by others, including vehicles owned by your employees). This coverage is typically added to your business automobile policy; however, it can be added to your general liability policy if you do not have a business automobile policy. It protects your company if it is found legally liable as a result of an automobile accident that you or your employee has in a hired or non-owned vehicle while on company business. Hired automobile coverage replaces or augments the liability coverage offered by automobile rental agencies.
Non-owned and Hired Automobile Insurance: The Basics
Here are the first things you need to know about non-owned and hired automobile coverage:
Who needs non-owned and hired automobile coverage?
If you or your employees ever drive vehicles not owned by your business for business purposes, then you need non-owned and hired automobile coverage.
What is non-owned automobile coverage?
Non-owned automobile insurance provides liability protection when an employee occasionally has to drive his or her personally owned vehicle for business purposes. It assumes that the vehicle is not owned, registered or contracted in your name or on your behalf.
What is hired automobile coverage?
Hired automobile insurance provides liability protection when you or an employee is driving a rented, hired or borrowed vehicle.
Use a Company Policy to Reduce Risk
According to the National Safety Council, 28 percent of car crashes are attributable to cell phone use while driving. Since distracted driving accidents can have serious implications for companies, a company policy that emphasizes the importance of driving attentively and restricts the use of mobile phones is essential to preventing employee accidents in all vehicles, both personal and company-owned. In addition, the policy should clearly state when the use of a personal vehicle will be expected or allowed, and all employee job descriptions should specify when driving a personal vehicle will be a job function. As a condition to employment and thereafter at least on a yearly basis, those employees driving personal vehicles should be required to provide:
Proof of a driver’s license
Motor vehicle safety inspection certificates
Copy of auto insurance certificates proving liability coverage at or above an established company limit including personal injury and medical limits
Proof that the employee has declared the use of the auto for business to his or her insurer
Exhaustive lists of all prescribed controlled medications
Further, you should reserve the right to check motor vehicle records annually or more frequently.
Enforce the Driving Policy
After the driving policy has been instated, it should be actively communicated and enforced. Managers of employees utilizing personal vehicles should be directed to monitor the safety and maintenance of those vehicles. Employees found out of compliance with the company policy should be subject to reassignment or termination. It is every employer’s responsibility to ensure its employees’ safety on the job, and those that use personal vehicles on business are no exception.
What Should You Do Next?
If you do not already have this type of coverage and your employees occasionally use their own vehicles for business purposes—even quick errands—consider adding it to your business insurance package today. Consult with GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. to review your business automobile and general liability policies to ensure you have adequate insurance coverage and liability limits for non-owned and hired automobiles.
Any type of loss exposure, no matter how small, is too big to ignore. Call us today at 209-634-2929 to ensure that your California Business Auto Insurance meets your needs.
Ask your GDI Insurance AgencyBroker for more help assessing your company’s risk regarding the use of personal vehicles, or to learn more about hired and non-owned coverage.
Let your GDI Insurance Agency Broker help you set up your Vehicle Fleet Safety Program.
Planning for the Worse – Business Interruption or Loss of Income
The reality is 80% of business’s that sustain a major loss at their primary location and are rebuilt and restored by insurance are out of business within 5 years of less! GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. wants to make sure your business is protected with Business Interruption Insurance or Loss of Income insurance.
Statistics show that approximately 25 percent of businesses affected by disasters never reopen their doors. Small business owners and individuals who are self-employed are especially vulnerable to the loss of income that business interruptions can cause. To protect yourself from losses in the event of a forced shutdown, you must purchase adequate business interruption insurance and create a thorough business continuity plan.
Implementation of your business continuity plan means more than simply exercising the plan during an emergency. It means integrating the plan into your company operations, training employees and evaluating the plan.
Amazing?
Not really. In all my years (nearly 38 now) as an insurance broker I have yet to find a company with a real disaster recovery plan that included proper limits for loss of income and extra expense which is business interruption insurance.
Think about your customers. If you can’t fulfill their orders they still need your product or service so they must buy from your competitor. The longer they buy from your competitor the harder it becomes to regain the client. A very vicious circle!
Why Do You Need Business Interruption Insurance
Originally established for the manufacturing industry, Business Interruption Insurance has evolved into an essential risk transfer tool for all industries. Coverage provides resources that aid in recovery and can help get a company back on its feet quickly.
Business Interruption Insurance doesn’t just assist small businesses in meeting payroll and bills during a crisis; according to data from the Institute for Business Home and Safety, 25 percent of businesses never reopen following a disaster or interruption.
For larger businesses, Business Interruption Insurance can provide employees and shareholders peace of mind. Shareholders especially like to know a business’ profits are protected in case of fire, tornado, hurricane or other disaster.
Don’t wait until your business experiences a significant loss to consider this vital business insurance protection. Contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. at 209-634-2929 to review how this type of coverage can fit into your overall business insurance portfolio.
Take a look at the video on this page, then:
Drop me an email or call my office 888-991-2929 for a copy of these two reports:
1. The white paper I am showing you “The Benefits Of Business Interruption Insurance”
2. A copy of the “Disaster Recovery Planning Guide” in word so you can make it yours!
All free with no obligation or anyone bugging you.
GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is the right insurance broker for your company if your are serious about insurance cost reduction and staying in business no matter what!
Take a look here to see some of what we offer. It is just the best and right way to protect your company.
We offer this level of protection to all our clients that simple ask us for it!
We have free programs for everything you need for your business to assure you stay in business. We are happy to give it all to you for free. We only ask that you consider us for your insurance needs. Seems like a good deal considering what it would cost to buy all this material. Of course for our clients you also get our help with all this too.
The key to insurance cost reduction is to reduce the risk of having a loss, as well as reducing the size of losses when they happen. This is a key step to assuring your company survives a large loss.
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. With locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley 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!
You know you need a safety program!GDI Insurance Agency has all the resources you need to help understand that true workplace safety is more than just a simple policy. With the materials highlighted in this workplace safety roadmap, you can provide resources targeted to their need and keep loss control initiatives top of mind-protecting your company’s bottom line.
The Value of Safety
Some employers simply don’t realize the value of safety and the potential cost savings. GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. has created workplace safety roadmap solutions to help you understand and take control of your:
Safety Culture
MOD
Injury Management
Workers’ Compensation
Return to Work Program
Gain Buy-In from Senior Management.
Safety cultures are built from the top down, making management support crucial to safety program success. We will help educate senior management on the benefits of building and maintaining a safety program. Broaden your conversation beyond the basics – not only do safety programs minimize accidents and hold down indemnity, GDI promotes loss control through improved employee morale and reduced absenteeism.
Deliver the WIIFM (What’s in it for Me?)
Are you aware of their responsibilities under OSHA’s General Duty Clause? Do you know how much lost revenue employee absences are costing your company annually? We can Illustrate how employee safety prevents fines, reduces losses and increases revenue.
Financial Impact of Work-Related Injuries Presentation
General Industry Risk Insights: Safety Programs and the Impact to Your Bottom Line
General Industry Risk Insights: Focus on Safety and Health to Benefit Your Business
Safety and Health Audit
Set the Tone
From day one, employees at all levels of the organization should understand the importance of workplace safety. GDI Insurance Agency can help you ensure management, trainers and employees are educated on regulations by furnishing your business with the tools necessary for success.
Elements of a Successful Safety and Health Program
State Guide to Safety Regulation-
Workplace Required Posters-
Employee Safety Manual – General and Industry Specific
General Industry Risk Insights: Creating a Strong Safety Culture
General Industry Safety Matters: Promoting a Safety-Minded Culture
Employee Safety Survey
Safety and Health Survey
Use OSHA to Your Advantage
OSHA compliance is essential to both building a safe work environment and avoiding costly fines. Help simplify your companies compliance issues with these easy to follow OSHA materials.
Work Comp Insights: OSHA’s Four-Point Safety Program
Required OSHA Programs and Training
OSHA On-Site Consultation Program
OSHA’s SHARP Program and Your Organization
Portable Fire Extinguisher Program and Training Materials
Portable Fire Extinguisher Program Presentation
OSHA Program Audit
Help Build and Support a Safety Committee
Even if you already have a safety committee, it may not have all the resources necessary to be successful. The following materials will help you create and support safety committee initiatives to quickly address concerns and encourage positive employee behavior.
Create a Culture of Safety
GDI Insurance Agency can help you build a culture of safety with materials that provide the knowledge and resources needed to successfully support a safety committee.
Safety and Health Committee Responsibilities
Work Comp Insights: Create a Workplace that Prevents Injuries and Increases Productivity
Safety Budget Worksheet
Safety Program “Quick Check”
Minimizing the Risk of Workplace Injury
Comprehensive Safety & Health Inspection Checklist
Deliver a Safety Incentive Program…that Works.
If executed correctly, safety incentives can be one of the most effective tools at an employer’s disposal when it comes to encouraging safety. We will make sure your safety incentive programs are a good fit for the organization’s culture and illustrate success at effectively reducing workplace accidents with the following materials:
Employee Safety Incentive Program Guide
Employee Safety Incentive Policy
General Industry Risk Insights: Is Your Safety Incentive Policy Effective
Safety Incentive Survey
Give Supervisors the tools they need
While the Safety Committee sets the tone, supervisors put the tone into action. By equipping supervisors with the tools need for success, you bring your clients closer to an accident-free workplace and become a trusted safety partner.
Help Employers Set Expectations
Managers and supervisors are busy. They need, and deserve, guidance on how to effectively execute on their safety responsibilities. Help employers communicate expectations, impart best practices and share tips with the documents below.
Supervisor Safety Responsibilities
Safety and Health Programs: Training for Employees, Supervisors and Managers
Supervisor Safety: Reducing Risks for Shift Workers
Safety Coordinator Responsibilities
Qualities of an Effective Safety Coach
Support Injury Cost Containment
Injury management can ensure that injured employees get the care they need while also minimizing claim costs. Employers should appoint a well-respected supervisor or employee to oversee injury management and return to work efforts. GDI Insurance Agency has put together these resources to help.
Work Comp Insights: Selecting and Training Your Injury Management Coordinator
Injury Management Coordinator Job Description
Disability Management Training Workbooks
Supervisor Injured Worker Preparedness Survey
Supervisor Response Training – Workplace Injuries
Support Safety Meetings and Toolbox Talks Weekly or monthly safety meetings are a great venue for promoting safety. Use our vast library of safety meeting talking points to assist you in this recurring activity.
General Industry Safety Matters: Promoting a Safety-Minded Culture
General Industry Safety Matters: Toolbox Safety Meetings- Tips for Trainers
General Industry Safety Matters: Safety Meeting Basics
Attend Your Safety Meetings Poster
Take Time to Meet for Safety
Safety Meeting Sign-In Attendance Form
Offer Employee Communications that’s Targeted and Relevant
We have thousands of documents for dozens of industries – including safety handbooks and policies, brochures, flyers, presentations, posters and payroll stuffers – all created to support your professional client services. Combined with the knowledge of your GDI Insurance broker these templates come to life to help you achieve the goals you and your broker have set for your company.
Topics that Matter
You are unique, and your safety program should be, too. Mix important safety basics with targeted, industry-specific safety communications to address their most pressing needs. Just a few samples:
Construction Playing it Safe: Ergonomics Solutions for Electrical Contractors
Manufacturing Target on Safety: What You Should Know About Hexavalent Chromium
Agriculture Playing it Safe: The Dos and Don’ts of Grain Augers
Education and Childcare Target on Safety: Know the Hazards in Your Classroom
Heath Care Playing it Safe: All About Legionnaires’ Disease
Transportation and Warehousing Target on Safety: Overview on Correctly Securing Cargo
Onboard Employees with Safety in Mind
Whether you you have dedicated trainers or are relying on front line managers and HR for employee education, we can deliver resources to help new employees understand the importance of safety from day one. Some samples:
Supervisor Safety: Reducing Risks for New Workers
Employee Safety Responsibilities
New Employee Safety Orientation Process
New Employee Safety Orientation Guide
Manufacturing Safety Matters: The New Employee’s Top Role Model- You
Construction and Contracting Safety Matters: Teaching On-Site Safety by Example
Different Resources, Same Message
Important messages are worth repeating. GDI Insurance has hundreds of choices in a variety of formats, it’s easy for employers to target employees to reinforce key safety messages and keep them at the forefront of daily operations.
Eye Safety & You Poster
General Industry Safety Matters: Selecting Safety Sunglasses
General Industry Playing it Safe: Protect Yourself from Eye Injuries
Gear Up For Safety: Eye Protection
Protect Your Vision (Payroll Stuffer)
Quiz: Eye Safety
Keeping Safety Top of Mind
Safety programs require constant attention, and maintenance. Provide resources and stay top of mind with monthly safety communication materials for management, risk managers, supervisors and employees.
Short on time? In 10 minutes or less you can support your safety and return to work programs by subscribing to one or more of the following monthly Campaigns:
GDI Insurance Agency has invested in programs and systems that we have organized, and will customize and tailor to your needs. We have taken caring to the next level. We are here and equipped to help you do something about it! Contact us today 1-888-991-2929
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