R&R Insurance Blog

All adolescents are at risk of cyberbullying, according to mental health professionals. But there are characteristics that make individuals more vulnerable to such harassment - and more likely to be a victim of cyberbullying.

Most susceptible to cyberbullying:

• Individuals with a developmental disability
• Individuals with mental health issues
• Adolescents who are gay or lesbian, or those who are struggling with their sexuality or gender identity
• Youths who recently moved to a new school
• Children who are perceived as outsiders by their peers
• Adolescents who spend a lot of time online, or texting

For parents and teachers, it is essential to check and recheck the habits and attitudes of adolescents under their charge. Listen to their conversations. Parents - it's OK to have a cell phone parental agreement with your children and educate them about the consequences of cyberbullying.

With suggestions from several employees, we've compiled a Cell Phone Agreement that you too can use. It sets expectations and encourages responsibility. Here's the sample cell phone parental agreement, customize it for your own needs. P.S....it's working for parents at R&R..... Good Luck!

Trick-or-Treaters:

• Never trick-or-treat alone. Have at least two friends go with you.
• Plan your entire route and make sure your family knows what it is.
• Carry a bright flashlight to illuminate sidewalks, steps and paths. Use new flashlight batteries and check it before you leave the house. Chemical glow light sticks can be used along with flashlights.
• Always WALK, do not run.
• Stay on sidewalks. If there is not a sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Walk single file, facing the traffic.
• Obey traffic signals and only cross at corners.
• Don't assume you have the right of way.
• Because one car stops, it doesn't mean others will!
• Stay in familiar neighborhoods.
• Don't cut across yards or driveways.
• Wear a watch you can read in the dark. Set the watch alarm if you have time limit for trick-or-treating.
• Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
• Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props. Avoid pointed props such as spears, or wands that endanger other children's eyes.
• Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
• Make sure your costume doesn't drag on the ground or you might trip on it.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes, and make sure they should fit properly.
• Visit houses that have lights on, especially houses with Halloween decorations.
• Stay away from animals you don't know.
• Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
• Accept treats only in the doorway. Never go inside a house.
• Always carry a spare Halloween bag just in case yours breaks.
• Take a cell phone with you if possible.
• Always be polite and don't forget to say "Trick-or-Treat" and "Thank You"!

Parents:
SAFETY

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• In order to discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats, make sure they eat dinner before going out.
• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
• Older children should carry a cell phone with home number ready.
• Be sure to watch young children carefully near the street.
• If your children go on their own, be sure they wear a watch and set their alarm to a time when they should return home.
• Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home.
• Older children should trick-or-treat in groups. You should know where they're going and with who they are going with.
• Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring ALL the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
• Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

TREATS

• Give children an early meal before going out.
• Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.
• Report to the police anything that appears suspicious about treats.
• When in doubt, throw it out.
• Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.
• If you child has an allergy, look at the ingredients of the treats they bring home.
• Limit the amount of treats they consume to avoid sickness.
• If your child is diabetic, read this article for helpful information Halloween and Diabetes.

COSTUMES

• Costumes should be loose enough so that warm clothes can be worn underneath.
• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective.
• Only purchase costumes, wigs and accessories if they clearly indicate they are flame resistant.
• Make sure that shoes fit well (even if they don't go with your costume).
• Make sure that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape (usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores), striping or glow sticks to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet in case the youngster gets separated from the group.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.
• When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," "Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics," or "Non-Toxic."
• Follow manufacturer's instruction for application.
• If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

HOMEOWNERS

• Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway.
• Check around your property for low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
• Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them up to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater.
• Glow sticks, light sticks or battery powered jack-o-lantern lights and candles are preferable to real flame candles.
• If you do use candles, place the jack-o-lantern well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
• NEVER leave any flaming candle unattended.
• Be prepared. Have a fire extinguisher handy.
• Be sure the path and stairs to your front door are well illuminated and clear of obstacles.
• Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.
• Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.
• Include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be microwaved later.
• Non-food treats (great for those with diabetes or food allergies): plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins.

PET AND ANIMAL OWNERS

• Halloween can be a very traumatic and even dangerous time for your pet.
• Don't leave your pet out in the yard on Halloween.
• Strangers visiting in costumes can be scary for dogs.
• Put your pet in a cage or separate room to keep them from darting out the door.
• Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets.
• Chocolate is poisonous to a lot of animals.

DRIVERS

The National Safety Council urges motorists to be especially alert on Halloween and offers the following driving tips:

• Drive SLOW, SLOW, SLOW!
• Be aware that in Wisconsin, not all communities hold trick-or-treat on Halloween.
• Kids may be out trick-or-treating the weekend prior to Halloween up through Halloween night!
• Watch for children darting out from between parked cars and walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
• If you are driving children, be sure they exit on the curb side, away from traffic.
• Do not wear your mask while driving.
• At twilight or later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
• Adult Halloween parties should have a designated driver.
• Turn your lights on even in daylight - lights make you more visible.
• Drive cautiously to give yourself extra time to react to children crossing the street.

Have Fun! Happy Halloween!

Effective August 1, 2010, Employer Notification is available to employers of regular Class D drivers. Employers may enroll any employee whose employment responsibilities include the operation of any motor vehicle. Wisconsin Statutes 343.245 authorizes this program.

Employer Notification allows participants to create and maintain their own roster of employed drivers in PARS. The program will identify any enrolled employee with recent activity on their driving record and allow the purchase of a current driver record abstract.

More information can be found on Wisconsin's DOT website.

Recent heavy rains have overburdened sewer systems, causing raw sewage to back up into drains in homes throughout the country. Backed up sewers can wreak havoc on a home, causing thousands of dollars in damage to floors, walls, furniture and electrical systems.

Sewer backups or the inability of sump pumps to handle runoff water from major downpours are not covered under a typical homeowners insurance policy, nor are they covered by flood insurance. A Sewage Backup endorsement must be in place in order for this type of claim to be covered. Sewer backup coverage is available from most insurers for a nominal cost—usually an additional annual premium of $40-$50.

For homes that have been severely damaged and are uninhabitable, homeowners policies may provide Loss of Use coverage, which provides reimbursement for lodging, food and other living expenses you may incur as a result of having to live outside of your home. Loss of Use coverage also reimburses you for the lost rental income if you rent out part of the house.

Causes of Sewer Backup

Aging Sewer Systems: The Civil Engineering Research Foundation reports that the number of backed up sewers is increasing at an alarming rate of about 3 percent annually. In addition, a recent report from the American Society of Civil Engineers indicates that the nation's 500,000-plus miles of sewer lines are on average over thirty years old. The increase in the number of homes connected to already aging sewage systems has also contributed to rapid increases in sanitary sewer backups, flooded basements and overflows.

Combined Pipelines: Problems also arise in systems that combine storm water and raw sewage into the same pipeline. During many rain storms, the systems are exposed to more volume than they can handle, and the result is a sewage backup situation that allows sewage to spew out into basements and other low lying drains.

Blockages Due to Tree Roots: Shrubs and trees seeking moisture will make their way into sewer line cracks. These roots can cause extensive damage. They may start out small, getting into a small crack in the pipe; but as the tree or shrub continues to grow, so does the root. Tree roots can enter the service pipe at joints and cause blockages. Tree roots can travel a long way, and roots from different types of trees act differently. If city trees are suspected, your plumber can contact the city, and samples of the roots will be used to help identify the trees and who is responsible for cleanup. Sometimes the blockage is a result of a combination of city and private trees. In this case costs are split between the city and the property owner.

Sanitary Main: A blockage can occur in a city sanitary main. If the blockage is not detected in time, sewage from the main can back up into homes and businesses through floor drains. Usually this happens slowly, giving the owner time to call a licensed plumber to assess the damage. If water is entering into your basement at a rapid rate, call the city public works office and report the problem immediately.

Water in Basement: Most basement flooding is not related to the sanitary sewer system. In many cases, soil settles adjacent to the building and, if not corrected, leads to rainwater flowing towards the building and down the outside of the foundation wall. This is particularly true in older buildings, where cracks may have developed in the foundation or floor slab that allow water to enter the basement. The cement floor and basement walls of these structures may have deteriorated to the point that they are no longer waterproof. In these cases, water can show up in a basement that has never had a water problem. This will usually happen after a number of rain storms, when the ground is saturated. Drainage can be improved by making sure that water drains away from the building. Owners may also be able to prevent flooding by water sealing the basement.

Most homeowners may not realize that they are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their house or sewer lateral—the pipeline between the city sanitary sewer main, usually located in the street—and the building. The sewer lateral is owned and maintained by the property owner including any part that extends into the street or public right of way. A cracked or deteriorated lateral or one filled with tree roots can allow groundwater to seep into the system, contributing to the problem.

How to Prevent Backups In Your Lateral and in the City Main

Dispose of Grease Properly: Cooking oil should be poured into a heat-resistant container and disposed of properly, after it cools off, not in the drain. Washing grease down the drain with hot water is unsatisfactory. As the grease cools off, it will solidify either in the drain, the property owner's line, or in the main sewer causing the line to constrict and eventually clog.

Dispose of Paper Products Properly: Paper towels, disposable (and cloth) diapers and feminine products can cause a great deal of trouble in the property owner's lateral as well as in the city main. These products do not deteriorate quickly, as bathroom tissue does, so do not put them down the drain or toilet.

Replace Your Line with New Plastic Pipe: One way to prevent tree roots from entering your line is to replace your line and tap with new plastic pipe. If you have continuing problems with tree roots in your lateral, you may have to have the roots cut periodically.

Correct Illegal Plumbing Connections: Do not connect French drains, sump pumps and other flood control systems to your sanitary sewer. It is illegal, and debris and silt will clog your line. Consult a plumber to correct any pre-existing illegal connections. French drains are common drainage systems, primarily used to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations.

Install a Backwater Prevention Valve: A backwater valve is a fixture installed into a sewer line, and sometimes into a drain line, in the basement of your home or business to prevent sewer backflows. A properly installed and maintained backwater valve allows sewage to go out, but not to come back in. Property owners are responsible for the installation and maintenance of backwater valves. The cost to install one depends on the type of plumbing in the building and the difficulty of installation. Check with a qualified plumber.

What to Do If You Experience a Sewer Backup

A sewer backup can lead to disease, destruction of your valuables, damage to your house or business, and can even result in electrical malfunctions. Prompt cleanup of affected property can help minimize the inconvenience and prevent mold or further damage. If you experience a sewer backup situation, immediately arrange for the cleanup of your property. This should include:

• Wet-vacuuming or removal of spillage
• Mopping floors and wiping walls with soap and disinfectant
• Flushing out and disinfecting plumbing fixtures
• Steam cleaning or removing wet carpets or drapes
• Repairing or removing damaged wallboard or wall covering
• Cleanup of ductwork

Don’t let a sewer backup be a drain on your home or finances; make sure to have the proper coverage.

How to File a Claim

For insurance purposes, take before and after photos of the affected areas and itemize any property losses. Save all receipts related to repair, cleaning or damages and contact your insurance agent or company representative as soon as possible.

Information obtained from Insurance Information Institute

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), dog bite claims cost insurers about $387.2 million in 2008. Here are some other interesting facts:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that dogs bite 4.7 million people annually, resulting in 800,000 injuries that require emergency medical attention. Almost half of them are children.
• The average cost of a dog-bite insurance claim was $24,461 in 2008, according to the III.
• According to The Humane Society of the United States, roughly 39 percent of American households have at least one dog.
• Dog owners in 33 states and the District of Columbia are legally liable for deaths or injuries caused by their dogs.

With all this said, here are some things you should know about dogs, dog bites and how to avoid them.

Common "Vicious" Breeds Some Insurers May Not Cover
Some home insurers have lists of breeds and crossbreeds they will not insure; other insurers consider such breeds on a case-by-case basis, or charge more for certain "biting" breeds such as pit bulls.

• Pit bulls
• Rottweilers
• Chow chows
• German shepherds
• Siberian huskies
• Alaskan malamutes
• Doberman pinschers
• Presa Canario bulldogs
• Great Danes
• Boxers
• Akitas
• Wolf-hybrids

History is Considered
Some companies will ask "Do you own a vicious dog?" on home insurance applications. Previous dog-bite incidents will show up on your claims history, which insurers check before issuing a policy. Some insurers will consider whether an attack was provoked or unprovoked, but it depends on the dog's history.

Some insurers may cancel or refuse to renew an existing home insurance policy, decline your application for a new one or attach an exclusion for the dog to the policy — if your dog has even one attack in its history. The exclusion means the insurance policy would not cover any liability claims caused by the dog, making you personally responsible for any medical bills or lawsuits stemming from your dog's actions.

Prevention is Key
About 50 percent of dog bites occur on the dog owner's property. The best way to make sure your home insurance won't get cancelled is by preventing an attack. Spaying and neutering a dog can improve its disposition, especially with male dogs.

• Don't put your dog in situations where it will be threatened or teased.
• Build a fence around your yard or install a dog fence around you property to contain its location.
• Send your dog to obedience school.
• Hire a certified animal trainer.

If There's A Bite
If your dog bites someone, respond immediately. Restrain or confine your dog right away. Then do whatever you can to help the victim, whether that means calling 911 or driving them to the emergency room.

Once the victim is taken care of, you might have to contact the local authorities to report the dog bite. You should then call your home insurance company, especially if there are medical costs involved. Be sure to cooperate with your insurance company. The claims adjuster will no doubt want to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Take steps to make sure a similar incident doesn't happen again.

Here are some topics that are generally covered in a loss control visit. If there are any questions you can't answer during the visit, be sure to get the answers and relay them as quickly as possible. An answer of "I don't know" can be taken negatively.

Operations:

• Detailed Description of Operations
• Any subcontracted work to others?
• Are certificates of Insurance obtained?
• Any significant changes in management or operations?

Fleet/Automobile:

• Number and type of vehicles used
• Radius of operations
• Maintenance of vehicles

Exposures and Controls:

• Type of equipment or machinery used in operations
• Machine guarding adequate?
• Are material handling exposures managed?
• Any ergonomic issues?
• Height, slip and fall or confined space issues

Employees/Hiring:

• Total # of employees – full time/part time/average age
• Source of employee hire
• Employment physicals or drug testing
• Annual turnover
• Any previous layoffs or future potential for layoffs?
• Average wages / Average tenure
• Health benefits
• Early return to work / type of program in place

For each Workers Compensation claim, an adjuster will open a file for the injured worker and set aside money specifically for the estimated cost of the claim.

Over the life of the file some money is spent and the remaining amount set aside is in "reserve". This reserve amount should represent the remaining cost of that claim.

Open Reserves
The dollars sitting in open reserves for your WC claims impact your Experience Modification. It is critical that these reserves be reviewed prior to the data being reported to the WC Rating Bureau.

If the actual cost of the claim will be less than the initial "estimated" cost, then the adjuster should lower the reserve. Lowering the reserve will help your Experience Modification.

When is the data reported?
Your WC carriers for the prior three years will report claim data to the WC Rating Bureau six months before your insurance renews. Open claim reserves should be verified prior to that date.

Interstate Roofing has saved $1.3 million in premium since beginning their MOD management efforts with R&R Insurance.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has rolled out its new program, the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) to identify employers with repeated, serious citations, and intend to subject them to increased, multi-worksite inspections and higher penalties.

According to OSHA, the SVEP will “focus increased enforcement attention on significant hazards and violations” by concentrating on employers that have demonstrated “indifference” to workplace safety obligations through willful, repeated, or failure-to abate-violations in four areas:

1. Fatality or catastrophe situations;
2. Industries that expose employee to the most severe hazards–among the “high-emphasis hazards” covered by the SVEP are falls, amputations, crystalline silica combustible dust, lead, and excavation and trenching;
3. Industries that expose employees to the potential release of highly hazardous chemicals;
4. Egregious enforcement actions.

Once an employer is selected for the SVEP, OSHA will undertake a number of enforcement steps including enhanced follow-up inspections, as well as inspections at other worksites of that same employer—potentially on a nationwide basis. The program includes new features that will allow OSHA to conduct more aggressive multi-worksite inspections against those employers that fall within the program, as well as a nationwide referral program and closer coordination with states having OSHA state plans.

"Higher penalties and more aggressive, targeted enforcement will provide a greater deterrent and further encourage these employers to furnish safe and healthy workplaces for their employees," said DR. David Michaels, OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor.

In addition, the agency will be increasing civil penalty amounts under SVEP. OSHA said that companies can expect average penalty for a serious violation to increase from about $1,000 to an average $3,000 to $4,000. Future penalty increases would also be tied to inflation.

On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, Governor Doyle signed into law legislation (Assembly Bill 496) that will prohibit texting while driving in Wisconsin. The law will take effect on December 1st, 2010. Under the texting law, drivers cannot compose or send electronic messages such as a text or e-mail. Violations of this ban would result in fines of no less than $20 and no more than $400 for a first offense, and no less than $200 and no more than $800 for a second offense.

The ban does not apply to operators of authorized emergency vehicles or the use of a global positioning device. It also doesn't apply when the use of a voice-operated or hands-free device is used to text messages. Wisconsin joins 24 other states, including Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan, that have already passed bans on texting, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Listing of laws by state.

There are new products and apps being developed that can be effective tools to help stay focused while driving and keep everyone safer. Here are a few that we've found:

www.key2safedriving.net
Establish profiles that won't allow calls or texts when a bluetooth device detects a car in motion.

www.aegismobility.com
Uses phone's GPS to determine if it's in a moving vehicle, logs incoming calls and texts and responds with a message that you're driving.

www.zoomsafer.com
Enables you to dictate text messages and update social-networking sites while driving.

We also suggest, especially for those parents who have teen drivers, that you simply turn the phone off you when get into the car.