R&R Insurance Blog

Best practices for employers with outdoor workers:

• Train employees and supervisors in heat illness prevention, as well as how to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness and what to do if someone exhibits symptoms
• On days when temperatures require preventive measures, increase the volume of water available to employees. California suggests one quart per hour. It is not enough to simply provide it - workers must be encouraged to drink the water.
• Have shade available for outdoor workers and allow frequent breaks - at least 5 minutes of rest when an employee believes they need a preventative recovery period.
• Have the ability to appropriately respond to any employee with symptoms of illness
• Allow gradual acclimation for workers unaccustomed to working outside - it can take 4 to 14 days
• Know where the nearest hospital is and directions to your work site in case emergency medical attention is needed

Heat-related resources

• Heat Illness - materials in multiple languages
• CDC Extreme Heat
• National Weather Service warnings - or search by state
• Heat Stress Control and Heat Casualty Management (PDF) guidance from the Department of the Army and Air Force
• OSHA Technical Manual on Heat Stress
• CDC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Extreme Heat
• Heat Stress: Fluid and Electrolite Imbalance Can Be Fatal
• Heat-Related Illness Prevention - California Division of Occupational Safety and Health
• Outdoor Heat Exposure - Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• NIOSH: Working in Hot Environments

No one day is the same for Lisa Bergersen, HR Director with the City of Pewaukee. In addition to administering personnel benefits, Lisa also works closely with the common council, mayor and city administrator on unemployment and HR strategy. Many time-sensitive occurrences happen on a day-to-day basis that require quick decisions and Lisa’s immediate action. Through the city of Pewaukee’s partnership with R&R Insurance, Lisa has defined the following 3 factors as important components to the customer service provided by her Knowledge Broker.

1. Quick Answers:

Getting the answers you need in a timely fashion is a customer’s expectation of any service provider. When your question impacts the lives of many and has a financial impact on taxpayers, quick response is an even more critical element to the level of customer service provided. With Lisa Bergersen’s role directing HR efforts for the city of Pewaukee, she leans on the expertise of her R&R Insurance Knowledge Broker for answers to her questions. Everything from personnel issues, group benefits, policies and legal matters; questions should be addressed in a way that makes you feel like you are your agent’s only client.

2. Strategy:

Oftentimes when we receive an answer to our question, we are left with the feeling of ….what now? Co-workers and team members do not always possess all the information or expertise needed to make the best decisions for an organization or business. Having the confidence to rely on a consultant who specializes in municipal insurance matters can provide efficiencies and save money. Lisa finds value in having the opportunity to talk through occurrences and issues with her R&R Knowledge broker so that a recommended strategy is put into place. They work through the overall direction to handle the situation while giving thought to minimizing risk and the appropriate communication to be shared among employees and / or residents.

3. Action Plan:

Her law school experience has helped Lisa understand the importance of asking the right questions and expecting timely response in order to be efficient and effective in her job. Creating an action plan with the help of her agent may be the most crucial factor when human resources and other municipal insurance issues arise. Knowing you have a knowledgeable resource to lend credibility and ensure no details are overlooked can provide incredible peace of mind.

Relying on specialized, service-centric experts to provide municipal insurance consultation and risk management recommendations is key to successful city and village administration. Service focused on timely response, strategy development and action plans will help representatives create efficiencies and keep costs down.

What municipal insurance challenges does your city or village face each day?

We talked about a great article we came across by Jim Guidry of the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance that talked about a way to protect your personal property by using your iPhone® or iPad®, he also gave some pointers on how to complete a home inventory.

(Hint) A suggestion from our staff is to hire your teenager to do this for you.

Take these 9 easy steps to complete a home inventory:

1. Make a list of possessions, including "celebration" purchases, such as jewelry and fine art.
2. Think about family heirlooms, collections and furniture. Also, consider items related to everyday leisure time, from flat-screen televisions to custom guitars.
3. Take note of commonplace items such as toys, CDs and clothing. Do not forget items you may only use occasionally such as holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools, and high-ticket items kept outside your home such as landscape and swing sets.
4. Attach copies of original sales receipts and/or appraisal documents to your inventory. Be sure to note model and serial numbers.
5. Group your possessions into logical categories. (i.e., by hobby, by room in your home)
6. Carefully photograph or videotape each item and document a brief description, including age, purchase price and estimated current value.
7. Remember to open drawers and closets to document what is inside.
8. Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place, such as a secured site/file online, a fire-proof box or in a safe deposit box. You may want to share a copy with your insurance provider to make necessary updates to your coverage.
9. Review and update your inventory annually and anytime you make a significant purchase.

More information on home inventories can be found on our website. Wisconsin residents who have more questions on home inventory or homeowners insurance, please contact KnowledgeBroker, Dan Wolfgram.

What would happen if your home was completely destroyed by fire or tornado? Would you be able to replace it? When it comes to insuring your home, it doesn't really matter how much it is worth, but rather it's important to determine how much it will cost to replace the dwelling.

Reconstruction values may be drastically different from the market value, especially in today's housing market. It's important to have your agent run a replacement cost estimator of your home. You can also run your own replacement cost estimators on sites like AccuCoverage. Enter the details about your home carefully, even if it takes some extra time to dig out the paperwork. Accurate details will provide a more accurate replacement cost on your home. Then, if a catastrophic loss occurs, you can be sure you have the right coverage to replace your home.

According to the executive director of United Policyholders, Amy Bach, predicting the replacement cost requires more than making a ballpark guess. "Computers don't build houses," Bach says, "Contractors do, but you've got to start somewhere." Bach went on to say that more than 67% of homeowner's are underinsured.

How can homeowners be under-insured on their home replacement costs?

• Construction costs have increased
• People forget to let their agent know about additions
• The initial replacement estimate was too low
• Coverage hasn't been reviewed annually

For example, if you have a dwelling with extended replacement cost on a home insured for $200,000, the most the insurance policy will pay out will be $250,000 if the home is a total loss. The extra coverage provides a safeguard in case the home isn't insured for enough - but it still may not be enough! The best way to make sure you are fully insured to replacement value, is insuring your home with guaranteed replacement cost. Many of our carriers offer guaranteed replacement cost which pays the full cost of replacing or repairing a damaged or destroyed home, even if it is above the policy limit.

Wisconsin residents, contact knowledgebroker Dan Wolfgram for more information or a quick quote on your home & auto insurance!

Bullying is in the news more and more and even being displayed throughout social media. Nationwide, one in six students in grades 6 through 10 say they’re bullied several times a month; nearly one in five students report being the bully at least sometimes, according to a 2001 Olweus study.

R&R Insurance is an endorsed agent for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB). We can assist school districts in Wisconsin with their anti-bullying policies to help prevent bullying and reduce your risk. Contact Bill Hattendorf for information about R&R's free anti-bullying posters for Wisconsin schools.

The emergence of Spring after a long Winter (which in our area feels more like an eternity of arctic-comparable misery) means many things: birds chirping, life's renewal, flowers blooming, and the scary stuff... thunderstorms. On one hand, thunderstorms bring heavy rainfall that washes away the snowy remnants of months past. On the other hand, they often arrive with a dangerous foe we call lightning.

Ted Marino, resident of Brookfield WI and an R&R customer since 1984, explains the peace-of-mind he had immediately after his home caught fire from a lightning strike during a storm in 2010. Ted and Chris escaped without harm, but their house was another story...

Technically speaking, lightning is an electrical discharge caused by an imbalance of negative and positive charges. Thunderstorms often result in the storm clouds becoming negatively charged due to various colliding water particles, while objects on the ground become positively charged. In an attempt to rebalance this, electrical currents pass between the negatively and positively charged entities –producing bolts of electricity and heat that are both fascinating and incredibly dangerous.

Stay safe when lightning strikes:

• If you hear thunder or see lightning, move to a safe shelter (such as a building or metal-topped vehicle with the windows closed)
• If you are in or near a body of water, get out immediately!
• Stay off any electrical equipment (such as corded phones and computers)
• Steer clear of objects that conduct electricity (such as golf clubs, barbed wire fences, power lines, and windmills)
• Keep away from high points of elevation

When it comes to lightning, an alarming number of people believe the myth that “lightning never strikes the same place twice.” In fact, lightning can and will strike the same place twice (National Geographic reported about 100 strike earth’s surface every second) and at temperatures up to five times hotter than the sun!

Wisconsin residents can have the same peace-of-mind that the Marino's experience. Contact knowledgebroker Dan Wolfgram for more information about personal insurance options through R&R Insurance Services.

By now, the deadline for registering for individual health insurance on healthcare.gov has come and gone. However the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) is warning consumers to verify the status of their health insurance. The OCI has received numerous reports of consumers enrolled in incorrect plans. Much of the confusion is coming from a technical problem dealing with the zip code: either the pulled premium rate was for the wrong area or some insurers didn’t even have plans for listed zip code. In the most extreme cases, consumers are left without coverage but may not have been informed.

What to do? Be proactive and verify your coverage:

• Confirm you have received your enrollment materials
• If you have NOT received your enrollment materials within the expected time frame, check the status with your agent or insurance company
• Verify payment has been received by the insurance company
• Review policy documents that deductibles and co-pays match what you were expecting
• See discrepancies? Contact your insurance company immediately

Wisconsin residents, still have questions about your individual health insurance? Contact Donna Wahl.

One of the most important aspects of a disability policy most often gets overlooked. It's your retirement contributions. Sure you make them when you are working, receiving a full income. But what happens to the contributions if you were to become disabled? There is protection for this as I explain in this short video.....

Wisconsin doctors, dentists and attorneys, contact Donald Levings, Disability Specialist for R&R Insurance Services for more information about protecting your future.

WI school administrators’ & teachers’ safety & liability concerns involve carrying the responsibility of ensuring students, faculty and community are covered – especially in high risk environments like laboratory science. Schools are faced with unique risks in regard to keeping their environments a safe place for students to learn and grow. Providing the best education and classroom experience should be an educator’s #1 priority and there are resources that allow you to make that the primary focus. Here are 4 qualities that you should look for when evaluating and choosing a safety & liability coverage consultant for your district, school, group or project.

Experience

School district risk and claims management requires a specialized expertise in all areas of a school’s operations function. Finding the right consultant for your group should include a representative with experience in education coverages as well as provide you with access to valuable resources that will help you make knowledgeable decisions. Your provider representative should have familiarity with your school setting, faculty and educators that are working in situations that may be considered high risk. Are you in a situation where you see your consultant only once a year or at renewal time? If so, it’s likely they do not have a strong understanding of the risks that are facing your individual students, faculty and property on a daily basis. Choose a consultant that has experience working in the same type of district, school or group setting as you will be working in together. They should also come with strong recommendations and be known for their solid relationships with the administrators, teachers and students they serve.

Knowledge

With experience, comes knowledge. Look for a consultant that has the breadth of knowledge to give expert advice, recommendations and lead you to resources that will provide value to the entire administration and staff. Safety and insurance coverages can be intimidating and complex at times. Having a reliable consultant that acts as an approachable extension of your team could save your district, school or group time and money. Working with a provider that goes above and beyond to create educational opportunities for you and your team will be an invaluable addition to the partnership.

Compassion

Look for a provider with a mission that aligns with your district or school’s focus on providing the most successful educational experience for your students and the community. Your partner should be someone you trust to put the lives of the people who fall under your policy first as well as do the right things – even when no one is looking. Here’s an example of how Jeff Gross, Director of Business Services with the school district of Menomonee Falls is working with his insurance provider to put the students and community first.

Extensive Options

Your district, school or group faces special needs and issues day-to-day and you want to align with a provider that has a strong understanding of the risk management needs of academic institutions. These coverage needs are constantly evolving. Consultants should offer flexible and comprehensive coverages that protect your assets so your primary focus can be on education. Competitive pricing is of course, is also a factor along with specifically designed school enhancement coverages.

As an administrator or educator, the safety and security of your students, faculty and school environment are at the forefront of responsibilities faced everyday. Finding a safety and liability consultant you can trust will allow you to focus on what’s most important – education. What risks are of biggest concern for your district or classroom and how are you working with your consultant to minimize these risks?