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Preparing Your Tree Care or Landscaping Business for Snow Removal This Winter

by Michael Finati

As the weather grows colder and the season starts to change, there is less of a need for tree and landscaping services. That’s why many tree care and landscaping companies switch gears to provide snow removal services during the winter months.  

Companies that provide snow removal services are called upon to clear roads, parking lots, and driveways. In areas where there are heavy amounts of snowfall, the weight of snow and ice may cause roof damage or cave-ins. 

According to OSHA, most of the injuries that occur during snow removal operations are related to falls. Workers can slip and fall on icy sidewalks or driveways. They can slide off roofs or decks, fall off ladders or lifts, or even fall through skylights. After extraordinarily heavy snowfalls, roofs can collapse and cave in, thereby causing injuries to workers attempting to remove snow from them. 

Snowplows can get into vehicle accidents when hurrying to or from a job site – or by hitting stationary objects hidden beneath the snow. Lightweight vehicles such as smaller trucks, ATVs, and UTVs may not be able to maintain control of vehicles on icy surfaces, which can lead to injuries or damaged equipment.  

Ensuring Safe Working Conditions 

Being proactive to avoid accidents from happening is the best way to reduce your risk this winter. Here are a few things to keep in mind when scheduling work during the cold season: 

  • Limit scheduling workers for snow removal from roofs when possible 
  • Use safe snow removal procedures that decrease the risk of roofs collapsing 
  • Educate workers on how to identify electrical and fall hazards 
  • Supply the right type of equipment for the job 
  • Train workers on using snow removal equipment safely, including ladders and aerial lifts 
  • Provide workers with safety and protective equipment, and make sure they are in good working condition 
  • Ensure all electrical equipment is properly grounded 
  • Train workers to add fuel to equipment only when engines are cold 
  • Advise workers to avoid placing hands near running snowblowers to unclog them 
  • Establish a plan to rescue workers who fall and are suspended in a body harness, or who fall on a safety net or other protection device 
  • Perform regular maintenance on plow trucks and plows 
  • Caution drivers about driving at the speed limit 
  • Require workers to wear warm clothing and proper footwear, including high-visibility wear 
  • Give workers sufficient breaks to prevent fatigue, which can cause mistakes 

Protecting Your Company Against Liability Claims 

Well-worded contracts and comprehensive commercial liability insurance can help prevent liability claims for snow removal companies. 

Client Contracts 

Some of the problems snow removal companies face can be solved upfront by establishing the terms of service and conditions, as outlined in a well-written contract. Clearly written contracts help prevent wrongful allegations or complaints from customers. Contracts are legally binding agreements for all parties, so when both parties agree on the expectations of the snow removal service and they have it in writing, there is little room for dispute.  

What goes into a responsible service contract?  

Contracts should provide a detailed description of the work to be performed. For example, a strong contract might say: “Plow driveway using snowplow, clear sidewalks using a snowblower, and spread salt on the driveway and sidewalks.” The same contract might specify the snow will be pushed to the side of the driveway, but the company will not remove the snow, vs. a more general description of services as “snowplowing” or “clearing snow.” 

Contracts should also state when the snow removal company will provide services. For example, snow removal contractors may opt to provide services when there is at least an inch of snow.  

Other important components of a contract include terms of payment, guarantees of work, and statements about the snow removal company’s insurance.  

Snow removal contractors can protect themselves against claims related to contractual obligations by having an attorney review their contracts before signing them.  

Note: The above is for general guidance only and should not be considered legal advice. Seek appropriate counsel for your specific business needs and contracts. 

Commercial Insurance Policies 

Snow removal companies are served best with the following types of commercial insurance policies: Commercial General Liability, Commercial Auto Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, and Inland Marine Insurance. 

Commercial General Liability: This is an important coverage for snow removal contractors to gain protection, and they may be required to carry it as part of a contractual obligation.  

General liability covers business owners, employees, and others. It also covers property damage caused by their company. For example, if an employee accidentally damages shingles from a roof or your company was contractually obligated to put salt on the sidewalk in front of a business, fails to do so, and then someone falls on the ice and gets injured. Both of these types of claims would be covered under general liability.  

General liability only applies to non-vehicle-related accidents. Accidents involving vehicles are covered under commercial auto insurance.  

Commercial Auto Insurance: This coverage pays for losses for accidents involving commercially operated vehicles when used during business hours, such as plow trucks. Due to the potential severity of snowplow accidents, you may want to purchase limits as high as you can afford for both liability and comprehensive coverage, so that you are covered if one of your snowplow drivers hits a person, telephone pole, or another vehicle.  

Workers’ Compensation: If your company is anything other than a one-person operation, state laws may require you to carry workers’ compensation coverage. This coverage protects employees who are injured on the job, pays for their medical expenses, and temporarily replaces their wages until they recover.  

Inland Marine Insurance: Inland marine insurance covers tools and equipment that get destroyed, stolen, or damaged while being moved on land.  

Hopefully, you won’t need to file a claim during the winter season. Nonetheless, always document the work you perform with photos, videos, and notes so that you have detailed records in case you need to file a claim. Be specific about dates, locations, start and stop times, and services performed. Furthermore, be sure to document any unusual problems or conditions they encounter on the job. Standard policies and procedures will help in the event of a potential or actual claim.  

NIP Group specializes in insuring tree service and landscaping companies, as well as snow removal companies. Contact us to learn more. 

Insurance Brokers: Are Your Seasonal Customers Protected During the Off-Season?

by Michael Finati

From landscapers to garden centers, winter can be a challenging time for businesses that rely on seasonal customers, sales, or products. 

Often operating only during certain times of the year (depending on their geographic location), many landscaping businesses or garden centers may rely on spring and summer sales for most of their annual revenue. While some might turn to snow removal as a way to keep revenue up during the winter, many shut down operations in the late fall or early winter, requiring costly equipment to be stored. It can be difficult for business owners to find coverage for these assets, not to mention how the sharp decline in sales and revenue can have a significant impact on the bottom line and therefore affect insurance costs. 

How to Help Business Owners during the Off-Season 

Seasonal businesses have unique needs when it comes to insurance policies, which means a one-size-fits-all policy may not offer the coverage they need. Brokers can help by asking a few key questions and making specialized coverage recommendations. 

Is Your Current Policy Up to Date?  

Review all policies and be sure they are up to date with current market conditions. Ask policyholders when they last updated their policies. If something has changed in the client’s industry or how they do business, make any necessary changes to protect them from future losses. 

What Coverage Do You Have? 

Seasonal businesses may have coverage gaps or be exposed to risks they do not know about. For example, if they have employees who work for them only during the busy season, workers’ compensation insurance can protect them from claims related to employee injuries. 

When protecting seasonal businesses from liability claims, excess liability coverage is an often-overlooked policy. This coverage provides additional limits beyond what is offered by a general commercial liability (CGL) policy. 

What if an Employee Gets Injured or Sick and Cannot Work?  

Workers’ Compensation Protection provides coverage for employees who suffer a bodily injury and for certain medical expenses related to their work-related injuries. In some states, this coverage is required by law. 

Do You Have Property Coverage?  

If a business operates out of a storefront or office space, they need property insurance coverage if a fire or other natural disaster damages the building. This policy protects the cost of rebuilding a structure if it gets damaged beyond repair.  

The policy can cover related expenses such as temporary office space to use while your building is being repaired. 

Do You Have Equipment in Storage? 

Seasonal businesses often store unused equipment in storage locations while they are not in use. If these items get damaged or stolen while not in use, it can cause significant financial hardship for the business owner.  

Seasonal businesses can be vulnerable to various risks, including damage from natural disasters and other catastrophic events. Inland marine insurance protects a business’ specialized equipment during storage. 

Does Your Seasonal Business Have a Vehicle?  

Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles that are used for a business’s operations. 

What if There Is a Fire or Some Other Catastrophe? 

Business interruption insurance helps protect income if a client loses regular customers or revenue due to damage from covered perils like a fire or windstorm. 

Do You Have Coverage for the Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost?  

The difference between replacement cost and actual cash value is one that many business owners do not always understand. As a result, they may not have the insurance coverage they need. It’s important to explain the differences between replacement cost and actual cash value coverage to seasonal business owners. 

What Unique Risks Does Your Industry Face?  

Different types of seasonal businesses face various risks that require different types of coverage. For example, suppose a business sells snow sleds during the winter and then closes in April and May. The business may want to consider insuring against lost income due to weather-related incidents like hurricanes or floods that could cause damage to property or equipment and prevent customers from coming into the store during peak months. (Tip: If they don’t know the answer to this question share your expertise and knowledge to position yourself as an industry expert.) 

Do You Store Customer Information Online? 

Cybercrime insurance can protect against financial losses from computer hacks and cyber-attacks. It is crucial for businesses that store customer data online or in a cloud. 

Matching Seasonal Businesses with the Right Insurance Policy 

Seasonal businesses that cannot be insured year-round and/or are impacted by the weather can be particularly challenging to cover. These business owners should know how their industry’s risks may affect their business and what kinds of insurance can protect them. 

Insurance brokers often overlook seasonal businesses because they are not open year-round, but they can be a great source of revenue, and the right policies can help them grow.  

Understanding how your potential clients operate will help you figure out what coverage they need most, whether that means attaining liability protection or adequate property coverage.  If you are unsure how to proceed with selling, ask questions about how the business works so you can match it with the right policy type and price. 

NIP Group has over 30 years of experience with contractors that sometimes operate on a seasonal basis. Contact us today to learn more about how we have helped thousands of brokers and businesses get the specialized coverage they need. 

Protecting Your Employees and Your Business from Winter Mishaps

by NIP Group Insurance Experts

As we move into the winter months, snow and freezing rain come down on a regular basis, not to mention the unpredictable weather patterns that are becoming more and more common. To avoid putting you and your employees at risk of slips, falls, hypothermia, or worse, seasonal businesses must be well-prepared to stay ahead of the game when it comes to winter-related injuries and accidents.

Safety concerns are particularly high in the construction industry, even when the weather is pleasant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slightly more than one-third of the construction deaths were due to slips and falls. Nearly all deaths were attributed to falling from a high level and about 41% of all fatal slips and falls occurred within the construction industry.

It’s common for workers to get minor injuries such as cuts and bruises after a fall, but a bad fall can also result in fractured or broken bones or even death.

When one or more workers get an injury due to winter weather conditions, it can result in:

    • • Decreased productivity
    • • Increased costs to replace employees
    • • Overtime for current employees
    • • Reputational damage to your business

It is in the best interests of your business to do everything you can to create a culture of winter safety among your employees and provide the best possible working conditions during inclement weather. The best time to start your winter weather preparedness plan is before you need it. Here are some of our top tips to get your winter safety plan started.

Winter Safety Tips for Excavators

When we think about excavators, we tend to think they only work during spring, summer, and fall; however, construction projects continue all year round regardless of the weather.

If you own a paving/excavation business:

    • • Store machinery indoors to prevent snow and ice from accumulating on the surface and causing a slip hazard.
      • Warm up equipment before taking it to a job site to prevent parts and equipment from locking up, and check batteries to be sure they are charged.
      • Ensure workers are well-rested, as it is dangerous to operate heavy equipment when exhausted.
      • Check fluids and use winter-ready lubricants for equipment.
      • Use additives to the fuel to prevent it from gelling, keep fuel tanks full, and take steps to stop DEF from freezing.
      • Check the air in the tires as they lose air in colder temperatures.
      • Inspect equipment daily for cracks on tires, belts, and hydraulic hoses.

If a mishap does happen, be sure your business is adequately protected with grading and excavating insurance.

Winter Safety Tips for Tree Trimmers

The colder months are prime time for tree trimmers for several reasons. Winter is the best time to prune trees to produce more fruit for the following year. It is easier for tree trimmers to see dead trees and branches once the leaves have fallen. Moreover, climbers have easier access to the trees, pests are dormant, and equipment can get in easier with less foliage to deal with.

If this is a busy season for you, be sure to:

  • • Postpone tree trimming or cutting jobs during strong winds, intense cold, and during snowstorms.
    • Require tree trimmers to wear boots that provide traction on snow and ice. Boots should have low, wide heels, and they should fit properly.
    • Supply warm work gloves to keep tree trimmers’ hands warm.
    • Allow workers extra time to get to job sites and complete jobs, as winter road conditions or site conditions can be more treacherous.
    • Require tree trimmers to wear helmets, leg protection, face shields, and safety glasses.
    • Require earmuffs or ear plugs to protect hearing.

When tree cutters get injured, specialty insurance for arborists and tree services can save your business.

Preventing Hypothermia and Frostbite

Excavators, construction workers, and other trade workers are subject to hypothermia and frostbite while working outside in freezing temperatures. Therefore, employers must take precautions to prevent cold-related injuries to workers who must work outside for long periods.

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce. This condition causes a body’s temperature to drop below 95 degrees, which is very dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that hypothermia affects the brain, which means affected individuals may not be unable to move well or think clearly. Severe cases of hypothermia can even lead to death.

Be sure your employees are aware of the symptoms of hypothermia:

  • • Exhaustion
    • Shivering
    • Confusion
    • Memory loss
    • Slurred speech
    • Drowsiness

When workers are out in sub-freezing temperatures, they are also at risk of frostbite, a condition where the skin and bodily tissues become frozen. Johns Hopkins Medical Center states that frostbite can cause permanent damage or even amputation.

Excavators, tree trimmers, and other workers in the trades are most at risk of frostbite on their noses, cheeks, ears, chins, fingers, and toes. In the early stages of frostbite, workers may have pain or redness on their skin, or it may start to feel numb. The skin may turn white or grayish-yellow and may feel waxy or firm.

Help keep workers safe from frostbite by:

  • • Sending workers out to job sites at the warmest times of the day.
    • Postponing work during days when temperatures are extreme.
    • Scaling back physical demands for workers on the coldest days.
    • Adding extra workers or relief workers when necessary to get jobs done without overexposing them to extreme temperatures.
    • Ensuing workers have warm liquids to drink on the job site.
    • Providing a warm shelter or vehicle where workers can briefly warm up.

Treating Hypothermia and Frostbite

Your winter employee safety training program should include steps for how employees can treat hypothermia and frostbite on the job site. If you or one of your employees believe they have hypothermia and/or frostbite, take the person to a warm shelter or vehicle immediately and remove any damp clothing. Warm the chest, head, neck, and groin areas using dry blankets, towels, jackets, or clothing until the person is able to travel to the hospital.

That being said, the above is just general information and should not be considered medical advice. It’s not a substitute for a professional consultation with a qualified medical provider. If you ever have any medical concerns, call 911 or head to the hospital right away.

Final Thoughts

The construction trades carry greater safety risks than most other occupations on a good day. Certain weather conditions increase those risks exponentially, especially snowy, icy, or windy conditions.

Trade businesses risk the health and safety of their employees as well as financial and reputational risks for the company when they do not take the necessary precautions for working during the harsh winter months.

Because of increased risks during winter, excavating companies, tree service companies, and other businesses in the trades must have the proper insurance. NIP Group specializes in insuring the trades. Learn more at NIPGroup.com or contact us today to find out how the right insurance can protect business owners and their employees all year.

Wildfire Prevention Services to Offer Your Clients

by NIP Group

NIP Group

Wildfire Prevention & Safety Services Your Tree Care or Landscaping Business Should Know!

In 2021, destruction from wildfires resulted in nearly 8.6 million scorched acres of land, three fatalities, and 3,629 structures that were damaged or destroyed. With devastating consequences like these becoming more common, wildfire prevention services are in high demand.

Join us June 30th at 2pm ET / 11 am PT for an educational webinar, where along with Kristen Davis and Chief Kelly Sisson of Capstone Fire & Safety Management, we will address your questions concerning fire prevention and maintenance techniques.

Whether you’re newly adopting fire prevention or are a veteran, we encourage you to submit any relevant questions via the registration form.

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar on-demand now!

Date:

June 30th, 2022 at 2pm ET / 11am PT

Presenters:

  • Michael Finati – LandPro Program Manager – NIP Group
  • Kristen Davis – Regional Business Director – Capstone Fire & Safety Management
  • Kelly Sisson – Wildland Operations Division Chief – Capstone Fire & Safety Management

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar on-demand!

Wildfire Prevention Services Your Insureds Should Offer

by Isaiah Irizarry

NIP Group

Wildfire Prevention & Safety Services Your Insureds Should Know!

In 2021, destruction from wildfires resulted in nearly 8.6 million scorched acres of land, three fatalities, and 3,629 structures that were damaged or destroyed. With devastating consequences like these becoming more common, wildfire prevention services are in high demand.

Join us June 30th at 2pm ET / 11 am PT for an educational webinar, where along with Kristen Davis and Chief Kelly Sisson of Capstone Fire & Safety Management, we will address your questions concerning fire prevention and maintenance techniques.

Whether your tree care or landscaping insurance clients are newly adopting fire prevention or are veterans, we encourage you to submit any relevant questions via the registration form.

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar 0n-demand now!

Date:

June 30th, 2022 at 2pm ET / 11am PT

Presenters:

  • Michael Finati – LandPro Program Manager – NIP Group
  • Kristen Davis – Regional Business Director – Capstone Fire & Safety Management
  • Kelly Sisson – Wildland Operations Division Chief – Capstone Fire & Safety Management

Watch this wildfire prevention webinar on-demand!

9 Good Reasons Why Your Insurance Agency Should Work With MGAs

by Tom Doherty

You’d be surprised how many insurance professionals can be stumped when you ask them this simple question: “What is an MGA?”

OK, you probably do know that the acronym stands for Managing General Agents, but given that, would you know how to explain what an MGA is in the insurance distribution system or enumerate the benefits that MGAs can bring to the retail or independent insurance agency? These questions can give pause to even the most experienced agents, even those who have used the services of MGAs!

An MGA is one of two types of wholesale brokers, with the other being a Surplus Lines broker. As a wholesaler, the MGA acts as an intermediary or liaison between a retail agent and an insurance company. For a more detailed definition, we turn to the go-to insurance glossary folks at the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI). They define an MGA as:

 “ … a specialized type of insurance agent/broker that, unlike traditional agents/brokers, is vested with underwriting authority from an insurer. Accordingly, MGAs perform certain functions ordinarily handled only by insurers, such as binding coverage, underwriting and pricing, appointing retail agents within a particular area, and settling claims.”

Insurance runs by the law of large numbers. It is not always economical or efficient for carriers to pursue emerging and niche markets, or to set up shop in remote areas of the country. MGAs can run with those markets and supply the deep expertise and service capabilities to manage those books of business for the insurer. MGAs can and do sell directly to insureds but working with retail agents affords exponential growth that is beneficial to both parties.

Here are 9 ways an MGA can benefit your insurance agency

  1. Differentiation. Most agencies are generalists, serving all comers. Some carve out a specialty or an industry focus that helps to differentiate their agency from the one down the street. Working with an MGA on niche or program business allows you to go deep, shifting your focus from a transactional all-things-to-all-people approach to more of a consultative business partner approach. Developing a reputation for sector expertise can help distinguish your agency from your competition over time.
  2. Momentum. Go where the action is. MGAs have been the rockstars of the insurance distribution system over recent years. According to research and analysis by the highly respected Conning, the MGA market has nearly doubled since 2012, when it first began studying the sector. In 2016 alone, MGAs’ rate of growth exceeded that of the total property and casualty market by 32 percent. More recently, even in the face of pandemic disruption, “the Managing General Agent and program market continued its upward trajectory in 2020, with premium growth outpacing the overall property-casualty market.”
  3. Access. Let’s face it. Most insurance agencies can only secure a limited number of carrier appointments due to volume agreements, changing appetites, and underwriting guidelines. MGAs help by broadening your agency’s access to specialty and non-standard insurers, both admittedand non-admitted, as well as to industry influencers. Most agencies would find it difficult if not impossible to secure such a broad array of markets and maintain active relationships over time.
  4. Growth. Grow your insurance agency’s sales and premium with a focused marketing approach and the marketing and underwriting expertise of a trusted partner. Grow your bottom line with increased efficiencies and decreased administrative costs. Improve your sales hit ratio with help in structuring and placing complex insurance risks.
  5. Scale. Working on niche or program business affords a more targeted focus for both your marketing and client service activities, allowing you to grow your business without a substantial increase in staff, marketing outlays, and other operational expenditures.
  6. Expertise. Tap into An MGA that has expert knowledge about a specific line of coverage (liability, inland marine, cyber insurance, surplus lines, etc.) or a particular niche or product they serve. For example, at NIP Group, we work with retail agencies to service specialty insurance programs for over 25 niche industries. Working with the MGA will help you deepen your knowledge of the niche sector’s challenges, exposures, and solutions, which will help build your agency authority and reputation, increase referrals, and strengthen retention.
  7. Technology. MGAs often offer online platforms and tools that automate and streamline processes. This allows for faster quoting and renewals, better claims processing, and numerous efficiencies in other aspects of account administration. It also brings your agency better, faster, and more actionable data analysis.
  8. Sales & marketing support. Many MGAs provide a vast panoply of marketing and sales tools from brochures and handouts to digital marketing. Some provide white label marketing tools so that you can build your agency brand with professional materials. (See NIP Group’s White Label Specialty Programmarketing support). Focusing on a niche will afford more targeted marketing opportunities through industry lists, trade associations, publications, industry shows, sponsorships, blogs, and social media.
  9. Industry-specific loss control. MGAs develop deep expertise in the risks and exposures of the programs and industry niches they serve. Agencies can tap into and use any available resources and tools that the MGA provides (such as the NIP Vault) to prevent or mitigate losses. This, in turn, allows your agency to help its client base to prevent losses from occurring in the first place, or minimizing the cost of those that do occur.

There are many other reasons why your agency should work with MGAs – in fact, more than a decade ago, Insurance Journal compiled 50 Reasons Why Retail Agents Choose Managing General Agency Partners. These thoughts from agents have held up over time.

Working with NIP Group

NIP Group’s Specialty Brokerage is a market leading wholesale brokerage operation serving 25 niche industries. We target non-standard commercial risks underwritten by admitted and non-admitted specialty carriers. Agents can leverage our expertise in placing and servicing complex risks through relationships with global insurance markets. Our philosophy of providing ingenuity in insurance has established us as one of the nation’s most respected specialized business insurance and risk management intermediaries, and a recognized leader of innovative insurance solutions. Our brokers and the businesses they serve are the central focus of everything we do at NIP Group. We are service fanatics to the core, seeking to exceed expectations. We are committed to a core philosophy of true partnerships at every level.

NIP Specialty has the expertise, efficiency, and strengthened relationships that wholesalers can bring to the process.

NIP Group is open to all independent agents – Click here to get appointed today

Related resources to insurance carriers for independent agents:

Help Your Commercial Clients With Business Wildfire Protection

by Tom Doherty

If you want to distinguish your insurance agency from the competition and demonstrate added value to your landscaping and tree care clients with exposures to wildfires, developing deep expertise in specialized insurance from an MGA like NIP Group, as well as risk management are very effective. Customer surveys demonstrate that business and personal clients alike seek more from their brokers than simply quoting and policy management. They look for expertise and help to mitigate their exposures.

If your agency insures businesses in any of the 38 US states at elevated risk for wildfire or any state experiencing drought conditions, a wildfire specialization is a great opportunity for additional revenue. To properly protect your business clients, agencies need to offer such value-added services as risk consulting, loss mitigation, and recovery assistance.

Here are ways that insurance agents can help commercial clients with wildfire protection:

  • Conduct annual reviews to ensure the right insurance coverage. Educate your clients about their commercial policies and what is and isn’t covered. Look for any gaps or uncovered exposures. Review any facility additions, renovations, or upgrades that were made to the property since the last policy. Discuss any equipment, fleet, or costly acquisitions, change in staff levels, and inventory levels. When assessing for coverage adequacy, don’t forget to factor in the current costs for repairs and rebuilding. Discuss potential endorsements and supplementary coverages.
  • Educate your clients about how they can protect their business by creating defensible zones around their property. This guide on Protecting Your Business from Wildfire from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) offers several concrete suggestions for steps that you can take to improve the defensibility of your property. This includes developing Fire-Resistant Landscaping for their business properties. Also see Selecting Firewise Plants.
  • Encourage your commercial clients in high-risk areas to consider fitting or retrofitting their businesses  with features that deter fire. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) encourages an upgrade to a Class A fire-rated roof, noncombustible and fireproofed materials, and blocking openings that could be ember entry points. Direct clients to the Regional Wildfire Retrofit Guides by IBHS, which include risk assessment checklists and a cost estimator to help both businesses and homeowners prioritize necessary retrofit projects.
  • Hold wildfire protection webinars for commercial clients and prospects in advance of wildfire season. It’s easy and cost-effective to hold remote webinars for large numbers using web conference software. Seek partners and experts to participate, such as forestry and wildfire protection experts, insurance company representatives, and members of emergency management services. Promote webinars on your website, on social media, and in community news sources.
  • Help your clients learn how to work with others in their communities to build Fire Adapted communities and to become a certified Firewise USA site. This is particularly pertinent to condominium and homeowners associations, but also valuable to business parks, retail centers, urban centers, and neighborhoods in high-risk areas.
  • Supply your business clients with checklists for what to do before, during, and after a wildfire. Publish these lists on your blog and link them on social media. Tap into and distribute freely available handouts from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other public sources. Taxpayer-funded government resources are generally fair use and free from copyright but check for permissions to be certain.
  • Learn about the different types of warning systems you can subscribe to from authorized federal, state, and local public alerting authorities, such as FEMA, the National Weather Service, and local Offices of Emergency Management. Encourage your commercial clients to subscribe to and follow alerts, particularly in peak fire season. During peak wildfire season, keep an eye on regional reports from the S. Drought Monitor.
  • Ensure your commercial clients develop an emergency plan for their business that includes preparedness for wildfires and other disasters. In fact, any business with 10 or more employees is mandated by OSHA to have a written Emergency Action Plan. Teach your clients the importance of creating and practicing multiple evacuation plans and routes. The free Ready Rating Program from the American Red Cross will help businesses conduct a readiness assessment and build an emergency plan, as well as other services to enhance preparedness. Also see Wildfire Pre-Evacuation Steps For Your Business.
  • Encourage businesses you insure to establish a disaster crisis team. One model for this is the Incident Command System (ICS), a widely accepted emergency framework that encompasses specified roles, responsibilities, and accountability from the incident commander down to the front lines and among the groups and organizations involved. (See Lessons from a Wildfire)
  • Use your social media channels and blogs to share news, risk management tips, and helpful resources before, during, an after emergencies. Be sure you collect cell numbers and get text permission from clients. Don’t abuse this access, use it for emergencies and key notices only.

Being an active partner in helping your clients to protect their employees and valuable business assets, prepare for business continuity, and build business resilience will go a long way to ensuring a long-term relationship. Highlighting and sharing your expertise will also strengthen community ties and help build a great brand for your agency.

Check out these other articles on prevention and wildfire protection: 

2.23.22 – NIP Group Reviews State of the Specialty Industries for 2022

by NIP Group

NIP Group is a leader in the comprehensive commercial insurance industry

Additional Resources:

Please download the following resources that are associated with this webinar.

Contact Us:

900 Route 9 North, Suite 503
Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1003

Toll Free: 800.446.7647
Fax: 732.791.1630
info@nipgroup.com

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