Acadia Insurance
Preventing Roof Collapse Due to Snow Loads
Generally speaking, buildings in the Northeast are built with roofs designated to sustain 30lbs per square foot. In some cases, roofs may be built to support up to 100lbs per square foot. During winter months, it is common to find roofs covered with very heavy snow that has the potential of causing significant roof damage or roof collapse. There are precautions that can be done in order to help decrease the likelihood of roof damage or collapse due to snow loads. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Personal Fall Arrest Systems
Falls are one of the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry, and are preventable if the right equipment is used correctly. Death and injuries from falls can be reduced and prevented by using a personal fall arrest system. It is important to employers and employees to fully understand how to properly use a personal fall arrest system. To do this, CLICK HERE to follow the ABC’s of fall protection.
Hired & Non-Owned Vehicles
Hired vehicles are those that a company rents, leases, borrows etc., while non-owned vehicles are the vehicles that are owned by employees and driven on the company’s behalf. Employees renting cars or driving their own cars for company business create exposures to loss that are often overlooked by employers. Such exposures are easy to forget because drivers are not operating “company vehicles”. However, operation of hired and non-owned vehicles can present significant exposure to a company, not only from bodily injury or property damage loss, but also potentially from reputational harm. An employer may be held liable for the actions of an employee when the actions take place under the scope of employment. To learn more CLICK HERE.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from the task of driving. While using a cell phone to talk or text is the most recognized distraction, any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking and texting on your phone, reaching for your phone or other objects, changing music, checking navigation system, eating or drinking, talking to vehicle passengers, or putting on makeup and other grooming activities is considered distracted driving. To learn more CLICK HERE.
Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Guidance
Employers have a legal obligation to make sure that employees operating vehicles for company business are appropriately qualified and entrusted to safely and responsibly drive on behalf of the company. This duty extends beyond drivers of company owned or leased vehicles to any employee who may drive for company business, regardless of vehicle ownership.
What are Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs)?
A Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) is a report of driving history for a specific driver, as reported by the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Information contained in an MVR may include driver’s license information, point history, violations, convictions, and license status. Most states report driving records for the past three years, although some states may report five or more years of history.
Why are MVRs important?
Motor Vehicle Records provide a means of verifying that a driver has a current license and provides his/her history of operating violations and accidents. To learn more CLICK HERE.
Common Driver Errors
Drivers are commonly involved in motor vehicle collisions associated with the following common errors: backing, distracted driving, driving left of center, following too close/tailgating, passing, right-of-way violations, left turns, and speeding or matching speed to conditions. All of these driving errors are preventable, as they are due to poor errors in the driver’s judgement.
To learn more CLICK HERE.
Disaster Planning for Shuttered Job Sites
At times due to unforeseen circumstances, the job may have to be put on hold for the safety of the employees. For a list of best practices to consider when closing down a job site CLICK HERE.
Northern New England Home Builders Insurance Program
Members are eligible for unlimited, free use of on-demand loss control videos
Eligible members should CLICK HERE to access the Loss Control Video Request Form.
National Association of Home Builders
The Construction Safety and Health Committee provides NAHB members and state and local associations with assistance and resources to help builders operate safe job sites, comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and lower workers’ compensation costs through injury prevention.
Construction Safety & OSHA resources at the National Association of Home Builders.
OSHA
CLICK HERE to access updated Fall Protection in Residential Construction resources from OSHA.
Eversource
Working safely around electricity.
Unitil
Unitil’s e-SMART workers – training tips, videos, and case studies to help you and your team work safely around electric and natural gas lines.
