Consider the following evacuation tips for a workplace emergency:

- Know the pathway to at least two alternative exits from every room or area at the workplace.

- Recognize the sounds or signaling method of the fire and evacuation alarms.

- Know who to contact in an emergency and how to contact them.

- Know how many desks or cubicles are between your workstation and two of the nearest exits so you can escape in the dark, if necessary.

- Know where the fire and evacuation alarms are located and how to use them.

- Report any damaged or malfunctioning safety systems and back-up systems to your supervisor.

Did you know??

The famous ride at Disney World, Pirates of the Caribbean, has six emergency evacuation exits, and it takes approximately 35 minutes to get all of the riders off the attraction if it breaks down.

It is important that we all do our part to prevent identity fraud and protect our clients. This includes taking security measures so that customer information is shared only with necessary parties. Unfortunately, fraud often comes from inside an organization, so it is important to be aware of security internally, as well as when dealing with people outside the company.

Computer

Your computer likely contains the most sensitive customer information. Follow these guidelines so that this information is kept secure:

- Never leave passwords where anyone can find them.

- When you step away from your computer, always “lock” the screen.

- Do not allow unauthorized persons to access your computer.

- When sending e-mail with personal data, make sure it is encrypted for security.

Customer Contact

Only gather or provide sensitive customer information through company-approved channels. Do not use personal e-mail (or if you must, be sure to encrypt the message). Follow company policies to verify the identity of the customer when giving out or changing any personal information. Use discretion when offering or receiving personal information over the phone – this is a common way for thieves to commit identity fraud.

Paperwork

When stepping away from your desk or leaving for the day, do not leave any paperwork with sensitive information lying on your desk. It should be filed in a locked drawer or cabinet. When disposing of personal information materials, use the paper shredder or secure recycling container.

Above all, be aware of the potential for identity theft when handling personal data. If you are ever suspicious of a transaction or conversation you are having, follow your instinct and pursue further verification before proceeding with the customer’s request. Talk to your supervisor if you have a question about procedure or need assistance with a particular transaction. If we all do our part, we can prevent identity fraud from occurring and protect our company and clients.

Types of Smoke Detectors

When selecting a smoke detector, keep the following in mind:

- Photoelectric units are better for smoldering fires, such as electric fires in the walls, so they are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms where these fires tend to occur.

- Ionization units give nearby air an electrical charge and then measure whether the charge stays constant or whether a fire is consuming oxygen in the air. These units are better suited to areas where fires get out of control, such as a basement near a furnace.

Testing a Smoke Detector

To ensure that smoke detectors are working properly, test them on a regular basis.To do so:

- Press the test button on the unit and wait for it to sound.

- Light a candle and hold it six inches below the detector so the heated air will rise into the detector.

- If the alarm does not sound within 20 seconds, blow out the candle and let the smoke rise.

- If the alarm still does not sound, open the detector up and clean the unit. Also make sure that all of the electrical connections are in good working order.

- Then, test the unit again. If it is still not working, replace it immediately.

Safety First

Replacing smoke detector batteries is critical to their usefulness.  A great way to remember to change your smoke detector batteries in your home is to do so twice a year during Daylight Saving Time. When you reset your clocks forward or back, also change those batteries to keep your home and your family safe!

Helping you to avoid claims is just one of the many value-added services we provide. Call us today to learn more about all of our personal risk management solutions for your auto, home and life.

Added to a Property Insurance policy or included in a Business Owner’s Insurance policy, the coverage is meant to cover lost income if the business’s primary location becomes damaged and unusable. The policy coverage is based on previous financial records and also covers the expenses of operating your business in a temporary location while repairs to the original location take place.

This coverage can be one of the most valuable protections available to businesses. However, there are numerous factors to consider to make sure that the coverage is effective for your organization.

Because Business Interruption Insurance is often written as an endorsement to a policy, it is dependent on other provisions and endorsements in that policy, such as:

-Covered cause of loss – Your initial policy must insure you against the actual cause of the interruption (i.e., fire, flood, etc.).

-Service interruption endorsement – Without this endorsement, utility service interruptions are often excluded from covered causes of loss. However, the loss could be covered if the utility failure caused another covered cause of loss, such as a fire. An endorsement can clarify and include utility service interruptions or failures.

-Multiple causes of loss – If more than one cause is the reason for the loss, both causes need to be insured against. If both causes aren’t insured against, the covered cause has to be deemed the “efficient cause,” the cause that set the other in motion, to be covered.

-Valuing the claim – Claims are valued based on past business records. If records don’t prove that the interruption caused a loss in profit that will reflect in the claim. If you lose inventory, but the inventory you still have is enough to cover projected sales, lost inventory won’t be covered under business interruption.

To protect your company’s best interests, make sure you have the appropriate amount and mix of risk transfer through Directors and Officers (D&O), Errors and Omissions (E&O), and Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) coverage. All of these policies protect the business owner from risks that come with having employees, but each has its own unique purpose that you should be aware of.

D&O provides coverage for negligent acts, omissions or misleading statements committed by directors and officers of a company that result in lawsuits being filed against the company.

E&O coverage protects people that give advice, prepare design solutions, make educated recommendations or represent the needs of others. It protects these people when they’ve done something they shouldn’t have (error) or when they neglected to do something they should have (omission).

EPLI policies protect an employer’s risks from some of the most common employment-related lawsuits, including sexual harassment, breach of employment contract, wrongful termination, discrimination and failure to hire or promote. A survey of HR executives and in-house lawyers revealed that likely three out of five employers will be sued by a prospective, current or former employee while they are in business. Defending against a lawsuit like this is costly and time-consuming, even if the claims are groundless.

To best assess which coverages and how much of each you need as part of your business owner’s policy, it’s important to evaluate your risk as it relates uniquely to your company. Consider what type of industry you operate in, the size of your business and the makeup of your organization (risk can increase if you have shareholders). Warren G. Bender Co can help you evaluate these factors and decide on the best plan of action for your organization.

Typically, the average adult who is at a healthy weight gains one pound due to the holidays. This is not necessarily good news, though. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, most people do not lose that pound and continue to put on weight each holiday season, year after year. For those that are already overweight, their weight gain is normally at least five pounds around the holidays.

Festive Food Smarts

In spite of the statistics, there are some healthy things you can do while celebrating to stay in control of your eating and drinking.

-Do not leave the house on an empty stomach; you will overeat once you arrive at a party because you are starving. Instead, have a healthy snack before you leave the house, such as a piece of fruit, a handful of nuts or low-fat yogurt.
- Avoid standing or socializing near the food table.
-Fill your plate with healthy foods such as salad, fresh fruit and vegetables. Then, leave the remainder of your plate for small portions of less healthy foods that you really love.
-Making mingling a top priority by keeping yourself occupied in conversation and away from food.
-If you are in the mood for something sweet, eat a piece of fruit rather than a piece of cake.
-Limit your alcohol intake. It increases hunger and also reduces your willpower to refrain from overeating. Also, some mixed drinks, such as eggnog, have as many calories as many desserts, so be wary before taking a sip.
-Drink a glass of water or seltzer between alcoholic beverages and order mixed drinks with diet soda.
-When you start to feel full, stop eating!

The battle of the bulge is not limited to holiday parties and celebrations. If you get food as a gift, take a small taste and then bring the rest to work for your coworkers to enjoy. Or, donate unopened foods to a local food bank.

Healthy Hints

What are the best foods to eat at a holiday party?

Here’s the caloric content of some holiday favorites:

• 1 shrimp and cocktail sauce = 8 to 10 calories
• 1 carrot and dip = 10 calories
• 1 (small) chocolate Santa = 25 calories
• 1 stuffed mushroom = 40 calories
• 1 mini quiche = 75 calories
• 1 pig in a blanket = 90 calories
• 1 peanut butter cup = 95 calories
• 1 mini éclair = 100 calories

Holiday Budgeting Techniques

- Check your shopping list and make sure that everyone you are buying for needs a gift. If you’re budget is tight, buy only for close family and friends.

- Write down a maximum dollar amount that you want to spend for your entire list and then track how much you are actually spending.

- Buy items in bulk so you always have something little on hand for unexpected gifts. Consider a case of wine, candles or chocolates.

- Be realistic about your purchases and ask yourself the following: Can I really afford this gift? Do I have the cash in my bank account to pay for it? When shopping, leave your credit cards at home. Then, if you do not have the cash to pay for it, you can’t buy the gift.

- Consider staying home and shopping online. Not only do many retailers waive shipping fees during the holidays, you’ll save money on gas by not having to visit the mall, too.

- Take advantage of post-holiday sales on gifts for next year.

- Get a part-time job during the holidays, such as wrapping gifts at the local mall or being part of the Christmas display. This will increase your holiday budget and get you into the spirit.

- Consider opening a holiday savings account. You can make arrangements for automatic payroll deductions throughout the year to be financially fit when the shopping season hits.

Plan Ahead

Aside from money problems causing Americans stress during the holidays, the APA found that 61 percent of consumers cite lack of money, pressures of gift giving and credit card debt as major stressors.

Instead of worrying about these money-related problems, get your finances in order and spend time worrying about what color to frost your holiday cookies instead!

Designate a Driver

Someone dies in an alcohol-related traffic accident in the United States every 30 minutes, and more than a million drivers are arrested annually for driving under the influence. While accidents aren’t limited to the holiday season, extra parties and more people traveling on the roadways mean these incidences spike at this time of the year.

Of course, the safest choice when drinking is not to drive. If you plan to drink, always have a designated driver. This is someone who agrees not to drink and is responsible for driving you and other partygoers home.

How Much is Too Much?

If you choose to drink responsibly, how do you know if you’re overdoing it? Use the simple one-one rule: have one standard drink per hour. The American Dietetic

Association defines a standard drink as:

• One 12-ounce beer
• One 5-ounce glass of wine
• One mixed drink with 1.5 ounces of liquor

Remember, personal tolerances vary, so it’s up to you to know your safe limit and stick to it!

The Perfect Host

If hosting a party, you don’t need to serve alcohol to make your party merry. From sparkling punches to mulled cider, there are many festive, non-alcoholic beverages to offer your guests.

If serving alcohol, always measure the amount of alcohol mixed into drinks so guests can gauge how much they are consuming. Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends.

If someone overindulges, don’t let your guests drink and drive. Arrange for a ride with a safe driver, or make them stay until they sober up.

Alcohol and Drugs Don’t Mix

Prescription drugs or over-the-counter remedies, such as cold medications, combined with drinking may affect your driving. Follow the directions and warning labels of all medications carefully.

Contrary to popular belief, black coffee, a cold shower, or fresh air may make a person feel more awake, but he/she will not overcome the effects of alcohol.

Healthy Hints

During the holiday season and throughout the year, drinking responsibly is simple: if you drive, don’t drink; if you drink, don’t drive. Your safety, and the safety of others on the road, depends on your good judgment.

• Make a 1- or 2-inch diagonal cut from the trunk of a Christmas tree before placing it in a water-holding stand. This will allow the tree to collect water more easily. The stand should also have widespread legs and water in it at all times to reduce the risk of fire.

• Place the tree at least 3 feet away from a heat source in your home.

• Always buy lights and other electric decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, such as UL. When using them, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance.

• Inspect new and previously used lights for damage and throw away any that are broken.

• Do not connect more than three sets of lights to one extension cord.

• Unplug lights and blow out candles when going to bed or leaving your home. Also, watch kids and pets around candles and lights.

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