Greetings!
My name is Tom Messier, and I have a confession to make. I am an Olympics junkie. Summer Games... Winter Games... it doesn't matter. Over the next two weeks, I will probably spend more time in front of my television set than I normally do in the  course of two months. I love it all... the Opening Ceremonies, competition, the background stories on the athletes... all of it. Probably what I love most is the spirit of the Games. I love the national pride and sense of unity that comes with this biannual tradition. I love the idea of teammates working together to bring home the gold for their country.
This week I was reading Olympic Bobsled athlete Emily Azevedo's blog, and was impressed by an example she shared of this exact Olympic Spirit. In the weeks leading up to the Games, the team is whittled down through a series of race-offs. One of Emily's teammates found herself in the bottom of the standings, with her hopes of heading to Vancouver rapidly fading. To quote Emily, "she could have easily been frustrated and angry with the spot she [was] stuck in, but instead...has done everything she can to help our team out." She even learned how to drive a stick shift so she could help drive their sled trucks all over Europe. Her goal was to see her team succeed, even though her own personal fate wasn't affected by her efforts.
But wait - there's more. Apparently each athlete is allowed to send a page to the Olympic selection committee stating why they deserve to make the final cut and be on the team. Emily was discussing her submission with this teammate and the girl told her that she would have one up on the others. When Emily asked what she meant, she explained that instead of providing a letter stating the reasons she should be placed on the team, she was going to dedicate her entry to praising Emily. She could easily have used the opportunity to fight for a spot on the team herself (and clearly NEEDED this letter if she stood a chance of making the team), but she explained that Emily had worked very hard, and deserved it... so she would write on behalf of her friend. How very privileged and respected Emily must feel to receive such a gift!
At Mason & Mason, we're committed to making sure you get all that you have coming to you. Our goal is to see you succeed, even if we ourselves aren't particularly affected by the outcome of a particular situation. We're here, at work on your behalf, because we care. We care about doing the best job we can, and we care about you. We're more than some faceless insurance agency, we're a team of dedicated professionals who are looking out for your best interests. And we're glad to do it. That's the spirit of Mason & Mason.
Have a great month. Kick back, relax, and drink in some of that Olympic Spirit. See if it doesn't leave a sweet taste in your mouth. J 
Tom Messier, Vice President
Mason & Mason Insurance Agency
M&M Assurance Group
P.S. If you enjoy this newsletter, check out our website at www.mmins.com. Click the "Clients" tab at the top of the page and then enter the site with username: "Client" and password: "INFO4U". You'll find more helpful articles on a wide range of topics. There's even a list of all our previous newsletters, so you can browse by topic to find exactly what you're looking for! If you have any questions, give us a call at (800) 298-0802. We'll be happy to hear from you! |
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Understand the Insurance Limits on Your Commercial GL Policy
A Commercial General Liability policy (CGL) lists six different limits on the policy's declarations page. Although the limits might be listed separately, it's important to understand that they are all interrelated. That means that payment of damages for one limit will affect another limit. To illustrate how these limits interact, it is necessary to examine each one in detail:
The General Aggregate Limit - The maximum amount the insurer will pay during the policy period for all damages including bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury except for any amount paid as damages because of bodily injury or property damage included within the products-completed operations hazard. The definition of the products-completed operations hazard is outlined in the policy and a separate aggregate limit applies to this type of claim. Also included within the general aggregate are damages paid for medical payments...
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Consider the Positives & Negatives of Employee Leasing
 Employee leasing firms earned $68 billion in gross revenues in 2008, according to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO). Their clients, primarily small businesses with fewer than 20 employees, outsource to leasing firms the responsibilities for payroll administration, employee benefits, Workers Compensation claim management, human resource management, and related operations. Businesses trying to reduce costs and focus on growth might find employee leasing to be an attractive option. It is an option, however, that comes with advantages and disadvantages for both employer and employee...
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About Mason and Mason
For more than 20 years we've been committed to meeting the insurance and bonding needs of the construction industry. The success and leadership of our practice has led to strategic and proprietary relationships with insurance companies similarly committed to the industry. Our clients benefit from our insurer relationships in the form of products designed with their special needs in mind. Our access to many construction specialty insurers also assures our clients are afforded a range of options at various cost levels in order to match the level of protection for their particular needs. As important as these insurer relationships are, our true competitive edge is the people who serve our clients. We have team of construction insurance professionals who understand the complexities of the worker's compensation and general liability insurance regulatory environment as applied to the industry. We leverage this specialized knowledge and our broad risk management expertise to the benefit of our construction industry clients.
Mason and Mason Insurance M&M Assurance Group
458 South Avenue 3304 White Mountain Hwy
Whitman, Massachusetts 02382 North Conway, NH 03860
T (800) 759-1452 T (800) 298-0802
F (781) 447-2832 F (603) 356-9290 |
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WHAT ELECTRICAL SAFETY QUESTIONS WILL AN OSHA INSPECTOR ASK?
In its efforts to maintain electrical safety in the workplace, OSHA develops its standards in accordance with those published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). To ensure that employers are following both sets of guidelines, OSHA trains its inspectors to ask specific questions when investigating an electrical safety incident. Some of those questions include:
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Were the workers qualified to perform the task? By definition, qualified workers are those specially trained to work on live electrical equipment. They must know how to protect themselves against all electrical hazards, including shock, arc flash, burns, explosions, and they must be trained in the electrical safe work practices that have been established by their employer.
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