Greetings!
If you read our personal lines newsletter, you already know how proud we are of our clients, and our construction clients are certainly no exception!
We have the privilege of working with some very talented people. These firms are not simply good at what they do - they possess a commitment to excellence that goes above and beyond typical expectations. Perhaps there is no better illustration of this than at the National Association of Remodeling Industry's Evening of Excellence (EM Chapter).
Check out these awards, won by our clients:
Residential Kitchen Under $50,000
Miller Construction, Inc. - Gold
Residential Kitchen $50,001-$100,000
Morrison Remodeling & Repairs, LLC - Silver
Oteri Construction, Inc. - Gold
Residential Exterior - Specialty
DRM Design Build, Inc. - Silver
Residential Addition Under $200,000
Almar Building & Remodeling Company, Inc. - Silver
Residential Exterior
New England Design & Construction - Silver
Entire House Under $500,000
GMT Home Designs (w/Team Goodfellas) - Silver
Entire House Over $500,001
Sage Builders, LLP - Gold
Entire House Condo
Oteri Construction, Inc. - Gold
Residential Historical / Renovation
Team Thomas Buckborough & Associates and Puccio Electric (w/Jim Lavallee Plumbing & Heating and CPS Heating & Cooling) - Silver
Subcontractor Used by Most EM NARI Members
Installations Plus
Contractor Who Used the Most EM NARI Members
Morrison Remodeling & Repairs, LLC
Green Recognition Award
Sage Builders, LLP
We'd also like to thank all of our clients for allowing us to meet your insurance needs. It's an honor to be recognized as the Professional Member used by Most EM NARI Members... and we owe it to you. It's wonderful to be part of an organization that strives for excellence. Congratulations to you all!
Until next month,
Tom Messier, Vice President
Mason & Mason Insurance Agency
M&M Assurance Group, Inc.
P.S. Have you checked out our new blog, Risky Business? You can also LIKE us on Facebook (and by all means, invite your friends!) and look me up on LinkedIn. Don't forget our website: www.mmins.com. 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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Don't Let Crime Plague Your Construction Site 
Whether it be arson, vandalism, or theft, construction sites are prime targets for criminal acts. These criminal acts can create significant added costs, including insurance deductibles and consequential premium hikes; work delays; and replacement of lost equipment, tools, and building materials. Of course, such an event can also affect your overall job site and your client's deadline.
The good news is there are several steps you can take to diminish the risk and financial impact of criminal acts involving your job site:
1. Research the work area prior to beginning a job. Carefully
researching unfamiliar work areas is especially important if you're not planning to hire on-site security, but should be done regardless. The local police or sheriff department can tell you if a particular area has a high crime rate. If you ask, they might also be able to send a patrol car out to check your site periodically once the work begins. You might additionally ask friendly competitors if they've had any problems in a particular area.
2. Ensure the job site is well-lit and fenced. Most thieves and vandals will think twice before acting if they have to climb or cut a fence and perform their 'work' without the protection of darkness. Motion detector lights and lights with infrared triggers will illuminate with movement. This can scare off intruders and alert neighboring businesses and houses that someone might be lurking around. Most experts recommend using a chain-link fence since it, unlike many other barriers, will offer an enclosure that still allows visibility. Of course, chain-link can be a more expensive barrier. If it's not in the budget, then designate enclosed storage areas to hold tools, construction materials, hazardous items, and flammables.
3. Implement an inventory system for all tools and equipment. This will help you to keep track of everything on your work site. Smaller tools that are easier to carry and conceal are often targeted by thieves. Assign the site foreman or supervisor to keep a running log of when a tool goes out, the worker using it, and its return. You can use an etching tool to create...
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Beware: CGL Policies Don't Cover Faulty Work
 There are a multitude of
builders and contractors who buy Commercial General Liability policies with the impression that they will keep them safe from allegations of inadequate or faulty work. They should beware. It's important to know that a CGL policy does not provide coverage for work that is faulty. In order to qualify for payment under a CGL policy, there must be a specific type of occurrence that causes property damage. The terms in a CGL policy define an occurrence as an accident. This includes repeated or continuous exposure to conditions that result in bodily injury or property damage. The damages or injuries must occur during the policy period in order to qualify for coverage. These injuries or damages must not be intentional. CGL policy terms specify that property damage is a physical injury to tangible property. This includes all losses of that property that happen as a result of the occurrence. It also covers the loss of use of tangible property that is physically unharmed.
When disputes arise as a result of defects in a building project, there are several factors that must be considered to determine whether the occurrence requirements and property damage requirements have been satisfied. The factors include...
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Developing Heavy Equipment Inspection Guidelines Can Help Keep Your Work Site Safe
Many modern construction jobs could not exist without the assistance of flatbeds, pickups, off-highway dump trucks, loaders, scrapers, and bulldozers. Needless to say, work sites today are swarming with such heavy equipment. Although crucial to the work being done, this equipment can easily transition from an asset to a danger if it is not properly and regularly maintained and inspected.
What Does OSHA Say? Sadly, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) rules aren't very comprehensive and can often be vague when it comes to guidelines and checklists on inspecting heavy equipment properly. There are, however, some general guidelines that you should follow:
- Materials and equipment should be inspected by a competent employee on a daily basis, or more frequently if needed.
- OSHA doesn't have any specific requirements for mechanized equipment and motor vehicles, with the exception of when they're being transported or used near power lines. That said, OSHA does state that...
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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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Food Drive!
Thank you so much for donating to our food collection boxes! We were able to drop off several boxes of food to local food pantries, along with a 20 lb turkey and $150 cash... so proud of you!
The giving will continue throughout the holidy season. Please stop by either of our offices in North Conway or Whitman to drop off a little something for those less fortunate. Together, we CAN make a difference! |
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Risky Business - the Blog
Recent Posts:
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Who knew insurance could be social?
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WE DID!
Here's a sampling of what you'll get when you like us on facebook:
*Cool tools & articles
*Trivia Tuesdays (place your bets!)
*Photos from our "Whoops!" File (you won't believe this stuff!)
Please look us up and, if you like what you see, share our page with your friends! |
OSHA Lead In Construction Manual
Looking for more resources about Lead Paint Compliance? Click here for your copy of OSHA's Lead In Construction Manual! |
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If you've heard about payroll deducted workers comp and have questions, give us a call! We can fill you in on the advantages (and disadvantages) of this program and see if it's right for you. That's what we're here for! :) |
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