Construction Articles

Q3 2020 Beyond General Liability Insurance: Other Liability Exposures You Should Be Aware Of!
Q2 2020 The Coronavirus Pandemic: Potential Liabilities Facing Construction Companies
Q1 2020 Mitigating Design-Build Risks
Q4 2019 Recruiting Millennials
Q3 2019 Contractors Pollution Liability Insurance
Q2 2019 Hackers on the Jobsite: Cyber Attacks Target the Construction Industry
Q1 2019 The Challenge of Conducting an Effective Tailgate Safety Meeting
Q4 2018 Surety Outlook 2019: The Peak of the Cycle…For most contractors, backlogs are as strong as they have been in over a decade.
Q3 2018 Changes to California’s Experience Modification Calculation May Help Lower Your Total Cost of Risk What is an Experience Modification?  Simply put, it compares all eligible employers’ workplace accidents and injuries against those of their peers.
Q2 2018 Dispute Resolution: The Importance of Understanding Your Options  Litigate, Arbitrate or Mediate?
Q1 2018 Owner Controlled Insurance Programs: A Primer Wrap-ups, as they are commonly known, are project-specific general liability insurance policies designed to cover the job site risk and completed operation of exposures of othe owner and contractors on a construction project.
Q4 2017 Surety Outlook 2018: Slow and Steady Wins the Race! In 2018, the surety industry in the U.S. will continue to post further growth in overall premiums and below average loss activity.
Q3 2017 Trends in Contractor’s Professional Liability Coverage Read how the market has grown in the U.S. and how coverage specifics are trending.
Q2 2017 10 Actions NOT to Take When Facing a Claim  How you handle the inevitable claims that will occur will significantly impact your company’s operating results. See what not to do.
Q1 2017 -2 Workers Compensation Class Code 5606: Contractors Executive Supervisors Classification Code 5606 pertains to executive level supervisors for construction companies.
Q1 2017 2017 Construction Legislative Developments: California  California will see over 1,000 legislative bills enacted that were signed into law.
Q4 2016 Surety Outlook 2017: Staying the Course  The U.S. surety industry will continue to realize growth in overall premiums, and likely experience a modest increase in loss activity in 2017.
Q3 2016 Hold Harmless and Indemnity Provisions… What Did I Agree To Do? This article answers the question, “If we sign this, are we insured?”
Q2 2016 Professional Liability Insurance – What are a Developer’s Options? When it comes to developing real property, proper insurance is critical. There are four basic options an owner may consider and some of these can be used in conjunction with another.
Q1 2016 Building Your Best Team: Recommended Hiring Practices for the Construction IndustryHow much thought does your company put into its hiring practices? If your answer is “not much,” then  your company could be at risk.
Q4 2015 Surety Outlook 2016: Doing More with Less! The surety outlook for 2016 will remain positive but will be significantly challenged by factors that influence the construction and commercial business markets.
Q3 2015 Owner’s Professional Protective Indemnity Insurance In this issue, find out about the benefits of OPPI.
Q2 2015 OSOSHA is Turning Up the Heat: Will Your Heat Illness Prevention Program Be Cool and Compliant? Read this issue to find out the specifics of what’s changed for 2015.
Q1 2015 OCIPs: Project-Specific Liability for Condos Owner-Controlled Insurance Programs or “wrap-ups” as they are commonly known, are project-specific insurance policies designed to cover the job site risks and completed operations exposures of the owner and contractors on a construction project.
Q4 2014 Surety Outlook 2015: It’s Still About Cash Flow  The surety industry reports fewer claims than expected in the last few years and remains optimistically braced for profitable results again in 2015.
Q3 2014 Workers’ Compensation: What Can You Expect in 2015? Workers’ compensation can be the most expensive line of insurance purchased by a contractor. Read how you can manage those costs.
Q2 2014 I’ve Been Sued! Now What?For most contractors of any size, litigation is an unfortunate fact of life. Dealing with our litigation system can be frustrating, expensive, time-consuming and emotionally draining.
Q1 2014 Class Code 5606…The Most Unique Code in the Book: Are You Taking Advantage of It? Learn about this unique and preferred classification for construction companies operating in California.
Q4 2013 Safety Programs and OSHA Compliance – Many employers try to reduce accidents and related workers’ compensation expenses by introducing safety programs which include a variety of incentives. The problem is, some of those programs and incentives can get you in trouble with OSHA.
Q3 2013 The REAL Cost of a Workers’ Compensation Claim – Workers’ Compensation insurance pays for occupational injury and illness – that’s why you buy the insurance. What many people, however, fail to grasp is that there are significant indirect costs not covered by insurance.
Q2 2013 The Right Way to Write Builders Risk Insurance – General liability and workers compensation are necessary and critical elements of insuring a construction project, but the keystone is builders risk covrage.
Q4 2012 The Added Liabilities Associated with Building “Green” – Contractors should carefully consider their exposure to liabilities when contractually agreeing to meet green outcomes; using innovative, but yet relatively new or untested products; and/or even utilizing existing materials in unproven ways that require green results.
Q3 2012 Senate Bill 474 – A Change In Indemnity Laws Pertaining To Private Commercial Construction Projects . . . A Boon For Subcontractors?  – Recent legislation (SB 474) was enacted which will significantly change the indemnification agreements that are allowable on private commercial construction projects. Read our third quarter Construction Industry Update Newsletter to learn about some of the key points and requirements of the new bill.
Q2 2012 New California Laws Significantly Change Construction Payment Forms & Requirements as of July 1st – Recent California legislation revamps and renumbers statutes relating to preliminary notices, payment releases, mechanics liens, payment bond claims, and prompt payment and retention requirements. Read our second quarter Construction Industry Update Newsletter to learn about some of the key points and requirements of the new laws.

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Q1 2012 Design Build Risk Management and Insurance Considerations – The Design Build Project Delivery System, which dates back to at least the master builders of ancient Greece, continues to gain in popularity. The major appeal of design build is that it provides the project owner with a single point of contact for both design and construction.

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Q4 2011 BIM Use Increases Professional Liability Exposures – Building Information Modeling, or BIM as it is commonly known, provides a digitized representation of the building process from the ground up. It is used by the design team and contractors before construction actually begins, typically on design-build projects. However, when designers and builders do not use BIM correctly, liability issues can crop up.

  • Collaborative Processes Increase PL Exposures
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Q3 2011 Surety Outlook 2012: Where’s the Beef? – Does the boom-to-bust of the construction market have you wondering “Where’s the Beef?” If so, you aren’t alone. Hunting down and executing profitable work in the next few years will be critical to the survival of most contractors. Our third quarter Construction Industry Update newsletter provides tips and information on how to survive, and possibly thrive, in the current economy.

  • 2011 Risk Management Seminar Series
  • Top 25 Sureties
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Q2 2011 Understanding Your Experience Modification: What You Need to Know– The California experience modification has an effect on the availability and affordability of workers compensation insurance. It also has an impact on contractors’ ability to bid and obtain work; an issue of utmost importance in the current economic environment. In the last two years the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau has made several changes to the way the experience modification is calculated that are having a direct impact on every employer eligible for a rating.

  • 2011 Risk Management Seminar Series
  • Targeted Inspection and Contruction Fund
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Q1 2011 Where There’s Construction, There’s Litigation — How to Survive the Battle– The 2011 1st Quarter issue of our Construction Insurance Update newsletter provides straightforward advice on properly documenting and insuring that you are prepared for the possibility of being sued.

  • 2011 Risk Management Seminar Series
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Q4 2010 Surety Outlook for 2011– Look back in time to assess ongoing surety trends and apply them to the coming year.

  • Lead and Your Construction Business – Facts about the recent EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule effective 2010.
  • 2010-11 Risk Management Seminar Series – Upcoming seminars from December 2010 through March 2011.
  • Live Well, Work Well – Health topics courtesy of Cavignac & Associates Employee Benefits Department.
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Q3 2010 Advancements in Contractors Professional and Pollution Liability Insurance– Growing demand for Contractors Professional and Pollution Liability insurance has resulted in enhanced coverage for these often overlooked and misunderstood policies.

  • Reminder! New Employee Notification Requirements for Federal Contractors – New Department of Labor regulations went into effect on June 21, 2010.
  • 2010 Risk Management Seminar Series
  • Live Well, Work Well – Travel and safety topics courtesy of our Employee Benefits Department.
  • Community Bulletin Board
Q2 2010 The Liability Implications of the Duty to DefendEven if your firm is not guilty of negligence, a Duty to Defend provision in your contact can make you responsible for providing a defense for a negligent indemnitee — a situation that may or may not be covered by your insurance program. 2010 Risk Management Seminar Series

  • BULLETIN! Clarification of Workers Compensation Dual Wage Classification Requirements – California law requires employers to maintain time cards or logs and start/stop times for each employee for each day.
  • Live Well, Work Well – Health and financial topics courtesy of our Employee Benefits Department.
  • Community Bulletin Board
Q1 2010 The Liability Implications of Sustainable Design– The Green Building Boom appears to be here to stay. Proactive risk management can help you identify and manage the many additional challenges involved in “green” construction.

  • No Accidents” Doesn’t Mean Safe Employees – Proactively investigating and analyzing near-miss accidents can improve your safety program and prevent catastrophic losses.
  • 2010 Risk Management Seminar Series
  • Live Well, Work Well – Health and retirement planning topics courtesy of our Employee Benefits Department.
  • Community Bulletin Board

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