Publications

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

Contractual Risk Transfer

2009 Risk Management Seminar Series

ALERT! Employers with 15 or More Employees

Live Well, Work Well
Health and retirement planning topics courtesy of our Employee Benefits Department.

Community Bulletin Board
News from the San Diego Humane Society and Senior Community Centers.

Managing Risk in a Construction Company
In an industry with tight profit margins, effectively managing risk can mean the difference between making a profit or not – and in some cases the survival of the business.

2009 Risk Management Seminar Series

Fire Prevention Plans – Don’t Get Burned
Due to the substantial risks and costs associated with workplace fires, OSHA requires you to have a fire prevention plan. Is yours in place?

Live Well, Work Well
Health and retirement planning topics courtesy of our Employee Benefits Department.

Community Bulletin Board

Contractors Professional Liability: Insurance and Surety Perspectives
Even if you don't do design-build projects, you may need professional liability protection!

2008 FOCUS Seminars
Upcoming training seminars offered in our FOCUS Training series.

Fleet Communications - Use GPS to Stay in Touch
Web-based GPS fleet tracking can improve efficiency, eliminate unnecessary mileage, and help in the quick recovery of stolen vehicles.

Risk Control Corner: Risk Tip
Layer your equipment security techniques.

URGENT! Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Summary
Federal rules now require contractors to adopt Codes of Conduct and implement ongoing Ethics Training.

Community Bulletin Board
News from the San Diego Humane Society and Senior Community Centers.

Will You Be Ready If OSHA Comes Knocking?
It's important to know who and what to prepare for an OSHA inspection.

2008 FOCUS Seminars
Current training seminars offered in our Downtown FOCUS Room.

Risk Control Corner: Hazards of Summer Heat
Heat illness prevention measures and tips to keep your employees safe and healthy.

How to Prevent Injuries from Manual Materials Handling
Reduce the number and severity of manual handling related injuries by using safe
work practices.

Workers Compensation Experience Modification FAQs
Experience modification allows employers to control insurance costs through measurable loss control programs.

2007 FOCUS Seminars
See a list of Training Seminars being offered in our Downtown FOCUS Room.

Risk Control Corner: Safety Attitude and Behavior
Attitude affects almost all a worker does and the way it's done.

Surviving Summer Scorchers
Keep heat-related illnesses from turning a day at the beach into a trip to the emergency room.

Surety Visits: Looking Beyond the Surface
Find out what surety underwriters are looking for when they visit your office or job sites.

Workers Compensation Threshold Wage for Contractors
All contractors who have split or bifurcated workers compensation classifications should be aware of the break-even wage - learn how to calculate it.

Risk Control Corner: "Making Do" - Or Tempting Fate?
"Making do" with unsafe substitutes can save workers a trip to the tool room - but too often result in a ride to the hospital.

2006 FOCUS Seminars
See a list of Training Seminars being offered through the end of the year in our Downtown FOCUS Room.

Collectively Bargained Workers Compensation - Lowering Your Cost of Risk
Find out how Collectively Bargained Workers Compensation (CBWC) programs can significantly reduce the total cost of risk for union employers.

Risk Control Corner: 12 Step Program to Safety - 12 Keys to Creating a Safety Culture
Creating a culture of safety within your firm will save you money by lowering your workers compensation claims and costs.

Generic Medications Keep You and Your Wallet Healthy
Cost-cutting tips from our Employee Benefits Department.

2006 Training Seminars
A list of seminars being offered in our Downtown Training Room during June-July 2006.

Equipment Theft
Equipment theft is on the rise! Read why - and how to protect your business.

Risk Control Corner: Construction Site Security Checklist
Is your job site protected from theft? Use this checklist to see how your security measures up.

Are You Using the Right Vertical Accounting Software?
Simplistic construction accounting software can cost you a bundle as you grow.

2006 Training Seminars
See what seminars are being offered in our Downtown Training Room through July, 2006.

The Surety Market: Outlook for 2006
Find out what you can expect from the surety bond market in 2006.

Risk Control Corner: So I Delay Reporting an Injury - What Can It Cost Me?
Delays in reporting injuries can cost you a lot more than you want to pay!

Additional Insured Status vs. Indemnification - Do You Need Both?
Find out how to protect your firm's contractual interests.

Comparing MSAs, HSAs, HRAs and FSAs: Which Approach is Best?
Four plans can help soften the blow of continually rising healthcare costs.

Bonding Subcontractors
When in doubt, bond back!

Training Seminars
Cavignac Training Seminars for the first quarter of 2006.

California Prevailing Wage Alert!
ALERT! Read how the California Department of Industrial Relation's Prevailing Wage determinations affect every general contractor, subcontractor, owner-operator and material supplier that performs work on California Public Works projects.

Why Do Contractors Fail?
Every year thousands of contractors, whether in business for two years or 20, face bankrupcy and business failure. Read how surety bonds provide prevention and protection.

Risk Control Corner - Fleet Safety: Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program
Read how the EPN Program can help you manage your Total Cost of Risk.

Factors Leading to Increased Healthcare Costs
Why are U.S. healthcare costs skyrocketing? Understanding why is the key to formulating alternatives and solutions to this challenge.

Risk Control Guidelines - Contractor's Series: Developing a Construction Contract
Your contract is as important to the success of any project as the estimate. View contract clauses that warrant special consideration.

Bid Protest Bond Program
Look out! Find out what the City of San Diego's new "Bid Protest Bond" ordinance means to you!

Risk Control Corner: OSHA Issues Citations for Violations
The average individual violation with penalty adjustments was over $2,300. See the "Dirty Dozen" top Construction and General Liability industry violations.

Condominium Conversions: What Do Underwriters Look for?
A solid, documented set of risk management protocols should substantially reduce your exposure to loss and decrease your insurance costs.

Contractor Owners: What Is Your Return on Your Investment?
Monitor your investments to made educated business decisions.

Risk Control Corner - Reduce Your Work Comp Claims
Instituting a Successful Incentive Program (SSIP) can reduce claims and reward employees for good behavior.

Surety Market Outlook for 2005
Will the surety market improve in 2005? See what the coming year has in store for the surety bond industry.

Year-End Planning vs. Year-End Reacting
Changing your year-end planning meeting's date, focus and participants will build relationships that can greatly improve your bottom line.

Risk Control Corner
Looking for more competitive premiums? First reduce and manage your Total Cost of Risk (TCOR).

Need Employee Retirement or Medical Benefit Plans?
Cavignac & Associates is an authorized broker for AGC benefit plans!

Contractors Professional Liability Insurance (CPL)
Design-build contractors have a significant amount of professional liability exposure. Read why you may need CPL coverage.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (USL&H)
Contractors performing work on or "near" coastal waters need to understand how USL&H may affect their construction operations.

Safety Incentive Program
Positive reinforcement is the most successful method to motivate employees to work safely.

MyWave Client Center
A value-added service exclusively for clients of our Employee Benefits Department.

Transferring Risk: Current Challenges
Every firm in every business engages in contractual risk transfer. Find out how to shift responsibility for risk to the party best able to control it.

Construction Professionals - Do They Surround Your Company? Do You Maximize Those Relationships?
Reaching your business objectives and the ultimate success of your company depend on working with the right people.

Update Your Business Plan Annually
Measuring performance is critical to success. See our sample outline of information that surety and insurance companies expect to see in a typical business plan.

Contractors Pollution Liability Insurance
Most contractors have a pollution liability exposure of some type. Find out how to evaluate not only your exposure to this risk, but how to evaluate a policy to cover it.

Common Environmental Exposures for General Business Contractors
This article provides an outline of typical environmental exposures common to the construction industry.

Contractors Pollution Liability - Case Studies
Case studies illustrate Pollution Liability claims not covered by a contractor's General Liability policy.

The Right Way to Write Builders Risk Insurance
Find out what you need to know to tailor builders risk coverage for your purposes.

Properly Insuring Construction Projects
General Liability insurance is not enough to adequately cover a project's exposures to loss. Find out why.

Surety Bonding No Longer a Sure Thing for Contractors
A growing number of construction firms find it increasingly difficult to obtain surety credit. What's going on?

Does Cash Flow Management Affect Your Surety Credit?
You Bet It Does! Cash is the ulimate measure of your company's value. All other items on your balance sheet are purely timing issues waiting to affect your cash balance. A proper cash management strategy can allow you to generate income from excess cash, or plan for times when outside funds may be necessary to cover temporary cash shortfalls.