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Insight & advice from the experts at Marshall & Sterling

 
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OSHA Penalty Schedule
An employer receives a written citation when it violates OSHA standards or regulations. The citation will describe the particular nature of the violation and will include a reference to the provision of the chapter, standard, rule, regulation or order the employer violated.
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Benefits and Risks of Rooftop Solar Panels for Commercial Properties
As solar rooftops become an increasingly common addition to commercial properties, businesses need to be aware of the pros and cons of this technology. While they can provide significant financial, environmental and reputational benefits, they can also present various risks, such as fire and structural hazards. They can also be susceptible to damage from several sources.
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The Risk of Near Misses in the Workplace
For every accident that occurs in the workplace, there are just as many, if not more, close calls. Maybe a co-worker was pulled aside just in time to avoid burns from a piece of industrial equipment. Or a forklift tipped over in the middle of a job and the worker using it was able to walk away unscathed. Situations like these are commonplace at just about every business and are referred to as near misses.
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OSHA’s Safety and Health Bulletin on Safety Helmets in the Workplace
On Nov. 22, 2023, OSHA provided a Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) on the use of safety helmets in the workplace. This SHIB is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. The SHIB is advisory in nature and informational in content, and it is intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace.
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Commercial Insurance Trends to Watch in 2024
Insurance experts often examine how outside trends, reforms and movements in the larger economy affect the insurance marketplace, and businesses should follow suit to determine what factors may impact their coverage. For 2024, there are a host of sweeping market developments to consider.
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The 10 Most Common FMCSA Driver Violations During the 2023 Fiscal Year
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) roadside inspections are examinations of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and/or drivers conducted by Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) inspectors. MCSAP inspectors conduct inspections on CMVs and drivers to check that they are in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and Hazardous Materials Regulations.
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Workers Compensation Insurance: Market Outlook
Profitable underwriting results have generated favorable conditions across the workers’ compensation insurance segment for nearly a decade. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the segment produced a combined ratio of 87 in 2022, demonstrating continued profitability. These conditions pressed on in 2023, but industry experts reported that reserve redundancies stemming from reduced presumptive liability issues since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased market competition could drive down profits in 2024. Fortunately, these experts also confirmed that it would take a drastic shift in segment losses to actually push the ratio over 100, thus limiting potential impacts for policyholders. As a result, most insureds can expect another year of flat premiums or modest rate reductions, while those with elevated risks may encounter increased pricing.
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Holiday Fire Safety Tips
As the holiday season gets into full swing, many families decorate to spread some cheer and make their homes more festive.
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Chimney Maintenance Tips to Prevent Home Fires
Lighting a fire on a cold night or turning on the furnace is a great way to stay warm.
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Winter Driving Tips for Truckers
The bottom line in winter driving is to think ahead about safety, be prepared and know your own limitations. You have heard it a thousand times, but in bad conditions, always increase your following distance, make smooth downshifts and take extra caution when traveling on ramps, bridges and overpasses. You have control over your own vehicle, but the driver next to you may not. Your best bet is to stay as far away from other vehicles as possible. If something does go wrong, increase your chances of surviving the incident by not panicking and remembering everything you have learned about safe driving. Use common sense – if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe driving in the given conditions, do not drive. It’s better to be safe than sorry; that is, better your load is delivered late than not delivered at all, so use your best judgment!
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