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For a growing number of employers, voluntary accident insurance plans may play a part in rounding out employee benefits packages to help employees pay for unexpected costs.

Accidents can happen to anyone—and the reality is that accidents do happen. In fact, more than 80 million people in the United States seek medical treatment for injuries each year. This article provides an overview of accident insurance and reasons why many employers are offering this voluntary benefit to employees.

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Safety Matters Header image According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls from elevation account for the majority of fatalities within the construction industry—with over 300 fatal falls occurring each year.

That’s why having adequate fall protection is crucial when working from height. OSHA standards require some form of fall protection (e.g., guardrails, safety nets or fall arrest systems) to be in place at construction sites with vertical drops of 6 feet or more—except for certain tasks, such as scaffolding, in which vertical drops must exceed 10 feet before protection is needed. The type of fall protection necessary depends on several site features and the nature of work being performed.

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Risk Insights header image The type of sprinkler system that best suits your commercial property should be determined by your operations, building characteristics and fire protection needs.

Wet pipe sprinkler systems, which store water in their pipes for distribution during a fire, are the most commonly utilized systems. Alternatively, some buildings (typically those located in areas where the pipes cannot remain at temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit) use dry pipe sprinkler systems, which hold pressurized air or nitrogen in their pipes that—once released—open a valve and distribute water from the risers.

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Risk Insights header image The nature and severity of fire hazards within a commercial property can help determine what kind of sprinkler system is most suitable for the space.

Most properties utilize either wet pipe sprinkler systems, which store water directly in their pipes for distribution during a fire, or dry pipe sprinkler systems, which hold pressurized air or nitrogen in their pipes that—once released—open a valve and allow water from the risers to be distributed.

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At the end of March 2021, President Joe Biden introduced a new infrastructure proposal—titled the American Jobs Plan—which is focused on re-establishing the country’s economy.

This proposal is the second component of the Biden Administration’s larger, three-part infrastructure package, known as the Build Back Better Plan. The American Jobs Plan is preceded by the American Rescue Plan and will eventually be followed by the American Families Plan. While the American Rescue Plan is currently providing direct relief to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Jobs Plan is intended to help revitalize the national economy for years to come.

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Risk Insights header image A wide range of organizations—including car dealerships, mechanics, auto body shops, gas stations and numerous retailers—keep tires stored at their commercial properties.

However, such storage can result in serious fire hazards. Specifically, the rubber material typically found in tires can be extremely dangerous and damaging in the event of a fire. Although this material is slower to ignite, it can burn rapidly and emit high heat once a fire starts—making the flames difficult to extinguish.