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Indentifying and Knowing When we ask a client who their insurance company is they often answer with the name of their agent. We are flattered that you identify with Driehaus Insurance, but beyond our company is the insurer who provides the policy terms and conditions that will ultimately determine your claim settlement. You should know exactly who this is. Here are some of the terms that are important in identifying and knowing your insurance company. Admitted versus Non-Admitted Status Carriers can be an admitted carrier who is licensed in the state you are domiciled in and is subject to regulations and reviews by that state insurance authority. These are often called standard market companies. The products, rates and practices of these firms are all subject to state regulation. A non-admitted carrier is not licensed by the state and does not have to submit its forms, pricing, and practices to state regulations. Non-admitted carriers are often referred to as Excess and Surplus (E&S) carriers. These markets are used when standard markets decline to offer coverage for your exposures. These markets may also offer coverage for emerging risks, high hazard exposures and new types of exposures that the standard market has not yet covered. It is important that you know the difference as the forms and conditions of coverage for a non-admitted carrier may be different from those offered by a standard carrier. One area of difference with E&S companies is that many of their products are written on claims made basis. This means you have coverage for claims that are reported in the policy period.  This is different from a standard market occurrence form where coverage for any claim that occurs during a given covered policy term is covered regardless of reporting date. If you have any exposures that have a potential long reporting lag, this can be a significant concern. If you are new to claims made coverage, be sure to discuss this with your agent. Insurer Financial Ratings You need to have an insurer that will have the funds available to pay your claim. Insurance carriers are rated by several services that offer their opinion of the financial strength of the carrier. AM Best is the most prominent service provider with the following ratings: All of these ratings are in the opinion of AM Best. Best Financial Rating Scale Rating Categories Rating Symbols Rating Notches* Category Definitions Superior A+ A++ Assigned to insurance companies that have a superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations Excellent A A- Assigned to insurance companies that have an excellent ability to meet their insurance obligations Good B+ B++ Assigned to insurance companies that have an good ability to meet their insurance obligations Fair B B- Assigned to insurance companies that have a fair ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations. Financial strength is vulnerable to adverse changes in underwriting and economic conditions Marginal C+ C++ Assigned to insurance companies that have a weak ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations. Financial strength is very vulnerable to adverse changes in underwriting and economic conditions Weak D - Assigned to insurance companies that have a poor ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations. Financial strength is extremely vulnerable to adverse changes in underwriting and economic conditions *Each Strength Rating Category from “A+” to “C” includes a Rating Notch to reflect a graduation in financial strength. In addition to the overall rating, there is also a Financial Size Category Rating assigned to each carrier. This is based on their policyholder surplus (PHS). The larger the surplus the more resources the carrier has to pay claims. Financial Size Category Table Class Adjusted PHS ($ Millions) Class Adjusted PHS ($ Millions) I Less than 1 IX 250 to 500 II 1 to 2 X 500 to 750 III 2 to 5 XI 750 to 1,000 IV 5 to 10 XII 1,000 to 1,250 V 10 to 25 XIII 1,250 to 1,500 VI 25 to 50 XIV 1,500 to 2,000 VII 50 to 100 XV 2,000 or greater VIII 100 to 250     Your agent should be able to provide these ratings to you as part of the quoting process. They are important as some lenders and contracts specify ratings and size categories for insurance policies. If your umbrella or excess liability policy is placed separately from your primary carrier, this policy may have rating and size requirements for the underlying insurance policies. Agency or Broker Relationship Depending on the carrier involved the relationship between that company and your insurance agent can vary. For most standard admitted companies the agent has a contract with that insurance company and acts as their agent. Their first duty is to the insurance company and the insurance company pays their commission and revenue. Agencies may represent multiple insurance companies, or the agent can be an employee of a single insurer. A broker arrangement is when the insurance agent is working for the insured and solicits coverage from carriers with limited or no sales commission. The insurance agent has its first duty to the insured. The agent derives their revenue from fees for marketing and placing coverage and fees for ongoing policy service. This is a common arrangement for very large insurance programs. It can also be used when the policies being placed are E&S policies and the insurance carrier does not offer commission to the agent. A hybrid arrangement can exist when an independent agent seeks coverage with carriers, they are not licensed with via a wholesale broker. The wholesale broker has access to multiple carriers and makes that available to independent agencies. Wholesale placements are generally done at reduced commission for the retail agent as the wholesale agent is taking compensation for the placement. This arrangement offers the retail agent a much wider marketplace for coverage. The Driehaus Difference We are an independent agency representing a number of insurance carriers. We have relationships with wholesale brokers to expand our reach into alternative markets. We have not pursued broker relationships or offering services outside of an insurance relationship. We want to be your resource for insurance information and assistance. Knowing the type of carrier, their strength ratings, and the type of arrangement between the insurance company and the agent is information you need to know and to understand. Call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us on the internet at www.driehausins.com  and we can discuss these business practices with you in detail.

As  winter sets in here are the things you should evaluate. Fire sprinkler systems need your attention to prevent a freeze event that can either impair protection or cause water damage. Frozen sprinkler piping can easily cause a major property and business interruption loss at your property. Building Temperature for wet pipe systems Wet pipe sprinkler systems are filled with water and must be kept above 40 degrees F to prevent damage. If you have any areas of your building where the temperature may drop, consider improving heating, insulation or adding a low building temperature sensor to that area. Do not shut off or isolate sprinkler lines dues to cold weather. The system design depends on complete protection and a large fire in a non sprinklered area could overwhelm your system. Many insurance policies contain a protective safeguards endorsement that requires you maintain the sprinkler system. If your policy has this provision, be sure to review the conditions related to impairing any protection. Building Temperature for Dry Pipe Valve Enclosures The dry pipe valve has water on one side of the valve body and this valve enclosure must be maintained at 40 degrees F to protect the valve. Check the heating systems for the dry pipe valve enclosure for proper operation and perform any needed maintenance or repair. Add a low building temperature sensor to the valve enclosure. It is an economical way to avoid a significant freeze damage event. If the enclosure is alarmed, it can be inspected weekly. If no low temperature alarms are present, a daily inspection is needed. The use of heat tracing on sprinkler systems is limited to systems that are specifically UL listed for use on fire sprinkler systems and that can be supervised to confirm the system is energized. Auxiliary Drains on Dry Pipe Sprinkler Systems Any area of the dry sprinkler system that does not drain back to the riser will trap water and be subject to freezing. There are auxiliary drains for these areas and the drains on a dry pipe system are equipped with a drum drip. This piping should be drained after any system test or activation and when cold weather is imminent. Part of the annual inspection should be identifying any areas that may trap water. Failure to do so can result in frozen pipes and water damage. When a drum drip is in “normal” position, the top 1” valve (A) is open, allowing moisture to enter the condensate nipple, while the bottom 1” valve (C) is closed. To drain the condensate nipple (B), the top valve is closed then the bottom valve is opened to remove accumulated moisture. When preparing for freezing temperatures, the auxiliary drains should be operated daily with the frequency of operation decreasing, depending on the discharge of accumulated water. Quick opening devices where present, should be temporarily removed from service prior to draining the system Low Points. Maintaining the low point drains and using the drum drips to remove water is the owner's responsibility. This should be part of your preventative maintenance program and documented to show it was performed. If you do not know how to do this or where the low point drains are for your system, you may causes a significant water loss. Participate in the inspection and maintenance program with your sprinkler contractor to learn these critical skills and information. The Driehaus Difference Fire sprinkler systems provide the best protection for property and life safety. To be effective the systems must be properly maintained. Part of that maintenance is preparing the systems for winter weather. We can help you identify potential protection issues and work with you and your insurer to get the best protection and insurance rates for your property. Call us at 513-977-6860 or reach out to us on the internet at www.driehausins.com

Social media and new programs are full of stories about the personal lines insurance marketplace. Most of these articles and posts blame insurance companies for the ” problem”. Our experience is that insurance companies want to write business and want that business to be a good bet.  Getting the carriers to see you as a good bet means you have to take the process under your control.  You can avoid the pain.   I Don’t Know! How old is the roof? What wind uplift specifications were used? What is the brand and style of roof covering? Did you retain copies of the installation paperwork and warranty?    Continue this series of questions around every major system in your home. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, doors and windows. All of these systems can either be the cause or the cure of property loss. Not having answers means the insurance carrier will fill in the blanks using the answers that generate the highest possible premium. They can’t be wrong if they assess the highest charge for the missing data. The Values are Ridiculous! Many homeowners want to dispute the values shown on their homeowners’ policy. Since they can’t sell the home at that value, or they paid much less the costs used by the insurance company must be wrong. See our article on values  to look behind the curtain.   To dispute the values, you need accurate information. What is the age of the home?  What is the construction type? How many square feet? What percentage of the home is finished space? What is the shape of the home’s foundations? How many stories? What is the level of interior finish and the quality of built in appliances? All of these have an impact on the valuation of a piece of property. Insurers use third party data for most of their valuations. They use these tools because most homeowners do not provide enough information. If your home is overvalued, the company gets more premium and has lower exposure. Lack of information is costly. Loss History Homeowners’ insurance is not a warranty program or a maintenance program. Carrying a low deductible and reporting minor claims will drive your costs up. The insurance industry is a firm believer in “Frequency breeds severity”. If your loss history shows frequent small claims, you will pay up when you renew. Bundle and Save Virtually every insurance company offers discounts for multi-policy customers. While this is a source of price relief it means that a poor driving record, youthful drivers, high performance cars can adversely impact your property and liability insurance.  What is the discount and is it worth the pain of a higher auto premium if one is available from another carrier at lower cost? If your bundle includes a personal umbrella, be sure that both the homeowners’ and auto policies have sufficient limits and are with carriers that are acceptable to the umbrella insurer. The Driehaus Difference OMG this is complicated ! — Yes, it is. We do not subscribe to the notion that “15 minutes will save you 15%” or believe that everyone has the expertise to “pay for only what you need”. Shortcomings in your insurance program become obvious when the chips are down. You need an insurance agent that understands the data needed to secure the best program for you. You need an insurance agent that will ask the questions and help you find the answers. This is not a call center or an online quoting tool. Call us at 513-977-6860 or use the contact tools on our website, www.driehauins.com , to get in touch with us. We want to be your insurance provider.

We Have a Great Opportunity. With the holidays quickly closing in I have a hard deadline to meet. My client needed his insurance program put together and bound by Thanksgiving. After that he was too busy to discuss insurance. Named Insured was Santa Claus. I still need to determine the type of entity we need to insure. Is this an LLC, C Corp, or a partnership? If other entities are involved, we need all the details for the correct named insureds. Property coverage is for a workshop / office / transportation hub at the North Pole. Given the scope of manufacturing described this would be a significant property exposure. There may be a wide range of special hazards and the need for special extinguishing systems. Given the location at the North Pole we need details on building construction and heating system. High winds may make a roof review important. How accessible is this location? The risk described his primary transportation as a sleigh. Is the fire department available to respond? Construction class, building size and private protection would be important. Contents coverage will be a challenge to quantify. There seems to a steady buildup of values until late December when the inventory is suddenly depleted. Perhaps a reporting form with a peak season endorsement is needed. Storage arrays and protection will be critical to understand. Business income is a head scratcher. Santa says he does not sell the goods but gives them away. Somehow there must be an income stream to pay for this. We need to do some serious research to define the incoming revenues to define the business income limit and exposure. Give the remote location, I expect that a mechanical breakdown policy is needed for heating, power generation and other utilities. The risk has a data center of some sort, so coverage for those equipment exposures is needed. The general liability is different. Santa maintains that there are few if any visitors to his homebase. He travels extensively and meets his clients in retail settings during the last quarter of the year. He has a staff that lives on site called the “elves”. The “elves” manufacture the products that Santa distributes. We may have some type of residential habitational exposure to consider. The potential products list looks like an old Sears catalog. Products liability will be tough to place. The scope of the products is soup to nuts. The target customers are children, so we have a very sympathetic plaintiff. How the “elves” turn out so wide a range of products is unknown. We may have a significant distribution only exposure if Santa gets merchandise from others and simply delivers the goods. How much is delivered or drop shipped is an open question. Santa will need a good fleet policy to cover his delivery operations. I suspect there are at least eight power units. I could not find “Rudolph” in SAFER, so perhaps a DOT number would help with fleet underwriting. He was very proud of this part of his operation and all delivery operations may be very time compressed. What about driver fatigue and hours of service? The radius of operation of the deliveries is said to be worldwide. If this is true then, we need an ocean marine policy for the goods in transit overseas. Perhaps an ocean marine throughput policy may be best to package the real property at the North Pole and the goods in transit across the globe. If there are more delivery outlets than Rudolph, we need to consider transit coverage or verifying that carriers have adequate limits for their motor truck cargo legal liability. Santa says he delivers the goods and installs some of them. He mentioned something about chimneys, but I must have misunderstood him. All we need is a work at elevation exposure to scare off potential carriers. Depending on the installation work being performed, is an installation floater required? WC coverage is reported to be needed in all states. We may need to manage the four monopolistic states and getting the remainder covered will require a carrier with a lot of WC reach. I was not clear if the international workforce who delivers is our own staff or subcontractors. If subs, we need to do the employment test to verify that WC does not apply. We should ask for an NCCI EMR worksheet. Cyber is a big issue for this risk. Santa reports that he maintains a list of all the children and separates them into good and bad categories. This suggests a lot of PII around children and we need to have strong cyber controls. It was not clear of the data is maintained at the North Pole or in a cloud. Would the separation be a source of potential discrimination claims? I only got bits and pieces of this operation over the open bar at the Chamber luncheon. I am trying to get back in front of the client this week to start gathering data. This could be a big revenue account. The Driehaus Difference We want everyone to enjoy their holidays. We share these safety tips and suggestions so you can have the best experience and with the least risk. Call us with your insurance questions or needs. We look forward to hearing from you Call us at 513-977-686 0 or contact us via our website, driehausins.com  to discuss your needs. We want to be your insurance provider.

Most businesses have cyber security protection for their laptops and desktop computers. There are two points of entry into your network that may not get the attention they deserve. Copiers and Printers A common office machine that can print, scan copy and fax is extremely useful. This machine can be shared by multiple users, including remote users. It can stage multiple print jobs and have a print queue when it is busy. The connection to a network and internal data storage make this a workhorse in the office. These features strongly resemble a computer, but many cyber security plans do not treat copiers as a threat. Network Connections If your copier is shared by multiple users and is not connected by dedicated printer cables, it must be connected to your network. As a network point, it has the ability to send and receive data to you. This ability can be exploited if the network connection is not protected with a security system and if access is not controlled. Leaving the printer open for guests to print opens your network to those guests. With WI-FI being the preferred network connection, your WI FI can be accessed outside of your premises by a hacker. You should treat the printer as a workstation and require the same level of access control for this tool as you would a workstation. If you allow guests to use your printer, enforce guest passwords that change routine to maintain an acceptable level of security. Be sure USB connections to the printer are scanned for malware and viruses before allowing use. Conference Room Presentation Systems The convenience of simply plugging in and projecting data is another often-overlooked cyber threat. Instead of a single user connecting directly to the screen with a cable, a network connected device allows easy screen sharing and multiple users to share upon demand. This means the system is connected to your network and can send and receive data. The same issues with your copier also impact on a network connected screen sharing system. Some standalone projectors have onboard memory to allow a presentation to be loaded or a streaming service to buffer to allow a more stable experience. This data will remain onboard the device unless you proactively remove the data. The next user can access your data. This is a particular exposure for shared conference rooms. Projection options that accept a USB flash drive also have the potential to load malware into your system. Strict controls on USB ports should be part of your cyber security program. Requiring the USB drive to be scanned by your security software before use is sound security control. No Good Deed Goes Unpunished When your technology reaches the end of its useful life in your environment, it may be a working tool for someone else. You may also want to avoid the environmental aspects of technology disposal. Donating equipment to non-profits, schools and other groups seems to be a good deed. Any equipment that leaves your control must be cleared of any data. Do not rely on the “format” commands to clear memory devices. There are commonly available utility programs designed to recover data on storage devices. Many security software platforms offer data destruction or shredding programs. These programs rewrite the storage media with random data that prevents retrieval of your data. Your current security software likely has this function. Use it on all equipment moving to another home. This includes equipment you may sell or give to employees. Cyber Liability is Real If a customer’s data is compromised by a security breach or lapse at your company, you can be held liable for damage. The damage can be to real property by malware or reputational damage from data release. You may be required to offer identity theft protection and credit monitoring to affected people and businesses. You need adequate insurance coverage for this exposure. Cyber threats are no longer limited to big business. Anyone with an internet connection is at risk. A major cyber liability broker, AMWINS, estimates the average ransomware attacks costs a small business $262,000 excluding ramson payment. The average social engineering attack costs over $123,000. The Driehaus Difference We have multiple cyber liability options for any business. Our companies can offer limits that will meet your needs. Cyber policies offer restoration and response services to help you manage a cyber incident and limit downstream damage. This service is worth the cost of the coverage. We can help you with your cyber liability exposure and coverage. Call us at 513-977-6860 or reach out to use on our website, www.driehausins.com We want to be your insurance provider.

With the start of the holiday season there are safety and risk management considerations that will prevent you getting a lump of coal in your risk management stocking.   Lighted decorations  Everyone enjoys a festive light display. If you are creating your light show, keep these safety issues in mind. The lights you use should be UL listed for the location of use. Check to see that your lights are listed for outdoor use. Many low-cost lighting products that are not UL listed appear every year in stores and online. This is a buyer beware situation. See our article on Product Listings for more information Look for electrical devices listed as waterproof or suitable for wet locations. When attaching lights or other decorations to the building, remember to “Do No Harm.” There are clips and brackets that allow attachment of decorations to gutters and roofs that will not create a leak or damage the integrity of the roof covering. If you are working at heights to attach decorations, use the proper ladder and set it up properly. If the outlet for your decorations is not already Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected, add a portable GFCI to the circuit. Keep the plugs and connections dry and off the ground. This will keep the GFCI from tripping.   Holiday Parties You can take simple precautions to assure a happy ending to your celebrations. See our article on liquor liability  for more information. Christmas Trees  If you use a natural tree, make sure to follow these guidelines for safety. If you have never seen a dry Christmas tree fire, they are devasting. This video from the National Fire Protection Association is a great safety review. Christmas Tree Fire Safety Cut the base of the tree to expose fresh wood. This will allow the tree to absorb water. Keep the tree base in fresh water at all times. Refresh the water daily. Secure the tree in a stand to prevent tipping or falling. If the tree starts dropping needles, it is too dry and should be removed. Candles Candle fire frequency peaks in December. The NFPA  reports 12% of fires in December are related to candles versus 4% in other months. Candles should be used only when you are present to monitor and supervise. Do not let candles burn unattended. Use a sturdy candle holder that will not tip over. Keep candles at least 12 inches from any combustible material. Consider using flameless candles. They look and smell like the real thing.   Cooking Cooking is the leading cause of fires in homes. We had a prior article on cooking safety that offers  guidance. If you choose to deep fry your turkey, please take these precautions. Deep frying turkeys should be done outside the building. The deep fryer should be on a noncombustible surface. Test the level of oil needed before heating. A boil over can create a severe hazard. Have a fire extinguisher available for an emergency. Keep children away from the fryer. The Driehaus Difference We want everyone to enjoy their holidays. We share these safety tips and suggestions so you can have the best experience and with the least risk. Call us with your insurance questions or needs. We look forward to hearing from you by phone at 513-977-6860 or on the internet at www.driehausins.com

Your insurance company may request that Verisk, formerly ISO, come out to your property and conduct a survey to establish the base loss costs for your property. While many carriers say they do not use the Verisk loss costs, they do use the data collected during this process. Inaccurate data can lead to incorrect construction classifications and no sprinkler credits given. This information will persist until another insurance company orders and pays for a new survey. Your property insurance premiums can be affected by the bad information for years. Preparing for a Verisk Rate Survey Verisk will call and request an appointment. If you do not return the call or schedule the appointment, they will cancel the survey. The requesting company will be notified that you declined to schedule the survey. This may not be in your best interest. When the representative arrives, it is essential that you have the right materials immediately at hand. The following should be assembled for review by the Verisk representative. Have all materials ready to show to the representative. Building Construction Documentation Code Summary Page from the construction drawings – Will have square footage, construction type and indication of fire resistance ratings on structural members If you do not have building plans, have this information assembled and ready to share If built in stages, have ages of each addition, square footage of each Site plan showing building, and underground water supply for sprinklers Exterior wall construction – materials and cut sheets for siding or other cladding materials besides masonry or wood. Is the exterior cladding combustible? Roof structural supports and roof covering – cut sheet on roofing materials – any fire resistance rating for the roof structure or covering? Floor construction – any fire rated construction on floor/ceiling assemblies? Vertical openings – fire ratings on any vertical opening shafts and doors Diagram showing location of fire rated walls. Can reduce ratable area of building. Details on wall construction, door ratings – identify if fire walls terminate against noncombustible or masonry ceilings. Is the attic space combustible? Any use besides joist channels? If so, are the sprinklers installed? Is the attic area subdivided in any fashion. Any interior finishes that would be considered combustible finishes? Sprinkler System Documentation Copy of sprinkler system plans – including specific data on the sprinkler heads used Copy of hydraulic calculations including water supply data Be sure the placard is up to date on the riser Fire department connection provided, caps in place Documented water flow alarm – local if not monitored by remote station or better alarm service Copy of Underground Testing and Flushing certificate Copy of Aboveground testing certificate 2” drain test results – have tags on the riser or hard copy inspection reports Documentation of any five-year testing done on your sprinkler system Why bother with all of this? Insurance is driven by data. If you do not provide the correct information when given the chance, the default values used by the insurance industry are values that generate the highest premiums. Verisk loss costs may not be the basis of your rate, but the data gathered during this process is used across the industry. Having your noncombustible building rated as frame from lack of information about the insulated panels will persist and cost you money. Lack of sprinkler system information will have your building listed as being non-sprinklered. Having the right information ready for the representative of Verisk will prevent this from happening. The Driehaus Difference We clearly understand this process and how to get the best result for our clients. We have helped numerous clients correct data errors and allow them to reap the benefits of accurate property rating information. This is more than just shopping your insurance program. It is managing your insurance program. Call 513-977-6860 or reach us via our website, www.driehausins.com . We want to be your insurance provider.

The OSHA standard for Hazard Communication - 1910.1200 entered the business world in 1983 for manufacturing and was expanded to all industries in 1987. The standard was updated in 2012 and again in 2024 to align the OSHA standard with a Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling (GHS). The term Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) was replaced with the Safety Data Sheet (SDS).   How Hazard Communication Works The fundamental elements of the standard require that the employer conduct an inventory of chemicals in the workplace and document the hazards related to those chemicals. The standard called for all containers to be labeled with hazard information and that all employees be trained in the hazard recognition process in use. Employees were also to have access to the MSDS for chemicals in use at their workplace. The chemical industry originally developed MSDS sheets to meet this standard. The difficulty was that no consistent standard existed for the MSDS. While the standard required certain information, the placement of that information was inconsistent. This made the use of MSDS in an emergency a challenge.   Labeling was a second challenge. You could not attach a multi-page MSDS to each container, so a number of systems evolved for numerical hazard ratings. While the systems looked alike, the definitions of the hazard ratings were inconsistent. . Global Harmonization In 2012 OSHA agreed to adopt GHS as the basis for hazard communication. The GHS had a standard for communicating hazard s and their SDS sheets became the required tool. The SDS has 16 sections. 1.   Identification:  Includes the chemical name, recommended uses, and supplier contact information.  2. Hazard(s) identification : Describes the hazards of the chemical, including physical hazards, health hazards, and environmental hazards, along with warning information.  3. Composition/information on ingredients : Lists the ingredients of the chemical, their concentrations, and other relevant information.  4. First-aid measures : Provides guidance on what to do if someone is exposed to the chemical, including first aid procedures.  5. Firefighting measures:  Details on how to extinguish fires involving the chemical and what hazards might be present.  6. Accidental release measures:  Outlines procedures for dealing with spills or leaks, including containment and cleanup methods.  7. Handling and storage:  Provides instructions on how to handle and store the chemical safely, including precautions for safe handling and storage.  8. Exposure controls/personal protection:  Specifies exposure limits, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) required to minimize exposure to the chemical.  9. Physical and chemical properties : Describes the physical and chemical characteristics of the chemical, such as boiling point, melting point, and solubility.  10. Stability and reactivity:  Explains the stability of the chemical and what conditions or substances might cause it to react dangerously.  11. Toxicological information:  Provides information about the health effects of exposure to the chemical, including routes of exposure, acute and chronic health effects, and other toxicological data.  12. Ecological information:  Describes the environmental impact of the chemical, including its potential to harm the environment and guidance on how to minimize its environmental impact.  13. Disposal considerations:  Provides information on how to properly dispose of the chemical and any associated waste.  14. Transport information:  Includes information relevant to the transportation of the chemical, such as hazard class, packing group, and other transport regulations.  15. Regulatory information : Lists any regulatory requirements that apply to the chemical, such as environmental regulations or other safety regulations.  16. Other information : Includes any other relevant information about the chemical, such as the date of preparation or revision of the SDS.    Why is this Important? Beyond the regulatory requirements, SDS sheets can be invaluable in employee safety and health. By clearly identifying the health and safety impacts of chemicals, the employer and employees can make informed choices. The data being in a consistent format allows immediate retrieval of needed facts in an emergency. The use of standard warning words and pictograms allow faster recognition of hazards. The Driehaus Difference We can help our clients build an effective Hazard Communication program. Involving both insurance carriers’ resources as well as OSHA resources to bring clarity to an issue that is effective at improving safety is a positive outcome for all involved. We want to help you solve risk management questions and be your insurance provider. Call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us on the internet at www.driehausins.com

Lithium-ion batteries store a lot of energy in a small place. These batteries can overheat, start a fire, or explode if overcharged or damaged. By learning how to BUY , CHARGE , and RECYCLE these batteries safely, you can help prevent a fire in your home. Continue to read on for more safety information. You can call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us via our website at www.driehausins.com  We look forward to helping you with your insurance needs.

Contractors’ equipment (CE) insurance is designed to insure machinery, equipment and tools of a mobile nature that may be away from your locations listed on a property policy. The definition of contractor’s equipment also includes the vehicles that are primarily used to carry mounted equipment and vehicles that may be designed for highway use but are not licensed and not operated on public roads. This coverage is useful for any business that has tools and equipment that may be away from the locations listed on your property insurance. It can also be used to provide physical damage coverage to specialty vehicles such as cranes, concrete pumps, and other special construction vehicles. The policy can offer a method for physical damage for off road vehicles. For businesses that have this exposure and have included this equipment as contents values, you may want to explore if a CE policy would offer broader off-premises coverage and a more competitive rate than contents. Equipment Schedule The policy depends on the schedule of equipment. The schedule may be attached to the policy and made part of the agreement, or it can be a “schedule on file.” This is an important distinction as a scheduled equipment policy covers only those items on the schedule. The “schedule on file” option allows some additional flexibility as it can cover equipment in your “care, custody and control” which could be leased or rented equipment. It may also allow you to update the schedule during the policy period. Valuation The standard valuation for most CE policies is Actual Cash Value (ACV) which is the value of your equipment with age, condition and depreciation considered. You may request Replacement Cost (RC) which does not include depreciation in the valuation. While some would say that RC is new for old, most policies limit your recovery to the amount scheduled for that item. If you want true RC coverage, you must insure RC values. Additional Coverages Most carriers have multiple CE forms, and they change the additional coverages built into the form. Debris removal  may be a flat dollar amount or a percentage of the value of the item in question. If your jobsites are very remote or waterborne you may need additional debris removal dollars to recover a damaged piece of equipment. Leased and rented equipment coverage is often needed. If not included, you need to endorse the policy for this coverage. If you loan equipment to others , you need to cover this exposure in the event the other party lacks coverage. Fraud and deceit coverage  would protect you against fraud that causes you to lose equipment. There are specific coverage limits for waterborne equipment  to cover values in this environment. Other coverages that may be included or endorsed to the policy: Construction trailers – Employee tools – Fire department service charge – New purchased property (subject to a time limitation) – pollutant cleanup – Fire extinguisher recharge – Rental reimbursement- Stolen equipment reward – Spare parts and fuel Risk Management – Theft prevention National Equipment Register (NER)– There is no standard format for CE serial numbers, so law enforcement does not have a good way to identify stolen equipment. NER offers a registration service for your equipment and can alert law enforcement if it is stolen. www.ner.net Good serial number and equipment schedule data. If you cannot accurately report the year, make model and serial number of a stolen item, you may have a challenge settling the claim for this undefined item. You will not be able to offer police the data needed to identify your property. Equipment location services may be built into your newer equipment. There are many vendors offering GPS location devices for equipment. Equipment ID via paint and colors. The default equipment color is yellow and that makes stopping equipment in transit unworkable for law enforcement. Having a distinctive color scheme or logo will aid in equipment identification. Unique keys for the equipment. You can order a ring of standard CE keys online. Changing the ignition on your equipment will make it harder to steal. The Driehaus Difference We have access to multiple markets for your CE exposures. We can help with risk management tips and improving your schedules and equipment data to make your policy stronger and make a recovery possible. Call 513-977-6860 or use our web site tools to contact us. We want to be your insurance provider.

Lithium-ion batteries are the power source for most portable devices and electric vehicles. The technology allows for a powerful power source in a smaller package. Lighter weight and greater power have made lithium-ion the battery of choice. There is a downside to these batteries. They present a unique fire hazard that is hard to manage and a fire that is difficult to control. Battery Chemistry and Hazard A lithium-ion battery structure has an anode, and a cathode as does any battery. The passage of the lithium-ions between these two materials generates an electrical charge. The properties of lithium-ion batteries allows superior power versus prior battery types. The flow of ions is in one direction when discharging and powering a device and the opposite direction when the battery is charging. The passage of these ions is done in an electrolyte solution that is commonly an organic solvent. The basic chemistry of the materials provides carbon,which is a fuel, oxygen contained in the anode and cathode materials and the electrolyte may be a flammable or combustible liquid. All of the ingredients for a sustained fire are present. When there is damage to the cell or the onboard electronics that manage the charging and discharging fail, the battery can enter a runaway chemical reaction that leads to an explosion or fire. Since all of the materials needed for combustion are present, the reaction is self-sustaining. The fire can be difficult to extinguish and reignites after it appears to be extinguished. Fire protection methods for this hazard are still being developed. Clean agent and heavy sprinkler discharges have not been effective. Lithium-Ion batteries are probably in your pocket (smartphone), on your desk (laptop), in your car (EV), in the mail (musical greeting cards) and possibly in your home or office building as an energy storage system for wind or solar power or an uninterruptible power supply for critical equipment. You cannot ignore this hazard. What to Do about this hazard The batteries become hazardous when they are physically damaged. Original testing by UL was “blunt nail test” to see if the cell was strong enough to resist physical damage. The second scenario is when the onboard circuitry that manages charging and discharging fails. Both of these hazards are manageable. UL testing and listing addresses both of these issues in manufacturing of the battery. Purchasing Controls Buy devices and batteries that are UL Listed and from a reputable source. The market is full of unlisted cells that are cheap and therefore popular. You get what you pay for, so be a wise shopper when introducing this hazard into your life or home. Our article on Product Listings helps explain how these listings can be helpful in getting safe products Charging and Discharging Use the charger and cable that comes with your device. It is rated at the correct voltage and power output for the battery pack. If you are using other cables and charging devices make sure those devices and cables are UL listed. With the proliferation of USB charging systems, the quality of the cable becomes a paramount concern. Check the USB charger for a UL listing mark. Do not alter the cell arrangement to increase power output. Connecting cells in series to increase voltage or capacity is outside the original design of the battery and may cause a failure. Storage Since lithium-ion batteries can retain a charge for a long period, treat any battery as a charged battery. Do not allow battery terminals to contact one another or a grounded surface. Lithium-ion batteries are shipped in protective sleeves or packages to keep the terminals from contacting each other. Use this same method to store batteries. For devices with large batteries such as electric bikes and scooters, consider storing them in an area that is cut off from the balance of your facility with fire resistant construction and have fire detection equipment in this area. Prompt notification of a fire and the time purchased with fire resistant construction can make a difference in a fire event. Disposal Do not assume that the lithium-ion battery is dead. It can still retain energy and disposing of this type of battery where it could contact another battery or grounded surface can create a fire Do not throw lithium-ion batteries into the trash. When the trash is compacted or processed the cells can be damaged and start a fire. This is becoming more frequent in landfills, trash trucks and recycling centers. The best way to dispose of lithium-ion batteries is at a recyclin g point. There are disposal points that accept lithium batteries. Check https://www.call2recycle.org/  for a local disposal site. Many Home Depot, Lowes and Staples stores participate in this program. Before depositing the batteries in a recycle bin, apply tape over the terminals to prevent contact. The Driehaus Difference As fire experience data with these batteries and their devices continues to accumulate, there may be changes in building and safety codes to regulate this hazard. Every major code organizations has a project on lithium-ion batteries in process. We also expect to see property insurers take notice of this new hazard. We follow these emerging trends so we can offer our clients sound risk management advice. Reach out to us for assistance and advice on your insurance and risk management programs. You can call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us via our website at www.driehauins.com We look forward to helping you with your insurance needs.

While parents focus on getting their children ready for school with new supplies, clothing and technology, they may be missing the need for insurance policy changes. School residency should include a renters’ policy Establishing a new home at school is more than getting a new microwave and mini fridge. With a new residence there are exposures to loss from fire, theft and natural hazards that need your attention.   Along with real property losses, the new location away from the main residence brings liability concerns. Injuries to visitors can give rise to a liability claim.  Activities can cause property damage or injury to others. Without a liability policy that covers this location, you may be left without any protection from a loss.   Many college residency agreements and most leases require a policy to be in place and the property owner be named as an additional insured. Failing to do this leaves you in breach of the contract you signed and can cause other legal issues for your family.   A renters’ insurance policy is a cost effective method to manage this exposure . Education related travel  Some programs have international trips and foreign study as part of the curriculum. Don't forget a spring break trip abroad as well. If your student is going to be traveling outside the United States, consider obtaining a travel insurance policy for the duration of the trip. These policies can extend health insurance, cover medical transportation expenses, offer auto liability coverage, trip interruption, baggage insurance and contain provisions for kidnap and ransom.  Most domestic insurance program coverage areas are limited to the United States. Some schools and organizations will obtain travel insurance. If this is the case, get a sample policy for review. Where is the car parked? When your student moves to a new school, they will probably take their car with them. Auto insurance uses the garaging location of the vehicle as a rating factor.  If the new garaging location would have generated more premium, the auto insurer may dispute coverage. The nominal costs incurred with most garaging changes pale in comparison a claim for a severe accident being denied based on inaccurate garage location.   Technology Values  Many renters’ or homeowners’ policies have a sublimit for off premises coverage for electronics.  Check your policy or the proposed policy and compare those sub-limits to the value of the electronics going to school.  Raising these coverage limits is generally a very inexpensive change. The Driehaus Difference We want to reduce the stress of back to school by helping you update your insurance program to reflect these changes in your life. Call us to discuss your needs and the solutions we have to provide the best insurance program for you. Reach out to use at 513-977-6860 or use any of the contact tools on our website, www.driehausins.com We want to be your insurance provider.