Why metal theft is a problem

The price of recycled copper and other metals has increased significantly in the past few years, making it a target for thieves. Copper is not marked with serial numbers or other identifying marks, making it easy to resell to recyclers.

Where is it most prevalent?

According to a report by the Department of Energy's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability entitled "An Updated Assessment of Copper Wire Theft from Electric Utilities" dated October 2010, copper thefts have been most prevalent in California and Florida, but have also been significant in Ohio, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and Texas. The report states that drug use, proximity to scrap metal dealers, population density, unemployment and poverty are important contributing factors. For more information, the full report can be accessed here.

What other damages can be expected?

The problem isn't just about the theft of the equipment or material; in some cases loss of a refrigeration unit can mean significant damage to contents as well as downtime for your company. For example, tearing up a portion of the roof deck may allow water to seep into the layers of insulation and leak inside the building.

What is targeted?

Metal

• Copper
• Brass
• Steel
• Aluminum

Products

• Wiring, cable
• Plumbing
• Air conditioning units
• Downspouts, gutters

Occupancies

• Vacant buildings, vacancies in multi-tenanted buildings
• Buildings unoccupied at night and weekends
• Electric utility stations
• Job sites/buildings under construction
• Occupancies that use large cooling units such as supermarkets and hospitals
• Older buildings — copper plumbing, wiring, downspouts, gutters

What steps can be taken to minimize this type of loss?

There is no single answer and it depends on your specific situation. It is likely you will need a combination of steps that fall into these categories:

• Access control
• Alarms systems
• Limit the amount on premises
• Employee screening
• Communication/community outreach
• Other steps

Control access

• Install a chain link fence around the perimeter of the building
• Keep gates and entrances to a minimum
• Install padlocks on gates and change several times a year
• Lock gates during non-operation hours
• Periodically walk the perimeter to check for breaches
• Remove or secure roof access ladders
• Relocate exterior equipment such as dumpsters away from the walls to prevent use as a climbing aid
• Install a steel cage around air conditioning units, secure with tamper resistant bolts anchor to the building or concrete pad
• Use tamper resistant hardware on access panels and covers
• Provide padlocks on the electrical boxes for the air conditioning units
• Require employees to wear identification

Alarm systems

• Security alarm — sounds when power is lost to the unit, electrical wires are cut or refrigeration lines are cut. They can sound an audible alarm and also offer dialing messaging to a phone number.
• Wireless devices — portable integrated systems that require no wires. When activated, sounds an alarm and sends a signal to a monitoring station. Can be used outdoors. Another wireless device provider uses cameras to produce a video clip, so the alarms can be verified. Police respond quicker when there's verification that a crime is in progress.
• Surveillance cameras — typically use DVRs to record video from the surveillance cameras; they can be linked to a monitoring station.

Amount on premises

• Avoid storing copper wire, pipe fittings, etc. at remote jobsites
• Deliver only what is needed for the day to the jobsite

Employee screening

Many metal thefts take place with the help of an inside operative.

• Conduct criminal background check on employees
• If using outside security, make sure the vendor completed criminal background checks
• If warranted, due to long term projects or other circumstances, criminal background checks should also be completed on contractors and sub-contractors
• Inform employees about the costs involved and your disciplinary policy

Communication and community outreach

• Talk to other local businesses and your police department. Friends helping friends is beneficial for all parties and sharing of information can help heighten awareness of theft in your area.
• Build partnerships with local suppliers and scrap metal companies
• Talk to neighboring businesses about any suspicious activities you've observed, or if stealing has occurred. Find out about past thefts in the area; try to uncover any information that is pertinent.
• Work with crime prevention units within the local police department
• Offer rewards to citizens and employees
• Utilize an employee rewards program for not allowing crimes to occur
• Keep excellent inventory of any scrap metal and try not to store it for any extended period of time
• Finally, be willing to prosecute criminals if need be. This will help spread the message that you are serious and will not tolerate theft.

Other steps

• Post signs such as "Security Cameras in Use"
• Provide protective lighting that is controlled by a motion detector or proximity sensor. The fixture should be vandal resistant or inaccessible.
• Paint the copper; many scrap recyclers will not take copper that has been painted or marked

Alarm system resources

There are various resources available for alarms systems; you should contact several companies before making a decision on security systems or enhancements to existing systems. Listed below are several companies that have systems available targeted at copper theft:

• Tattle Tale alarm enhancements (a Risk Solutions Partner)
• CopperWatch

Other resource

ISRI, the trade association representing scrap metal dealers and recyclers, has launched a website, as a tool for law enforcement to alert the scrap industry of significant thefts of materials in the United States and Canada. Upon validation and review, alerts posted are broadcast by email to all subscribed users within a 100-mile radius of where the incident occurred.

Hanover assistance

Your Risk Solutions consultant can meet with you to discuss your options to protect your business from metal theft.

The recommendation(s), advice and contents of this material are provided for informational purposes only and do not purport to address every possible legal obligation, hazard, code violation, loss potential or exception to good practice. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("The Hanover") specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein will make any premises, property or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. Under no circumstances should this material or your acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein be construed as establishing the existence or availability of any insurance coverage with The Hanover. By providing this information to you, The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC NOV 2018 11-348
171-0976 (01/14)

The following items should be regularly inspected and maintained to help ensure safety in your mobile home community. A copy of the inspection report should be sent to the designated person in charge for necessary action.

This checklist is intended to provide our customers with guidelines and general information needed to help identify conditions that may contribute to accidents. Preventing accidents from occurring is the best way to minimize pain, suffering and your overall cost of risk. Any questions answered with “no” should be explained in comments.

INSPECT THESE ITEMS AT LEAST MONTHLY

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you, The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC JAN 2019 14-04
171-0861 (11/13)

Your business can lose critical services when you least expect it. Are you prepared for the sudden loss of electric power or other utilities or the disruption of equipment controlled by electrical devices? Now is the time to review and reinforce your business contingency plans. Thoughtful planning for events that may put your business at risk can pay large dividends when these events occur.

Some things to do when your business is threatened by:

Loss of electric power

The loss of electric power will stop most machinery. Depending on the time of the year and your climate, it will also raise the possibility of freeze losses, loss of perishables due to inadequate refrigeration, and the possibility of severe damage to piping and processes through freezing, overheating and loss of control.

If loss of electric power represents a serious threat to your business, and particularly if you know when a loss of power is likely to occur, effective preparations can be made to mitigate damage.

• Prepare generators. If engine generators are available, perform pre-operational checks and test them by starting and, if possible, run them under load. Training operations personnel in the procedures necessary for safe transition to on-site power generation is a top priority if backup generators are to be used successfully. A written procedure is necessary, and it should cover all power loss scenarios.
• Top off fuel tanks. If an engine-generator set is supplied by fuel stored on site, make sure that the fuel is fresh. Many instances of failure to start and/or failure to carry load are caused by aged or contaminated fuel. Never use fuel which has been in storage for more than 12 months. This is just as true for diesel as for any other liquid fuel. In addition to degradation of fuel quality, stored fuel can also accumulate algae, which can quickly plug fuel strainers and filters, stopping the engine.
• Anticipate power surges. Power interruptions from any cause are frequently accompanied by voltage surges. Surge protection is always recommended for protection of sensitive circuits, especially those serving electronic power supplies associated with computers and automation controls. If you have such equipment, which is not adequately protected from surge damage, consider shutting it down when power outages are expected. Better yet, consult your electrical engineer or contractor about installing power quality hardware and an effective grounding system in your facilities. See the paragraph entitled “Freeze” for precautions to be taken in the event of power loss during cold weather.

Loss of telephone service

Telephone service interruptions affecting a significant geographical area usually do not result in property damage. However, if interruption of communications would affect your business adversely, alternative communications should be considered. Cellular service is sometimes more resistant to local line interruption than your conventional telephone. Having a pre-planned configuration, which permits the use of cellular handsets as a substitute for vital business communication, including data and facsimile, might be an effective, low-cost backup capability. Here is another area where a written plan will be an invaluable tool.

If interruption of telephone service could be a serious hardship, other communication backup facilities should be evaluated, including commercial radio transceivers and satellite links.

Telecommunications may represent a vital part of your business. For some, even short-duration equipment failure could cause significant lost revenue. If so, permanent decentralization of service to two or more geographically separated redundant telephone service locations should be considered.

In such a scheme, each of the sites has inherent capability to assume the call volume of the other for at least short periods. This is the domain of telecommunications experts and is beyond the scope of this article. Decentralized service impacts the entire business enterprise, including the computer systems (order entry and inventory checking are examples) that support telephone operations.

Whatever the nature of your telecommunications needs, power quality plays an important role. The risk of damage to vital telecommunications hardware posed by power and telephone line voltage irregularities makes the use of proper surge suppression and arresting equipment a necessity, given today’s heavy reliance on telecommunications.

Flood

We all know that a flood can occur as a result of weather. But it can also occur because of power interruption or machinery failure, which interferes with continuous dewatering (pumping) necessary in some types of property located at or below the local water table. It can also occur as a result of frozen pipes bursting. The following recommended action steps are designed to address flooding from any cause.

Before the flood

If flooding is expected, the following steps should be taken to minimize damage to equipment and to make post-flood recovery as quick as possible:

• Make sure all personnel are evacuated from the property before rise of floodwater.
• Remove as much property and equipment as possible to high ground storage, if available. Move the highest value property first.
• If time permits, construct flood barriers with sandbags or other materials. Even if these do not hold back floodwaters, they may resist flood currents sufficiently to prevent destruction of structures.
• When flooding is imminent, shut down all fuel burning equipment which is subject to flooding. In the case of steam boilers, it is best if these can be allowed to cool prior to immersion.
• De-energize all electrical circuits prior to immersion in floodwater.
• Get all vehicles to high ground.

After the water recedes

These recommendations are intended to assist restoring your property and equipment after a flood:

Boilers

• Carefully inspect foundations and settings of boilers for settlement. DO NOT OPERATE a boiler if there is any evidence that the foundation has been undermined.
• Make sure the setting (brickwork, refractory, and insulation materials) is thoroughly dry. Use portable heaters where necessary.
• All safety appliances, such as safety and relief valves, steam gage, water column, high and low-water cutouts, and blow down must be cleaned and repaired as needed.
• All controls must be inspected and tested before operation, especially the water level control and low-water fuel cutoffs.
• Burners should not be fired until checked by a burner technician. An explosion may occur if the combustion controls do not function properly.
• Boilers should not be operated if proper feed water is not available. If operation is essential and if feed water contains mud, it will be necessary to blow down the boiler every eight hours and to open and clean the boiler at least once per week until proper water quality is re-established.

Electrical equipment

• DO NOT ENERGIZE equipment that has been flooded until properly cleaned, dried out, and until insulation has been tested. This includes enclosures, bus ducts, conduit, and cables.
• Windings in electric machinery should not be dried at temperatures exceeding the rating of its insulation system. In general, a maximum temperature of 194° F or 90° C may be used. Check with the manufacturer for equipment-specific information and recommendations.
• Dry type transformers should be cleaned and thoroughly dried as described for windings.
• Oil-filled transformers should be thoroughly inspected for damage and oil samples should be drawn from top and bottom for lab analysis. The laboratory should be instructed to include a Karl Fisher test for water content. Typical maximum water content is 35 ppm for mineral oil. The equipment supplier should be contacted for exact limits. If water is found in the oil tank, the oil charge must be renovated by a competent service firm.

Before operating machinery

• Contact the manufacturer for recommendations.
• Inspect foundations for cracking, weakness, or settlement. If settlement is suspected, check and correct alignment of all shafting, and check all stationary components for level.
• Inspect all machine internals for silt accumulations and clean as needed.
• Open the cylinders of all reciprocating engines or compressors and remove foreign material or water.
• Drain and clean lubrication systems. Wipe oil containing elements with lint-free rags and refill with new lubricants as required.
• Carefully clean and TEST governors and controls.

Freeze

Any interruption of power during cold weather is a freeze hazard. Taking proactive steps like those listed below will help you reduce and avoid damage.

• Building closures. Make sure all doors, windows, shutters, and dampers that can be closed are in place and secured to minimize heat loss.
• Snow and ice removal. Check equipment and snow removal contractors. Remember that the roof may need to be cleared.
• Anticipate flooding. If the premises may be flooded as a result of severe cold weather, take precautions and plan for this eventuality now. Move susceptible equipment or stock to an alternate location if possible. Check operation of pumps or other dewatering equipment.
• Collect and circulate a list of emergency telephone numbers. Distribute them to everyone in the organization who may need them.
• Heating systems. If backup electric power is not available, make arrangements to obtain portable heating units which do not require electric power.
• Protect piping. Piping systems which could freeze must be checked. Be sure that heat tracing is energized. Be prepared to supply backup power to heat tracing systems or drain the piping. Pay particular attention to sprinkler systems. Any change in the readiness status of your sprinkler systems should be reviewed by your local fire department.

These recommendations are general guidelines and are not intended to be exhaustive or complete, nor are they designed to replace information or instructions from the manufacturer of your equipment.

Copyright ©2020 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC FEB 2019-398
171-10017 (9/16)

Perhaps the most preventable and inexcusable accident is caused by backing into a parked auto or a fixed object. You should never commit this type of error as a professional driver.

Check around before you enter your vehicle

Investigate all around the outside of your vehicle for possible hazards which cannot be seen from the driver’s seat. This includes improperly parked vehicles next to yours, children and toys in driveways, and low objects such as hydrants, posts, abutments and fences. This investigative precaution is a good investment of only a second or two of your time.

In the driver’s seat

Keep your foot on the brake as you shift into reverse. Then, before starting to back, check traffic on both sides as well as the rear. Make sure nothing is hidden (blind spots). Don’t rely on your mirrors! Turn and look over your shoulder as well. Get help to guide you if you can’t avoid blind spots.

Know when and where to back

Driving in reverse normally should cover the shortest span possible — from inches to feet, not half a block. It should be a means of reaching a spot that will enable you to move forward quickly into the flow of traffic.

Never back down a street looking for a missed address. And, never back uphill or across lanes of traffic. It’s always wiser to drive around the block than to risk a conflict with oncoming traffic.

Be sure you're seen

When backing, move slowly — sound your horn before proceeding if there is any doubt that other traffic can see you.

Avoid backing

You can’t always avoid backing, but if you can it may prevent an accident.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC 14-42
171-0860 (02/14)

The proper qualification and development of drivers is perhaps the most critical aspect of your limousine fleet safety program. Fleet performance will be directly affected by the quality of your program. High frequency of accidents, excessive supervision, poor employee morale, increased vehicle maintenance, reduced productivity and decreased profits may result from a poor employee selection program.

Job analysis

Limousine drivers are required to perform many varied functions. A written job analysis identifies the acceptable tasks, skills and knowledge required for a particular job. Obtain this information by observing people currently performing the job, interviewing experienced drivers and supervisors, and your knowledge of the duties of the job. Good applicants will be identified and also help develop a training program.

Application

A good application will screen and evaluate applicants. Applications specific to driving are available from many suppliers and should address: past employment, physical history, driving experience, accidents, traffic convictions, forfeiture of bond or collateral, present and past addresses, Social Security number and license information. Limousine drivers represent your company and directly interact with your customers.

Interview

Before interviewing, carefully review the application in order to verify or expand the supplied information. Prepare a list of questions to explore the applicant's qualifications and experience. Questions should lead to an opinion of the applicant's attitude and feelings about safe driving and customer relations. Review duties and responsibilities of the position as specified in Part 391 of the regulations.

Reference checks

Document responses to reference calls in the driver's file. Check on accident record, type of equipment operated, employment dates and job duties. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) require an investigation of the driver's employment record.

Road test

A road test is essential in evaluating the applicant's ability to safely operate a vehicle. Written road test formats are available from suppliers. Test the driver's knowledge of the unique handling characteristics of a limousine. Check that the operator has a valid license for the type of equipment that will be driven. A respected individual within your organization who has an excellent safety record should witness and record the results. A road test of at least 15 miles should simulate traffic encounters that the driver will face in daily driving.

Motor vehicle record

A check of the applicant's driving record offers an opportunity to evaluate the driver's past safety record. This information can typically be obtained through the motor vehicle registry of your state. Pay close attention to license suspensions and revocations. Please see The Hanover guidelines for what constitutes an acceptable motor vehicle record here.

Physical exam

Physical exams may save lives by keeping drivers with serious conditions off the road. Exams should be performed by a doctor informed about duties of the job (including lifting requirements), rather than a personal physician. Physical exam criteria are outlined in the FMCSR.

Substance abuse testing

FMCSR specifies testing of commercial motor vehicle drivers in interstate commerce. A careful review of federal, state and local law should be completed before starting a substance abuse testing program.

Driver files

Written documentation of your driver qualification program should be maintained in each driver's file kept at your place of business. A periodic review will indicate if your program is working and help in accident investigations.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

FMCSR should be consulted before starting or strengthening your program. Minimum criteria for drivers can serve as the basis for a sound program even if your fleet isn't subject to the regulations.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you, The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC JAN 2019 12‐169
171-0683Limo (3/16)

Cargo losses can be more than just a dollar loss. Missed deliveries can trigger lost time for your customers, missed deliveries to downstream clients and significant disruption to production schedules. As the value and criticality of the shipment goes up, your due diligence in selecting the motor carrier should also increase. Here are a few tips to help you qualify a motor carrier.

• Does the motor carrier have motor truck cargo legal liability insurance in force and what limits are carried? Ask for a certificate of insurance and review the policies in force. There should be auto liability and well as cargo liability coverage in force. The value of your shipment should fall within the cargo liability limits shown.
• Review the motor carriers authority, safety record and accident records that are available from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can access a company snapshot that has a concise electronic record of a company’s identification, size, commodity information, and safety record, including the safety rating (if any), a roadside out-of-service inspection summary, and crash information. You can access these records at no cost via the DOT’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records System (SAFER).
• Will they use their own equipment and staff to make this delivery? It is common for motor carriers to use leased drivers and equipment to make trips or parts of trips. How many different hands will your shipment pass through?
• If the carrier uses leased drivers and equipment, how do they qualify these other carriers? Do they review motor vehicle records for the drivers, verify experience and check references?
• Does the carrier have any form of GPS monitoring of the truck, trailer or cargo?
• Do they have a security program for the cargo and terminals? How will your shipment be secured en route? Will there be any times when the freight is unattended?
• What route will the shipment take? Are there any known theft hot spots along this route? Knowing where the trouble spots are can help you avoid them.
• Your cargo is the key to your profitability and production. Take care when entrusting it to a motor carrier for transportation. Selecting and qualifying the motor carrier should have the same importance as selecting an employee.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC MAR 2019 09-232 H
171-0902 (12/13)

Every construction project and jobsite must be inspected for hazards and conditions that could cause injury or illness to workers. Inspections are also an effective way to determine if safety rules are being followed and can help in identifying new training needs.

What does this cover?

• The OSHA rules have inspection requirements for many operations such as demolition work, excavations, steel erection and welding and cutting.
• Specific inspection rules are also necessary for scaffolds, fall protection, electrical equipment, tools, confined spaces, rigging and when workers are exposed to chemicals or using personal protective equipment.
• General work areas must also be inspected for conditions that could cause injuries as a result of slips/trips due to poor housekeeping or improper storage of flammable liquids.

What else do I need to know?

All inspections must be carried out by a competent person who is familiar with the hazards of the work, what should be in place for protection and the safe use of any equipment. While inspections do not have to be documented, unless specified by OSHA rules, it is a good idea to have a system to show your company is looking at these hazards and taking action to correct them.

What about training?

Since inspections must be made by a competent person it is important to make sure they understand both the OSHA rules and your company requirements. A good start is for any person who will be in the role of competent person to take courses such as the OSHA 30 hour or OSHA 510 course. More specific training will be required if they will be the competent person for excavation work, scaffold erection or fall protection.

Where can I get more help?

The Hanover Risk Solutions website has additional information that you can review or use for worker training. Additional resources can also be found on the OSHA website that show where the competent person must be available.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC JAN 2019 12-378
171-1099 (10/14)

References

1. The Insurance and Risk Management Institute (IRMI), Glossary of Insurance and Risk Management Terms, https://www.irmi.com/glossary?taxonomy=alphanumeric&propertyName=tags&taxon=a.

*Contractual risk transfer (CRT). The process of using contracts to transfer risk from one party to another (ideally to the party in the best position to control or mitigate the risk)^.[1]

†Additional insured. A named insured may choose to include or add to their policy another entity that is not automatically covered (i.e., named in the original policy). This additional insured status serves to ensure that the full rights and coverage provided under the policy are fully extended to the newly added insured(s).^[1]

‡Waiver of subrogation. An insurer has a legal right to pursue financial recovery of a loss it has paid through the process of subrogation. One of the major ways a party can avoid subrogation by an insurer is by including a waiver of subrogation in a contract. With a waiver of subrogation, the party voluntarily gives up their right to pursue recovery against another party as well as the right of the insurer to pursue recovery.^[1]

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC 2021-175

A turning vehicle at an intersection creates a very special problem to other drivers entering and passing through the area. Vision may be limited by buildings, foliage, or other vehicles. The turning vehicle may be stopped and then decide to turn and cut you off. Or, you may be faced with a lawbreaker that runs a light, stop sign, or yield sign. All of these potential hazards for the turning driver require defensive driving by YOU to prevent an accident.

The three major contributing factors to intersection accidents are: delayed perception, speed too fast for conditions, and false assumptions. Let's examine these factors and consider the most glaring hazard at an intersection — meeting the turning vehicle.

Delayed perception

Delayed perception occurs when you are distracted, confused, or diverted by other competing hazards while the ultimate hazard is rapidly developing (e.g., watching pedestrians, looking for street signs, etc.).

Speed

Drivers who fail to slow down for intersections risk a serious accident. They are traveling so fast, by the time they perceive the hazard, they have already passed the point of escape.

False assumptions

A large number of drivers who become involved in intersection accidents do so because they wrongfully assume the other driver will act in a certain way (e.g., a flashing turn signal is an indication that the vehicle will make a turn — if it doesn't, will you be able to stop?).

Avoiding intersection accidents

Here are some suggestions to help you avoid crashes at intersections.

1. Match speed with visibility at intersections. Always be able to stop your vehicle short of the intersection.
2. Don't assume anything. Just because you have the right of way, or think you do, doesn't mean the other driver will yield it to you. It is best to approach all intersections prepared to yield the right of way, even if it legally belongs to you. Take your foot off the gas and lightly cover the brake.
3. Decide what evasive action you will take should there be a conflict. Have your vehicle under complete control so you can make any necessary maneuvers.
4. Resist distractions. Keep your eyes moving to the sides and to the rear as you approach and pass through intersections. Look in all directions, then look again.
5. Don't assume that the other vehicle will stop. A traffic light, stop sign, or yield sign doesn't physically stop a vehicle—the driver has to apply the brakes.

Final thoughts

Don't stake your life on the right of way. The stakes are too high and the odds are against you. Think preventability and drive defensively.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you, The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
 

LC FEB 2019 11-389
171-1131 (10/14)

Many times employers, when faced with returning employees to work with temporary physical restrictions, find it difficult to identify tasks fitting into those limitations. Below are a few ideas on where to look for those tasks that may be approved by your employee's doctor and still add value to your business.

First, examine the job description of the employee.

• What tasks in that job description are outside of the restrictions provided by the doctor?
• Can those tasks be modified to fit the restrictions?
• Can an item being lifted be broken into lighter components?
• Can an employee sit versus standing if that is a restriction?

You need to understand the tasks of your employee and see if they can be changed.

• If they can't be changed, can tasks not meeting the restrictions be completed by another employee?
• Can the injured employee take on tasks in return from the healthy employee, tasks which are within the injured employee's restrictions?

Remember that bringing an employee back on transitional duty has other elements that will aid in controlling your costs, beyond the offset of the employee's pay to his/her disability payments. Breaking the habit of not reporting to work and being out of contact with management and fellow workers is a benefit. Maintaining communication with the employee, even if it means bringing the employee back part time until he/she is healed, has a positive outcome.

Second, when the job description cannot be modified, look at the tools and stock with which the employee works. Look at the skills the employee has or can be trained for.

• Are there other tasks that the injured worker can do to benefit your company?
• Can he/she maintain tools, order stock, or drive and deliver materials?
• Is there a service your business pays for that the injured worker can temporarily provide?

The goal, again, is to add value to your business. "Make work" tasks, such as counting paper clips, have been ruled as not meeting the intent of workers' compensation laws and are not allowed in many states. These types of strategies can lead to an adversarial relationship between employees and management and can lead to more expensive claims.

Third, are there projects that you never seem to get around to completing that fit the restrictions of the injured worker?

• Is there a storeroom that needs to be reorganized?
• Is there computer recordkeeping that needs to be caught up on?
• Is it time to take inventory?
• Is there any maintenance on your property such as painting that needs to be done?

When thinking of transitional duty, the goal is to reduce the impact of the claim while engaging your employee with your organization. Remember that sitting at home, your employee becomes deconditioned from going to work every day, becomes disconnected from you, and may believe that you have no concern for him/her. These can lead to difficulty returning him/her to work. The quicker the doctor can provide restrictions, and you can provide the opportunity to return to work at transitional duty, the better it will be for everyone.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC OCT 2018 14-53
171-1089 (3/14)