The extent of a house of worship’s fire exposure will be determined by the scope of operations, accessibility to the public, physical location and the construction of the facility. Combustible furnishings, candle usage and arson are the primary fire risks. The following areas should be reviewed to provide a comprehensive exposure assessment.

Notes:

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 MAR 2019-51
171-0930 (01/14)

The key to safety on field trips is advance planning. All field trip leaders must be aware of the need for attention to safety during field trip planning. Field trip safety is a shared responsibility. Such excursions may expose participants to a variety of hazards. The school has a responsibility to attempt to identify these hazards, to communicate their existence to participants, and to mitigate their impact where possible. The potential dangers that could occur during field trips can be mitigated by careful planning, implementing safe procedures and training of leaders and participants. Participants have a responsibility to give careful attention to safety-related matters and to conduct themselves with due regard to the safety of themselves and others.

The following checklist outlines important considerations that should be addressed prior to the date of the field trip:

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 JAN 2019 14-41
171-0851 (11/13)

Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) manufactured many electrical products while in business, including a panelboard and breaker line called Stab-Lok^®. The Stab-Lok^® products are no longer manufactured, but millions had been installed in residential and commercial buildings between 1950 and 1985.

The purpose of the breaker is to protect the building from fire in the event of an electrical circuit abnormality.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated many reports in 1982 of Stab-Lok^® breakers failing to trip as required by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing standards. The CPSC did not have the funding to further investigate this problem or arrive at a definitive conclusion.

Tests by CPSC and independent consulting engineers concluded that certain Stab-Lok^® breakers do not trip according to UL requirements and, in some cases, can jam in the "on" position. In addition, overheating problems have been found within the panelboard internal bus connections.

Unfortunately, this information surfaced after many Stab-Lok^® installations were completed and had been in service for years.

In 2002, a New Jersey class-action lawsuit¹ decided that the manufacturer of the Stab-Lok^® breakers committed fraud over many years in issuing UL labels to products they knew did not meet the UL testing requirements.

The National Electrical Code requires that all installed products must be listed and labeled by an independent testing agency to be acceptable for the intended use.

Due to the fraudulent UL testing, the original Stab-Lok^® panelboards and breakers were never verified as suitable for the intended use. This is because they did not pass the UL tests at the time.

A licensed electrical contractor should confirm whether Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok^® breakers and panelboards are currently in use.

Based on these issues, when a Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok^® installation is discovered, the safest course of action is to replace it with a completely new panelboard and breaker installation.

For a detailed review of the FPE Stab-Lok^® problem and equipment identification refer to: Hazardous FPE Circuit Breakers and Pan­els, J. Aronstein, December 2, 2011.

¹Partial Summary Judgement decision dated 8/15/02 by Judge Bryan D. Garruto, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division: Middlesex County, Docket No. L-2904-97.

Copyright ©2014, Hartford Steam Boiler

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 2014-368
171-1140 (1/19)

Question

Should I be concerned with PCBS in caulking?

We have an older school building in our district, and I recently heard that there may be a threat to our students’ health from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs ) in the caulking that was used in the building. Should I be concerned about this?

Answer

In recent years, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has learned that caulk containing potentially PCBs was used in many buildings, including schools, in the 1950s through the 1970s. In general, schools and buildings built after 1978 do not contain PCBs in caulk. On September 25, 2009, EPA announced new guidance for school administrators and building managers, with information about managing PCBs in caulk and tools to help minimize possible exposure, and further information on this can be found at their website. To quote the EPA’s information, “the potential presence of PCBs in schools and buildings should not be a cause for alarm.” There is most likely no need to panic, or take drastic measures such as closing the school building, if PCB’s in caulk are suspected.

If your school or building was built or renovated between 1950 and 1978, there are several immediate, relatively low cost steps schools can take to reduce potential exposure until it can be determined with certainty if PCBs are present in caulk used in the building and any contaminated caulk can be removed. For further information, visit the website referenced above, or call your Hanover Risk Solutions consultant.

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 DEC 2018 10-426
171-0992 (3/14)

Does this apply to me?

According to 29 CFR 1926.500 Subpart M — Fall Protection

• If you have any work that is 6 feet or more above a lower surface you must have fall protection in place for your workers.
• This does not apply to scaffolds, ladders and steel erection which have their own OSHA requirements.
• Some jobsites may have requirements that ANY work that is 6 feet or more in height must have a jobsite fall protection plan in place.

What does this cover?

OSHA rules require that all workers are protected from falling after they are exposed to a fall of more than 6 feet which includes all working areas. Some examples would be:

Floors on multi-story buildings

Make sure that workers are protected by guardrails. Guardrails should be inspected to make sure they are not loose or damaged. If guardrails are removed workers should use a personal fall protection system like a full body harness and lanyard to protect them.

Interior floor openings like stairways, elevator shafts and pits

Guardrails must be installed around all these when there is a drop of 6 feet or more.

Roofing work and skylights

There are different options available for roofing work such as warning lines and safety monitors but these can only be used to protect workers who are actually installing roofing materials. If skylights are on the roof, then guardrails or covers will have to be used, even during roofing work.

Working on concrete forms

Workers can use work positioning lanyards when they are installing bolts or tying rebar, but have to use other personal fall protection equipment when over six feet. Double lanyards or self-retracting lifelines, tied off overhead, can provide 100 percent fall protection.

Installing precast planks (leading edge work)

Since the edge where falls could happen is always moving, this is called a leading edge. Since installing guardrails would be difficult, there are other options that can be used, such as fall restraint. Fall restraint keeps workers from falling by not allowing them to get too close to the leading edge. However, guardrails still need to be installed on the sides and only workers installing precast planks are allowed in the area.

Building a brick or concrete block wall from the interior of the building

If guardrails can’t be installed, workers can use a controlled access zone in some cases. This is an area that is taped off to keep other workers out. However, consider using fall restraint for workers building the wall.

Falling objects like tools or materials

Anything falling on a worker can cause serious injury. Remind your workers to keep out of areas that are taped off due to overhead work. If your workers are dropping materials due to their work, like stripping forms, have the area below taped off and tell other contractors to keep out. Once the work is done, make sure you remove the Danger Zone tape and signs.

What else do I need to know?

OSHA inspectors will be looking for fall hazards and want to know what your company is doing to protect workers.

You need to have a competent person who knows what your fall hazards are and also knows how to use, install and inspect the fall protection systems (guardrails, covers, personal fall protection) that will be used to protect your workers.

What about training?

All your workers have to be trained to understand how to use the fall protection system(s) you have in place for their protection. It may be a fairly simple program if you are just using guardrails, but it gets more complicated when you have them wear personal fall protection or work in controlled access zones.

• Make sure they are trained before they start work, so they know how to protect themselves.
• Training needs to be provided by a competent person; someone who understands fall protection hazards and equipment.
• Document the training and keep records on file.

The competent person

You should designate someone from your company to be your fall protection competent person. OSHA may ask who the person is, so be prepared. Make sure you have given this appointed person the proper support, which may require several days of training. This person must know all the OSHA requirements and even the manufacturer requirements for full body harnesses, lanyards and self-retracting lifelines. This person can also help in planning what fall protection would work best and develop a job site fall protection plan, which you may have to provide to a client or general contractor.

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.

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 12-376
171-1101 (7/14)

Unauthorized entry into buildings can be gained by breaking through walls, floors and roofs, as well as through doors and window openings. Factors that should be considered in evaluating the vulnerabilities of walls, floors, roofs and accessible openings to unauthorized entry include the following:

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 14-104
171-0850 (3/14)

With increasing use of computers in many jobs we face the heightened probability of more repetitive trauma type injuries from prolonged usage. The following are some procedures to reduce various muscle group strains:

• Sit all the way back in your chair with your back against the backrest. Keep your knees equal to or lower than your hips, thighs parallel with floor and feet flat on floor. If needed consider use of foot rests. The best posture is dynamic in nature.
• Keep the mouse and keyboard close to each other. Purchase keyboard trays that can accommodate both on the tray. Most trays will have height and tilt adjustments. Ideally the tray will allow placement of the mouse on either side of the tray.
• Center the monitor in front of you with about an arms length distance from you to the surface of your monitor. The top of the monitor screen should be slightly below eye level, since some screens have larger frames. This position should allow you to view your screen without turning or tilting your head up or down.
• Upper arms and elbows should be kept close to the body (not extended outward).
• Keep your wrists straight. If you have a wrist rest use it to support your palms while resting not while keying.
• Hit the keys lightly with minimum force. Most users hit the keys four times harder than necessary.
• Keep wrists straight and hands relaxed when using the mouse. Do not hold it with a tight grip or extend fingers above the activation buttons. Do not move the mouse with your wrists; use your shoulder or elbow.
• Consider use of headsets and/or shoulder holders for phone users that are on the phone for a considerable time during the workday.
• Adjust the screen font, color and contrast for your individual workstation needs. This can help reduce eye strain, which can lead to awkward body positions.
• Reduce glare from windows and bright lights. Use an optical glass glare screen when glare cannot be eliminated. The screen should be adjusted to eliminate glare and achieve correct head and neck postures.
• Take eye breaks and occasionally re-focus at some distant objects. Try palming your eyes with your hands to reduce eye fatigue.
• Take short breaks to relax the muscle groups in your body. Try to get up and perform other tasks to allow your muscles to relax. This also allows circulation to flow to your muscle groups.
• Familiarize yourself with the adjustments on your chair. Most chairs have backrest, arm and seat pan adjustments. If you cannot make adjustments ask for help from someone in your facilities department. They should be able to help. Your purchasing department should select chairs that are adjustable, and can meet the needs of the various users.
• Ensure that the seat front does not press against the back of the knees and lower legs (seat pan not too long).
• Use a seat that has cushioning and is rounded with a “waterfall” front (no sharp edges).
• The armrests should support both the forearms while employee performs tasks and should not interfere with movement.
• Adjustable work surfaces are desirable to ensure correct work positions. Many companies use adjustable stands to elevate desktop monitors to the appropriate height levels for the users. Chair adjustments should be attempted first. It is easier to adjust a chair than to adjust the desk level on most office workstations. Adjustable monitor platforms are available to elevate the monitor screen to meet fine tuning requirements.
• Stay in shape. Your fitness can improve your comfort. Many ergonomic websites have information on various types of exercise that can be performed to reduce muscle group fatigue.
• Utilize the safety experts in your company’s safety department. Many insurance companies and state agencies have experts available to assist your company with ergonomic strategies to prevent injuries.

Related links

For more information or to print an ergonomic solution checklist for computer workstations please visit www.osha.gov.

Copyright ©2014

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 14-96
171-0922 (9/16)

Equipment theft costs the construction industry up to $1 billion annually. You can take simple, inexpensive steps to make your equipment less attractive to a thief.

Secure your equipment

• Always remove keys from equipment and lock the cab doors.
• Consider re-keying the equipment to a unique key for your company.
• Use the master electrical disconnect and lock the access panel to the switch.
• Install a hidden fuel shut off valve.
• Pull a fuse or relay on the ignition circuit.
• Have a unique paint treatment on the equipment.
• Provide company name and a 24-hour phone number on your equipment.
• Engage neighbors and others on the job to watch your equipment.
• Park in well lighted, visible areas.
• Use an interlocking parking pattern to secure equipment.
• Chain and padlock equipment to each other.

Products and services

Many equipment manufacturers offer GPS based fleet management systems that include locators and security alarm functions. Third party GPS and alarm providers can provide equipment location and monitoring services.

Discuss any insurance policy or deductible changes with your agent.

Work with law enforcement

• Educate local police on your equipment inventory and types of equipment you own.
• Provide Product Identification Number (PIN), photos and descriptions of the equipment to law enforcement.
• Maintain a 24-hour contact number so law enforcement can reach you after hours in an emergency, or to confirm equipment use or ownership.
• Request additional patrols and discuss with local police who has after-hours access and authorization.
• Immediately report any minor thefts or other criminal activity to law enforcement.
• Request that any stolen equipment be entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and follow up in three days to confirm entry.

Equipment recovery

To improve your chance of recovering stolen equipment, take these steps:

• Report the theft immediately to law enforcement — include the PIN number, photos and description.
• Notify the equipment manufacturer and the local service agencies of the theft.
• Provide them with the Product Identification Number (PIN) of the equipment. Notify other contractors to be on the lookout for your equipment.
• Follow up with the police to assure that your equipment is in National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
• File your insurance claim promptly so the insurance carrier can investigate the case as well.

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 NOV 2018 08-26
171-0995 (7/14)

Within the document management business there is a critical need to protect the equipment that drives your businesses. This bulletin will discuss the five major exposure areas for equipment breakdown, what the typical exposures are in the records management business and what loss prevention actions would apply to these issues.

Electrical hazards

The most common exposure to loss involves an electrical disturbance. This may be a short circuit, lightning or an artificially induced current created by a component failure. As the electrical system is interconnected, a failure in one component or device can cause damage to other components connected to that circuit. If the damage is contained within the electrical devices, it may not be covered by a traditional property policy. Other exposures are damaged or failed insulation of conductors and overloading or overheating of conductors and terminals.

Electrical losses can cause damage that requires replacement of transformers, wiring, controls and other components that are difficult to access or would require significant labor to remove and replace.

Business income can be affected by a prolonged power outage while components are sourced and installed. Extra expense can be needed to rent generators or provide temporary electrical services.

Losses in this area are common, as electrical equipment is often taken for granted and not properly maintained. Many systems in use today did not originally anticipate the additional loads that electronics and cooling systems have brought to most buildings.

The most effective control is an electrical preventative maintenance program that makes sure the electrical system keeps up with new loads and is clean, dry and tight. Routine visual inspections and a program to clean and tighten conductors is a key control program.

Proper grounding of the electrical system is also a key factor in proper operation of electrical protective devices. Having properly designed and maintained grounding paths is an important control for electrical exposures. The electrical preventative maintenance program should also address this part of the electrical system.

Infrared thermography can be used to examine an electrical system, under load and detect loose wiring, overloaded conductors and other hot spots. This examination can be coupled with an ultrasonic evaluation that “listens” for the unique signature of arcing and can be used to pinpoint failure prone devices and equipment.

The Hanover has an alliance with Hartford Steam Boiler (“HSB”) and TEGG Services to offer thermographic and ultrasonic evaluations to our clients at a reduced price.

Air conditioning and refrigeration

While we often think of air conditioning as only a comfort issue, we forget that many of our electronic tools require cooling to operate. Loss of air conditioning in an office environment means that the workplace becomes untenable. Since the building was designed for mechanical cooling, simply opening the windows is no longer a viable option.

Record storage areas may require environmental controls to maintain the required humidity and temperature for stored electronic media or paper records.

Mechanical refrigeration systems rely on compressors, chillers, cooling towers, condensers, air handlers and controls to keep the temperature under control. Losses to this equipment can create long interruptions, require cranes to remove equipment and require building owners to take extraordinary steps to protect processes.

Good preventative maintenance is the key to controlling losses related to this equipment. Routine equipment lubrication, testing for leaks and analyzing oil samples from equipment are all parts of a good preventative maintenance program.

Hanover clients can access the programs and services of Hartford Steam Boiler at www.hsb.com to help them control their losses related to air conditioning and refrigeration equipment failure.

Boilers and pressure vessels

Boilers may provide hot water or steam for building heating or process heating. The criticality of the boiler is directly related to the end use of the steam or hot water. There are jurisdictional inspection requirements for these articles and the equipment breakdown policy provides these services.

A loss related to the failure of the boiler can lead to significant property damage and loss of income. The need for equipment breakdown coverage for these perils is an important part of your property insurance program.

Other pressure vessels that can be present at a document management facility include air compressors and associated storage tanks for process air.

Mechanical equipment

Mechanical equipment can include pumps. Ventilation fans, motors, engines and other equipment needed to process, power, condition or move materials, people and products. Many of these items are computer controlled or have sensitive electronic controls that are subject to electrical surges, disturbances and failure.

Document storage operations may be particularly sensitive to losses related to temperature control, loss of cooling for electronic equipment or changes in humidity in storage areas. Loss of ventilation in a server room for document images can be devastating to the operations.

The HSB loss control team can also provide specialized loss control services that address exposures specific to mechanical equipment. Advice and evaluation around vibration testing, thermography for critical bearings, and electrical evaluations can be provided. These services can help the risk team identify potential failures before they occur and cause a significant loss or interruption.

Computers and communications

No business can function without its computer systems and communications equipment. Losses that can affect this equipment can be related to electrical disturbance, power surges or a mechanical failure.

Do you have adequate surge suppression on all incoming communication lines? Many losses from power surges are related to items that are connected to phone lines that have not been properly protected for surges and transient voltages.

We often look at surge suppression as being a computer related issue. This control is often overlooked for other electronics such as alarm systems, process control systems and building control systems.

Shredding and size reduction equipment

Many pieces of equipment are used to shred, bale, convey and otherwise destroy equipment to assure data destruction. All of these pieces of equipment share certain characteristics that can lead to a mechanical breakdown. In almost all cases, these events can be prevented by applying some basic loss prevention programs and activities.

Make sure that the feedstock into the machine is the right quality. Adding additional metals or adding metals of a higher strength can cause damage to a shredder or hard drive destruction unit. Shredders can tolerate only a certain amount of metal without jamming or damaging the shredding mechanism. Balers require routine cleaning and maintenance to keep the hydraulic systems in good order.

Pneumatic conveyors that transport shredded materials require routine maintenance on the main blowers to keep the air flow at transport velocities. Changes in air flow from worn belts or worn drive mechanisms can cause blockages. In extreme cases a blocked or obstructed duct can cause a collapse of that section of your system.

All of the equipment that shreds, bales, or does size reduction can create dust. Dust can create mechanical problems from contaminating rotating bearings or power transmission points. Dust can also enter electrical cabinets and control panels and create electrical disturbances.

Metal and paper dusts can be an explosion hazard. Housekeeping and local dust collection equipment are key controls. Dust control is both a property and a mechanical breakdown control.

Mechanical breakdown exposures take many forms and are often overlooked by building owners and occupants. Recognizing these exposures can help you control your business’ exposure to loss.

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 12‐79
171-1033 (2/14)

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and should be a priority concern for businessowners occupying facilities subject to floods.  Flooding can be caused by bodies of water (rivers, streams, oceans, bays, lakes, canals, etc.) overflowing their normal boundaries, or as the result of storm water runoff accumulating in normally dry areas. If your facility is situated in a flood zone or has experienced flooding in the past, a well-thought-out emergency plan is vital.  

If a facility is located within a known flood zone, the challenge of managing the flood risk is greatly increased.  The goals then become to ensure that:

• Operations can continue without interruption
• The facility suffers the least possible amount of physical damage

The following steps should be taken to prepare flood precautionary measures before a flood occurs:

• Determine if the facility is within a flood prone zone.
• Create a flood emergency action plan with team/key employees. This should include a communication plan and steps to monitor weather warnings.
• For each structure, identify areas and floors that are likely to be flooded, and ensure they are used solely for nonessential operations.
• Ensure valuable storage is located above the 500-year flood level (this includes both high-value equipment and storage of records).
• Have a plan using mechanical means if necessary, to move vital production machinery to a higher level.
• Consider having emergency power equipment (generators) available or include plans for a generator rental agreement.
• Tanks or structures that may float should be anchored.
• Electrical or other critical utilities should be located above the 500-year flood zone.
• Consider check valves in drainage or sewer systems to prevent backflow into the building.
• Plan for flood barriers as a deterrent at perimeter openings subject to flood.
• Keep sandbags and drain plugs on hand to deter water entry.
• Consider stand-by pumps as a valuable tool to help remove water if a flood occurs.
• Include flood precautionary measures in your business continuity plan.

Once a flood has occurred, the following procedures can help mitigate the damage:

• Initiate the business continuity plan with key employees, vendors, and designated outsources.
• After jurisdictional approval, return to your property and check the exterior for damage. This may include inspecting for cracks in the foundation, roof damage, missing structural beams, or other damage.
• Look for downed power lines; do not touch downed lines or stand in water that may be electrified to prevent the risk of electrocution.
• From the exterior, inspect the utility lines (such as gas lines) for cracks or leaks.
• Begin the cleanup process, which includes drying out the facility, equipment and stock.
• Contact your professional insurance agency regarding flood coverage.

Include your local authorities for consultation as well as your Hanover Risk Solutions Consultant.

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 2021-600