Month: March 2020

Merrimac

Choosing the Right Insurance for Dredging Operations

Dredging operations are a necessary component of the commercial marine industry, but it comes with a range of associated risks. Understanding these risks is the first step in ensuring your company has adequate coverage for any dredging project.

Protecting the Environment

The environmental effects of dredging can be many and varied. There are risks involved in wildlife, vegetation, and ecosystems through the dredging itself and the transport of removed materials. According to Merrimac, some of the potential impacts include:

  • Contamination of habitats
  • Loss of wildlife
  • Mass marine die-offs
  • Loss of erosion control

Protecting People

Workers involved in dredging operations are at risk of on-the-job injuries. The cause of injuries can range from normal work activities to accidents that are the result of equipment failure. There is also the potential for injury to third-party individuals.

Protecting Property

The day-to-day operations of dredging equipment can put a lot of stress on machinery and vessel. In addition, there is the risk of fire associated with running high-pressure systems that require fuel to function.

Procuring dredging insurance is one way in which you can protect your company from the risks associated with performing a vital service for the marine industry. Knowing the range of risk exposures will ensure you choose a policy that protects the environment, people, and property.


Homeowners Rights

Legal Rights in an HOA Community

Moving into a community with an acting homeowner’s association (HOA) is something to consider any time you are faced with relocating. For the most part, monthly dues provide positive oversight of the neighborhood. However, sometimes HOAs can stray from neutrality and attempt to assert policies that aren’t in the bylaws. This is why it is important to understand homeowners rights in HOA communities.

1. Enforcing Rules Unequally

If an HOA is going to enforce any regulations, they must be documented and provided in the covenants beforehand. And even if they are, the association can’t fine one homeowner for an infraction and then allow their neighbor to slide for breaking the same rule.

2. Discriminating

As explained by kdisonline.com, the Fair Housing Act prevents HOAs from fining, banning, or preventing the residency of a person based on race, religion or any other protected status. Though it seems like common sense, there are cases where the issue was pressed and an HOA found themselves in the courtroom.

3. Bucking Federal Laws

No board member or association is going to win a battle with a federal law or entity. One example of this relates to the installation of a satellite dish. An FCC act passed in 1996 essentially prohibits an HOA from demanding you take down your dish or otherwise prevent it from being installed.


Thayer Innes

Tips to Protect Your Business from Liability

If you own a small business, you probably know that even a single lawsuit can mean having to close your doors. While this is true, there are steps you can take to prevent issues and liability, which are found here.

Purchase the Right Insurance

According to Thayer Innes, having the right insurance is the best way to protect your business from liability lawsuits. While each business’s insurance needs are unique, purchasing products, commercial property liability, and general liability coverage are recommended.

Maintain High Standards

Know your business practices down to the very last detail and work with your employees to create high standards for each step of your service or product. When you know how things should be done, you can begin enforcing these standards at every turn.

Test Your Guidelines

Once you establish your standards, you need to test people and processes to ensure they are living up to them. If not, you need to figure out what has gone wrong and what you can do to fix the issue. Failure to do this may result in a liability lawsuit down the road.

Protecting your business takes time and effort. However, when you use the right steps and put the right processes in place, you can reduce the likelihood of a liability lawsuit being filed against your business.