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You’ve all probably heard the old adage “April showers bring May flowers.” In the construction world, April showers bring additional hazards. This time of year, people who work outdoors may be exposed to extreme weather conditions, such as severe storms. Severe storms include thunderstorms, lightning, hail, flooding and even tornadoes. Proper planning is a key component in keeping your employees and property safe. Preparing in advance will keep your workers safe so they know what to do when the weather takes a turn and puts them in harm’s way. OSHA recommends that worker have an awareness of the unique hazards brought on by violent storms. Thunderstorms and lightning occur most on hot, humid days. During a thunderstorm, you should avoid tall, isolated objects – which may attract lightning strikes – and let professionals handle fallen electrical wires. Be careful if there are strong winds, which can knock over trees and utility poles and send objects flying. Tornados can occur at any […]

As winter slowly dissipates and the onset of spring is upon us, you and your employees are returning to work for another busy season. Your company is constantly changing to stay relevant in this competitive marketplace and one of those changes is hiring additional help for the volume of work you are expecting. In the weeks prior to your busy season it is the perfect time to hold a “Safety Kickoff” event. At this kickoff, bring everyone together to go over your company’s mission statement, culture and share your goals and expectations for the upcoming season. With your seasonal employees being off the past few months, the thought of safety and safe practices may have been pushed to the back of their minds. They may have forgotten about some of your important policies and procedures, so this event allows you to reeducate and train your employees, as well as share any new rules or regulations. Retraining your employees at the […]

Protecting Your Business Against Equipment Breakdown No matter the size or type of business you own, your equipment and technology help keep your operation running. Without fully functioning equipment, how would your business fare financially? While standard property insurance protects you against external causes of loss, such as fire, losses resulting from equipment failure – such a short circuit or power surge – may not be covered. Liberty Mutual Insurance offers packaged or stand-alone equipment breakdown coverage for these types of losses. Types of equipment covered include: Boilers Computers and telecommunications systems Diagnostic equipment Mechanical and electrical equipment Pressure vessels Production machinery Refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment Coverage Options Equipment breakdown insurance can cover more than the cost to repair or replace your equipment. It can cover lost income if you need to temporarily shut down, the extra expenses needed to continue running your business while equipment is being fixed, or the lost value of spoiled or contaminated products. It can […]

When your company decides it no longer needs to keep a particular property up and running, it doesn’t mean your risk management responsibilities for that idle building have ended. From fire, vandalism, and theft to wind, water, and collapse, there are many forces that can damage, or even destroy, your vacant properties. According to Charlie Bauroth, senior property referral underwriter for Liberty Mutual Underwriting Technical Consulting, “Amid day-to-day operations, many companies forget the importance of maintaining their vacant or idle properties. But without the proper utilities and maintenance, these structures can deteriorate—making them vulnerable to damage from vandals and the elements.” With this in mind, Bauroth advises on how you can help prevent major losses. 1. Theft and Vandalism Inadequate security in vacant and idle buildings can often result in both theft and vandalism. And in case you think your “empty” building holds nothing of value for thieves, don’t forget the value of copper pipes and wiring. While the value […]

UNICO Group, Madonna Fit for Work, and Knudsen Law Firm would like to invite you to attend a WorkComp and Employment Law Seminar on October 27, 2016. The seminar will go from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and will be located at the Lincoln Country Club on 3200 S 24th St. Lincoln, NE 68502. Agenda Where Wellness and WorkComp Meet Speaker: Tom Champoux, Risk Consultant, UNICO Group How to read your Experience Mod Monitoring Insurance Reserves Recent Split Point Change The impact of wellness on WorkComp claims The Opioid Epidemic Speaker: Morgan LaHolt, MD, Medical Director, Madonna Physician Services Monitoring and preventing abuse of prescription drugs The importance of proper opioid selection, dosage, duration, follow-up and discontinuation Best Practices and the Economic Benefits of a Healthier Workforce Speaker: Karen Rehm, Corporate Wellness Coordinator, Madonna Fit for Work Best practices for integrating wellness How a healthier workforce affects the economy DOL Regulation Changes Speaker: Jeanelle Lust, Attorney, Knudsen Law Firm What the […]

September 14, 2016, Lincoln, NE. – UNICO Group has been selected to be part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) “Best Practices” Study Group. Each year since 1993, IIABA and Reagan Consulting, an Atlanta-based management consulting firm, join forces to study the country’s leading agencies in six revenue categories. The agencies comprising the study groups are selected every third year through a comprehensive nomination and qualifying process and awarded a “Best Practices Agency” designation. The selected “Best Practices” agencies retain their status during the three-year cycle by submitting extensive financial and operational data for review each year. “We feel truly honored to have qualified for the Best Practices Agency award for the seventh consecutive year. Our people are our biggest asset, and without them, we would not be where we are today.” says Scott Nelson, President of UNICO. More […]

UNICO Group and Jefferson Community Health Center invite you to attend a WorkComp and Return to Work Seminar. Topics Include: Reading your Experience Mod Post-offer Pre-employment Physical Capacity Testing Occupational Health Program Where: Jefferson Community Health Center, 2220 H Street, Fairbury, NE 68352 (map) When: September 20, 2016 at 10:00am – 1:00pm