Guaranty Association Benefits Company

We've all heard of the dangers of lead-based paint. If you are a general contractor or renovation, painter, plumber, carpenter or electrician, this is a question you probably treated when working on structures built before 1978. activies renovation in older structures such as sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips. If the structure is a house, establishment of day care, school, or other building where children are present, it is important for you to do what you can reduce the risk of lead contamination during activities renovation.

To help protect against this risk, the EPA issued a "renovation, repair and painting (RRP)" rule. Basically, the rule states that, regardless of the number of employees, there must be at least one certified renovator on every job where lead-based paint is present who is trained to follow lead safe practices. These certified renovators must be trained by instructors approved by the EPA. Compliance with the EPA is in full effect as of April 2010.

To be certified, a contractor must submit to EPA or their EPA-approved state program and pay the fee. The eight-hour course is taught by a training provider approved by the EPA. After certification, the contractor must follow strict guidelines when renovating old buildings. Renovators must contain the work area to prevent the spread of dust and debris. This applies to work outside as well. All windows and doors should be closed and covered doors, while the floors should be covered to contain the dust. The EPA also has cleaning requirements and specific certification upon completion of the task. See EPA publication "Small Entity Compliance Guide Renovate Right" for more information about the rule and compliance.

If you think that you are exempt from EPA fines, you may want to reconsider. Here are some examples of how the EPA has begun to apply this rule with EPA permission "Press News 05.04.2012 Headquarters"

"On March 20, 2012, Valiant Home Remodelers, a new window Jersey and the coating company, agreed to pay $ 1,500 to resolve violations of not following the rule of PPR during a window replacement project and siding a house in Edison, NJ. Valiant Home Remodelers failed to contain renovation dust, contain waste, and train workers on lead safe practices. "

" February 21, 2012, Johnson Sash and Door, a home repair company in Omaha, NE, agreed to pay a $ 5558 fine for failing to provide the owners or occupiers of dwellings constructed before 1978 with information about the dangers of lead pamphlet approved by EPA or for confirmation written before the renovations to five homes. The complaint also alleges that Johnson failed to obtain initial certification before making renovations to these residences. "

Do not be hit with heavy fines! Take action now to become a certified renovator. Not only will you protect your bottom line, you protect your customers. Have you taken additional safety measures regarding lead-based paint during renovation?

How do you spend on groceries each month? Gas? Mobile phones? Car insurance? I recently made a list of my monthly expenses in preparation for a meeting with my financial advisor. How my list looked after completing this task not so fun? Like most people, my home mortgage was at the top. Food and gas were also right up there. However, I was surprised to see car insurance down, below cell phones and the internet!

Interesting, no? For something that has a reputation for being expensive, is really relative to your other living expenses? Consider this, according CarInsurance.com, the average person will spend about $ 94,000 on car insurance during their lives. How it compares to your iPhone or a daily stop at Starbucks? You might be surprised ...

• The use of a 32GB iPhone from 21 to 75 years, buying a new phone every six years, you run $ 72,000. Compulsive valuation and heavy data users should pay more. *

• Hitting Starbucks each morning for a $ 4 latte will cost $ 88,000 over 60 years. Make your coffee at home will almost cover the cost of your car insurance for life. *

Most people can not "live" without their cell phone or the daily dose of caffeine. I hope the same is true for car insurance. The recession has made us all a little savvier with our money, but does not compromise on the cover to save a little money. If you shop or plan to buy online, get a quote from a qualified professional in the business. A trusted agent choice is a good place to start

Here are some ways to save money on car insurance :!

1. Going paperless and pay online (and on time) could earn you a higher quality credit.
2. Porter higher deductibles on comprehensive and collision coverage could save you money.
3. Finish driver training or an accident prevention course can be a great way to learn safer driving habits and save money.
4. many carriers offer a discount to young drivers who earn good grades.
5. Vehicles with Anti-Theft and retained liabilities options can reduce your premium.

Remember, the reductions vary by insurance company to contact an independent agent today to learn more about discounts available to you. For more information on insurance discount, you can check another of our blogs, insurance discounts with no coupon required.

So what do you think? If you had to choose, would you give your vanilla latte every morning to the security and protection insurance?

* Vallet, Mark. "Your life auto insurance bill: $ 94,000" Www.carinsurance.com November 29, 2012.

The new year is a time for making resolutions to improve your life. We pledge to eat better, exercise, spend more time with our children and improve our general well-being.

In 2013, I want to ask each of you to take some time to also review your insurance coverage. Yes, I know it does not sound very exciting, but I promise you that will give you the peace of mind for the new year. It will also help protect your home, cars, jewelry, and other assets.

When was the last time you reviewed your coverage? Most of us see our policy when we have to file a claim - when the toilet on the flow or you lose your favorite shows. It is time that we rustle in the file cabinet to find our policy. We dust off the paperwork and realize that we have no cover for lost items of jewelry or we have a franchise that is far beyond our means. Be proactive now and review your coverage

The following recommendations are for review :.

• Watch the policy of your own and check your coverage and policy limits, located on the declarations page of your policy. Some questions :?
  • What is the limit of the policy for my structure, personal property and loss of use
  • If my house burned to the ground I would have enough money to replace my house and property?
  • what is the coverage that I have water damage?
  • do I have any protection for my foundation?
  • Are my cutlery content on a basis of replacement cost

If you feel that you are underinsured or are unsure what is covered and call your insurance company or agent and review your policy.

• Check your deductible on your homeowners and your auto insurance policies. Can you afford the deductible in case of disaster?
• are your adequately protected valuables? Do you need separate coverage for the wedding ring of your wife or piece of art in your living room? What type of coverage you have for antiques and firearms?
• Contact your insurance representative if you made additions or improvements to your home can increase its value.
• Review your liability limits on your auto and homeowner policies. Your assets properly protected?

Do not wait until the tree is in the middle of your living room! Take a look at your policy and contact your independent insurance agent or representative and discuss your coverage. Have a great and prosperous year!

In current economic crisis, people are looking for every way to save an extra dollar or two. With gas prices around $ 4 per gallon, putting off gassing your car to squeeze every extra mile out of your vehicle before the next fill-up may seem a good way to save money, but there vacuum line of long-term effects.

we all know that running out of gas is still possible if we push this gas gauge too far, leaving us stranded on the side of the road . At that time your options are to start walking, hoping to come across a gas station, or to call a friend (or AAA) to bring you a little gas to get you back on your way . This is always frustrating and happens at the most inopportune moment generally. That said, this is not the only danger of the vacuum line.

According to Consumer Reports, driving your car on a nearly empty tank can cost much more in the long run than filling. Fuel pumps supplying gas from the tank to the engine, and the fuel pump using gas to cool the motor of the fuel pump. If you are running on empty, the fuel pump will suck air which can heat up the pump. This can cause the pump to wear, meaning costly repairs to your vehicle. In many new cars, the fuel pump is located in the fuel tank, so you will not only replace the pump, but the gas tank as well. This repair can cost hundreds of dollars more to leave you without wheels while a mechanic made the necessary repairs.

Another side effect run on low fuel is clogging your fuel filter. Sediment can build up in an additional fuel tank, and this sediment settles to the bottom. If you leave the sink of the gas gauge to almost empty when sediment gets sucked into the fuel pump, thus clogging the filter and require more costly repairs.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your fuel pump and avoid costly repairs.

• do not let your gas tank get below ¼ of a tank.
• do not count on the your vehicle's gas monitoring system as driving habits can seriously affect the amount of gas you use.
• If you need gas, be sure to fill before you start on your way to avoid a problem when unexpected delays occur, such as traffic jams or long stretches of road with no gas station.

Although the supplement to fill every week can cost you an extra $ 40 or $ 50, it's better than having your car break down on the way to work. Between repair costs, being late for work, and having to find a temporary replacement vehicle, the cost of failure far outweighs the additional savings of not fulfilling immediately.

For more information on driving on empty, visit the Consumer Reports website. Do you run regularly low on gas? Have you ever run out of gas? Share your story!

Some days you wake up to a beautiful day with a smile on your face and then something goes wrong and instantly your mood changes. Or sometimes you wake up, a dark sad mood and just not want to get out of bed Regardless of what you put into this moody, you must get out of your system, so things may start looking brighter. I know we've all had those days so I thought I would find some tips on how to move only in a bad mood at the door and welcome the sun!

• You to Move it, Move it -. exercise can improve your mood by relieving tension, increase energy and growing optimism
• Enjoy -. hot bubble bath, hot chocolate or coffee, home of the face, small gift shop ... the small things could give you the boost you need
• Tell Cheese - surround yourself with pictures of people and things you love. I have lots of pictures displayed at work, in my house, on my phone, etc. Not just to show my lovely nieces and nephews or my amazing friends and family, they are also to lift my spirits. ! A look at them and I instantly felt my facial muscles pushing a smile
• Sniff some odors - inhaling the smell of lavender or orange can reduce anxiety and improve your mood
• Go to a quiet place - .. even if it is just the office bathroom, take a few minutes to sit in a quiet space can do wonders
• Get some sun - a boost of vitamin D can keep the blues away. Head outside for a brisk walk around the block. If this is impossible, the station you are near a window for a few minutes (and ignore the stares of fellow)
• do yoga -. Some hip openers could be the answer to a brighter day. Think it's impossible to do yoga in a cabin or other small work space? Think again
• Laugh - .. There is no possible way you can have a laugh and be moody yet
• My favorite ... Jam to the beat - when I need a little pick-me-up, I crank the tunes and sing (if you can call it that) at the top of my
lung

moods are contagious, so do yourself and those around you a favor and make your positive and optimistic mood! There are so many other ways that you can bust the bad mood. What is your secret?

radon. While perhaps not as well known as carbon monoxide he cousins ​​or natural gas, odorless, colorless, tasteless is just as deadly. Naturally produced from the decay of uranium in the soil, rock, and water, it has been proven to be the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. Studies show that radon can also cause emphysema, hardening of tissue irregularities lungs, pneumonia, and chromosome that lead to birth defects.

Do not live near a power plant or travel in a foreign country to have radon exposure. It is a natural element that is produced in the open ground under your house. Because it is a gas, it moves through cracks and holes in the foundation of your home, through floor drains, sump pumps, construction joints, and even the tiny cracks or pores in the hollow block walls. Radon can be found in any building at any time of the year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Office of the Surgeon General, radon in the home is responsible for about 20,000 cancer deaths each year lung.

The Survey of national residential radon EPA shows radon levels are regularly present in approximately six million households in the United States. A high level of radon be nothing or greater than 4 pCi / L (picocurries per liter). According to the EPA, the concentration of the average indoor radon for America's homes is about 1.3 pCi / L If you find that the level of radon in your home is at or above 4 pCi / L (picocurries per liter), you should seek professional help and identify a good strategy to reduce the radon for your home. The average cost of radon mitigation in a typical house can vary depending on the solution you choose, but generally does not exceed many repairs / maintenance costs of the home you have faced as owner in the past.

Testing your home is the only way to know what your home radon levels are. There are no immediate symptoms that alert you to the presence of radon and it generally takes years of exposure before any surface problems. Keep in mind that high levels of radon have been found in every state. According radon.com, an average of 1 every 5 homes has high levels of radon. Visit the website to see the levels of your state. There is no need to panic or move to another state - this is not that kind of problem. It is, however, something you need to test and treat if necessary. If, after testing your home, you find that your home has high radon levels, there are ways to reduce them to acceptable levels for less than $ 500. Some common mitigation techniques are: ..

• Sealing cracks and other openings in your house foundation
• Sub-slab suction - remove radon from laden air from under the foundation of your home
• Improve ventilation in your home.
• Installing a sump system in the basement.

If you want or need the assistance of a professional, there are several resources for you to use. You can use the list of certified radon attenuators for your state, you can reference the Web page of the EPA radon testing, or you can reference these resources useful EPA and radon.com.

Have you ever tested your home for radon? How did you wrong?

Almost all of us have probably had some kind of encounter with lightning. At one time or another, we have ignored the danger of a storm to finish that last bit of gardening or putt on 18 ^e green. We tend to believe that the chances of lightning strikes we are small, but how foolish we can be. It is, in fact, the number two killer storm (after the flood) in the United States, causing more deaths than tornadoes and hurricanes.

cloud to ground lightning is extremely fast, hot and powerful. Lightning discharge occurs over the duration of 100 milliseconds, heating the air around it to 15,000 to 60,000 Fahrenheit and carrying a peak power up to 30,000 amps. Yet people are repeatedly prepared to accept the risk of coming into contact with something so deadly.

A 1997 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has analyzed 35 years of lighting injuries and mortality data in the US Some of the study of interesting conclusions:

• 84 percent of the injuries and deaths of the victims were men
• June, July and August accounted for 21 percent, 30 percent and 22 percent of incidents, respectively ..
• peak period for incidents was 14: 00-18: 00
• incidents were most common, Saturday, Wednesday and Sunday.

data analyzed by the National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI) from 190 to 03 revealed that there were 756 deaths in the United States during this period. Florida, with 126 deaths, was the deadliest state by far, followed by Texas (52) and Colorado (39). Most Western states had high per-capita death rate, led by Wyoming to 2.02 deaths per million inhabitants.

What can we do to ourselves and our loved lightning protection? The NLSI offer some personal safety tips on its website. Of primary importance is planning our outdoor activities in time if we are not taken outside ignore. If you are outside with a thunderstorm, avoid lakes, open spaces and high ground. In addition, you should avoid contact with metal objects, including electrical wiring and fences. Maintain a distance of at least 15 feet between people. If you are indoors, stay away from doors and windows, water sources, electrical appliances, computers and landline phones.

When planning and participating in outdoor activities this summer, make sure you give Lightning the respect it deserves. Have you ever had an encounter with lightning?

Americans love their fireworks. Sales of fireworks to the legal consumption amounted to $ 649 million in 2011, against only $ 407 million in 00. Sales increased by more states cancel or reduce their restrictions on fireworks sales . Only four states completely ban the sale of fireworks for consumption in 2011, compared to 11 such states in 00.

Everybody makes account that the injuries caused by the use of consumer fireworks are common and can be severe. The Consumer Products Safety Commission US (CPSC) conducted a study of fireworks injuries between June 17 and July 17 in 2011. I'm sure you will not be surprised that most injuries occur on and around Independence Day. In fact, 65% of all fireworks injuries for the full year took place during this period of 30 days. Hands and fingers were parts most frequently injured body far, representing 46% of all injuries. Eyes (17%) and the head, face and ears (17%) were also heavily affected.

More than half of all injuries were burns and sparklers, which can burn up to 00 degrees Fahrenheit, caused the highest percentage of injuries by type of fireworks (17 %). Firecrackers were the second most common type, which causes 13% of all injuries. Interestingly, four deaths during the study period could be linked to illegal fireworks or homemade.

Many government and industry groups offer safety tips around fireworks. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) categorically recommends that people attend public fireworks as an alternative to the use of fireworks consumption lights. The study of CPSC supports this position, only 3% related injuries fireworks took place in public view.

The CPSC and the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) agree on some safety tips for users of fireworks consumption lights. These are: ..

• Always provide adult supervision
• Do not let children play with or light fireworks, including sparklers
• do not try to relight a firework that did not light properly.
• Light one firework at a time.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby.

If you like a "hands-on" approach to fireworks, please use extreme caution. However, I recommend you watch them in the comfort of a lawn chair, several hundred feet of a launch pad operated by a trained professional. There are hundreds of great fireworks across the country and around Independence Day to choose from. Which screen is your favorite?

When you do something really well, you want to share how you do it. But what really motivates how you do something is why you do it first.

Maybe you made a promise to do the right thing and you want to stay true to your word.

perhaps because you enjoy the relationships you have and want to strengthen.

Or maybe because you refuse to compromise on quality and continually pursue excellence.

Whatever your reasons for why you do something resulting in outstanding results in the way you do. How can you fulfill your promises? And why?

It may seem hard to believe, but there are people who feel extinguishers are not a method of valuable protection against fires. The fact is, most people have limited knowledge of fire extinguishers and their intended use. A fire extinguisher can certainly be a lifesaver.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the appropriate extinguisher. Selection, location, maintenance and training are key components of the use of fire extinguishers at full capacity.

Selecting process is essential to ensure you have the appropriate fire extinguisher to use and its intended environment. Each household fire extinguisher is labeled with such class A, B or C, which tells you the types of fire extinguisher is effective against.

• A is used on ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper and fabric.
• B is for flammable liquids, like gasoline or cooking oil.
• C is effective electricity live.

The main distinction between the extinguishers at home is huge. In most cases, bigger is better, but sometimes the greatest extinguishers are too heavy to maneuver. The weight of a quencher refers to the amount of chemical therein; the cartridge adds several books. The size determines the place extinguisher

• £ 10 -. Garage or workshop at home where a fire could grow in size before being noticed
• £ 5 - Quick grab in the kitchen or laundry room
• £ 2 - vehicles

The National Fire protection Association (www.nfpa.org) recommends a fire extinguisher for each floor. Fire extinguishers should be placed near an exit and an easy place to enter.

Interview extinguishers is crucial to ensure that the protective equipment against fire will occur in an emergency situation. All extinguishers must receive annual maintenance by a qualified agent and certified for commercial buildings. Most homeowners can read their pressure gauges to see if a fire extinguisher must be repaired. NFPA 10 recommends that all fire extinguishers are maintained on an annual basis.

The last step is making sure users are properly trained on how to use fire extinguishers before an emergency. You can also check with your local fire department to see if they offer a proprietary training. To help remember how to use a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS :.

P Ull the extinguisher safety pin

A im the chemical to the source of the flames rather than flames them- same, standing at least six feet from the fire (or as directed on the label of the extinguisher).

S queeze the trigger and hold it, keeping the extinguisher upright.

S mourn the source of the flames until the fire extinguisher is dry.

Every time you use a fire extinguisher, whether or not it is completely empty, replace or recharge immediately. The same rule applies to any extinguisher where the pressure gauge slipped out of the green zone in red over time. Extinguisher companies charge about $ 15 to fill a type 5 pounds A, B, or C fire extinguisher provided that it has a metal valve. Extinguishers with plastic valves are not rechargeable and should be discarded after use.

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on a fire out of control when the user is in danger (for example, no escape, smoke, explosion risks, etc.) or where the expertise of the fire department is necessary. All things considered, it is preferable to have access to a usable extinguisher not. This protection against inexpensive fires could perhaps prevent a small fire to grow in size or causing property damage. Ultimately, it may even save a life

Regardless of the number of extinguishers you have, nothing can replace the most important safety tool :. A fire plan. Make sure everyone in the family knows how to get out in a hurry, where to meet outside, and how to call 911. Even if you think you have fired on your own, do not cancel the emergency call . Let the pros to decide whether the fire really is.

commercial properties premiums can vary greatly from class to class. In addition, some carriers refuse to provide certain courses because of hazardous exposures inherent in their operations.

As a business owner, you may have wondered what specific factors are watching commercial insurers considering risk. We usually start with COPE factors: construction, occupation, protection, and exposure. Let's look at each in more detail.

Construction

There are six basic types.

1. framework -. exterior walls, floors and roofs of combustible construction
2. joist masonry - the exterior walls of masonry construction or fire resistant rated for no less than one hour. and with combustible floors and roof
3. incombustible -. buildings with exterior walls, floors and roofs of combustible or slow burning materials
4. incombustible Masonry - the exterior walls of masonry or fire resistant construction with a minimum of one hour rating fire resistant. The floors and roof supports are burning combustible materials or slow
5. Amended Fire Resistive -. exterior walls, floors and roof with any degree of fire resistance of more than one hour but less than two hours.
6. Fire Resistive - similar to resistant changed fire, but the fire resistance rating of two hours or more

commercial insurers prefer that all property be fire resistant. construction but that is unrealistic. However, rates for Fire Resistive and combustible masonry are generally less expensive than frame or masonry joists. This is something to consider when deciding on the construction of your new building. coastal property is also examined for construction purposes because the wind resistive qualities of masonry noncombustible and fire resistance of buildings are much larger than the frame or masonry joist.

Occupation

the type of operation that occupies a building is what determines combustibility content (what they burn easily) and susceptibility content (endommageable how they are direct and indirect effects of fire, smoke, water, etc.). A woodworking shop in a frame building will usually have a fairly high property rates due to these factors.

protection

There are two components. The first is the public fire protection. protection classes are assigned from 1 (best) to 10 (worst). This is a measure of the ability of protection against fires of the local fire department to respond to structure fires. The second is the private fire protection. These are controlled by the owner or occupier and include sprinkler systems, protection of the kitchen, automatic fire detection and alarms, and fire extinguishers. All things to consider when constructing a new building or moving to a new space.

Exhibition

This refers to the surrounding property. We look at the construction of buildings, occupations, exhibitions outside (grass, trees) and the distance between the insured building and these exhibitions. What and who are next to you can dramatically affect your property rates.

property investors will also look closely at the age of a building by focusing on the latest updates to the roof, wiring, heating and plumbing. It can be difficult to obtain cover the replacement cost of an old building that has not been updated in the last 15 or 20 years.

Finally, we also examine management . This includes their attitude towards fire prevention and employee training. The best risk property is one that has an owner with pride of ownership.

While you can not control things like public protection class, you can sometimes make decisions regarding the construction, location and private protection that can improve your rate property insurance.

How many times have you placed a call to a credit card company, insurance company, or other business and are prompted to press 2, then 4, then 7 when all you want to do is talk to a live person? Twenty minutes later, you are still waiting and your blood pressure is so high that you could have a stroke.

This is what many of us experience when we just want to make a simple transaction like making a payment or filing a claim . In today's world of high-tech gadgets and digital media, we often forget the value of human contact. It is not only important in personal relationships; it is also important in our working life and in business transactions we conduct. For businesses, having a live person answer a call can mean the difference between regular customers and lost business. Establish good relationships with customers and empathy during stressful situations is a great way to turn a poor customer service experience in a fantasy. It is important for customers to hear that voice on the other end of the line and know that they want to help in any way possible. A smile can be heard through the phone and always helps people feel at ease.

The companies that recruit a team of representatives of service with highly qualified customers will most likely retain their customers for many years and that loyalty is what makes a great company. At the end of the day, as money can not buy happiness, there is not an application or a digital voice that can provide a human touch. If you are a business owner, think about your customer service. What kind of experience your customers have when they contact you?