Courtesy of iii.org Tornadoes A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm and comes into contact with the ground, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In an average year about 1,000 tornadoes are reported nationwide, according to NOAA. Tornado intensity is measured by the enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. The scale rates tornadoes on a scale of 0 through 5, based on the amount and type of wind damage. It incorporates 28 different damage indicators, based on damage to a wide variety of structures ranging from trees to shopping malls. The U.S. experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, according to a 2013 report by Lloyd’s of London. (See Executive Summary, page 4 of Tornadoes a Rising Risk? for additional findings and statistics.) The Fujita Scale For Tornadoes Original F scale (1) Enhanced F scale (2) Category Damage Wind speed (mph) 3-second gust …
Household Help & Insurance
Courtesy of iii.org Accidents happen—and if they happen to people you've hired to come into your home or onto your property to work, you're financially liable. It makes sense to understand how you're already covered and when to further insure household help. Appropriate and adequate insurance coverage depends on the nature of the employee’s position and the assets you're protecting. As always, consult your insurance professional with any questions or requested changes to your policy. Here's some information to get you started. If you contract a worker with an outside firm For many household and in-home care needs—for example, for a nurse, a physical therapist, a cook or a housekeeper—you may decide to contract with a business or agency that provides these types of pros. Determine who is the employer. When you're dealing with a firm or agency, in most cases the worker you hired is an employee of that business and insured under their auspices. (If for some reason …
Did You Know, Family & Business Liability Facts
Courtesy of iii.org One might think that family-owned and operated businesses would be relatively immune from employee lawsuits, but that’s not the case according to a recent Gen Re article. The reasons family-owned businesses get sued include: most family owned businesses employ at least one non-relative; the non-relative is likely to be first to be fired when the business is struggling; and family members are reluctant to discipline each other for bad workplace behavior, especially if the family patriarch is the one misbehaving. The article gives several examples of lawsuits against family businesses and the awards paid out, concluding that a family-owned business would benefit from including employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) as a part of its insurance package. According to GenRe: These workplace scenarios and settlement amounts mirror those we see for all businesses. Discrimination and sexual harassment - as well as wrongful termination, violations of …