Author: UWIB

We recommend that every small business owner consider the following best practices to reduce the risk of employee crime:

Perform thorough background checks (in accordance with law) of all potential hires; don’t take shortcuts or assume.

Make sure there is clear accountability for every position in the organization and no position has broad enough power to authorize payments without the consent of another individual. Seek to set up a system of checks and balances.

Set up a tip line for the organization, guaranteeing anonymity, in order to allow for the reporting of any suspicious activity or suspicious business practices.

Encourage all employees who handle accounting and payment functions to take vacation time, with another person handling their work in their absence.

Communicate often and clearly about the company’s policy on employee conduct.

Don’t allow discrepancies to be attributed simply to the cost of doing business. Be sure to conduct a thorough investigation of discrepancies.

United Western Insurance Brokers provides Risk Management & Insurance Coverage Placement Services for businesses and high net worth families throughout the United States. With its roots dating back to 1918, our  member agencies are privately owned and generate combined sales volume in excess of $300 million dollars, annually.

Business Owners Take Heed –

The 5 coverage’s you probably think you already have, but probably don’t…

Cyber-Security LiabilityEmployment Related Litigation such as Wrongful Termination

Errors in business judgment that lead to claims by others against your company

Mismanagement of employee benefits, even when administered by 3^rd parties

Claims by key individuals against Owners & Officers alleging breach of contract

It’s easy and affordable to add policies to address each of these areas of financial risk.

Send comments if you would like more information about any of these important areas of coverage.

OSHA may find its way to your location, if they do, you need to be prepared.

Let’s walk through your front door, do you already have an OSHA 300 Log readily available in a folder for easy access in the entry area of your business? Oh, someone told you that unless you have more than 20 employees you don’t need it? WRONG, don’t become a victim of relying on incorrect information…

Here’s a fill able version of the OSHA 300 Log that you are free to download and complete: view the PDF version. If you would like my assistance to complete the form, contact me it’s free too.

Be prepared for a visit – Plan for an inspection –
Don’t be caught off guard, it could cost you big buck$

Here are some key tips –

If you are fortunate enough to receive advance notice of a visit (which happens in less than 20% of the cases), make sure you have (at the very least), these three items in place before the arrival of the OSHA compliance officer:

1.)Figure out in advance if you will ask that the inspector present you with a warrant
2.)Have a tablet of paper available so that you can document what occurs during the inspection, I always recommend that there be a lead person who does all the talking, and a secondary person who takes all the notes.
3.)Be sure that you have access to all of the pertinent documentation that the auditor is likely to request such as your company’s written safety program, training records, chemical records AKA MDS or material Data Sheets, these used to be referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets, and, any prior inspection records.

The OSHA Safety Guy, Mike Rubel, cautions owners and managers about requiring a warrant before entry. Unless you absolutely need extra time to become prepared, such as when a manager or attorney needs to be present, remember that although it is your legal right to ask for a warrant, this action might trigger a more closely scrutinized inspection.
Be prepared . . .

Make a physical record the inspector’s actions and comments Take notes during the inspection. This information will help you understand what transpired and will assist your attorney should you contest any resulting citation or penalty.

Review all of your written safety related documentation Almost all OSHA inspections begin with a review of your company’s written documents. These documents include your injury and illness records, your safety manual, any industry specific OSHA-required programs, any OSHA-implied programs, safety procedures and training records. There are many records and written programs that OSHA does not specifically require be in writing, but you should have them anyway. These documents are referred to as OSHA-implied records.

You’re probably assuming that these suggestions apply to large employers, sorry, these are required for a company with one or more employees. If you have 5-25 employees, you are right in OSHA’s crosshairs.

Call us, we can help you and the fees we charge are very reasonable, in fact, they represent only a fraction of what non-compliance citations and penalties are when OSHA imposes them.