/// Guest post by contributor Nate Oland, Federated Insurance
Sticking your head in the sand won’t protect you from getting burnt. Just because you can’t see fire hazards, doesn’t mean they’re not there. Still, many business owners believe a fire will never damage their company—after all, those things always happen to the “other guy.”
More than 480,000 “other guys” had their buildings damaged by fire in 2011.* In fact, Federated Insurance has seen a significant rise in the number of policyholders experiencing fire losses in recent years. If you don’t identify and control fire hazards at your business, you run the risk of becoming part of these harrowing statistics.
Physical damage is only one part of a fires potential impact. Consider the emotional toll the flames can have on displaced workers and confused customers. And, most importantly, the possibility of employees being injured or killed.
After analyzing fire claims data from 2011, Federated identified the four most frequent causes of workplace fires:
- spontaneous combustion
- faulty electrical circuitry and equipment
- careless smoking
- improper handling and storage of flammable liquids
The analysis also revealed that many of the fires were preventable. Do you have a plan to protect your business from going up in smoke? If not, National Fire Prevention Week, running October 7 – 13, is the perfect time to get the ball rolling.
Don’t take the ostrich approach in 2012. Contact your local Federated representative for a fire prevention checklist and help developing a fire prevention program at your business. Call 1-800-533-0472 or visit www.federatedinsurance.com to find your nearest representative.
*NFPA “The U.S. Fire Problem.” www.nfpa.org. Accessed 9/11/2012
{Guest Post} Guest post provided by Nate Oland, Federated Insurance. For more than a century, Federated Insurance Companies has provided peace of mind to business owners through valued insurance protection. Learn more about Federated Insurance.
The opinions and advice given by guest post contributors are not necessarily those of NATSO Inc. The posts should not be considered legal advice. Qualified professionals should be sought regarding advice and questions specific to your circumstances.
This article is intended to provide general information and recommendations regarding risk prevention only. There is no guarantee that this information will result in reduced losses, lower premiums, or lower experience modification factors. The content provided is accurate as of October 2012 and is subject to change. This information may be subject to regulations and restrictions in your state and should not be considered legal advice. Qualified counsel should be sought regarding questions specific to your circumstances and applicable state laws. © 2012 Federated Mutual Insurance Company.
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