Monthly Highlights: March 2023

This month we officially announced a new solution designed to help protect the backbone of the lumber and building materials industry – Hardware Stores. An insurance product tailored to their unique business needs, HardwareXpress offers another way for you and your agency to expand your book of business from what opportunities may already be in your own community.

HardwareXpress Criteria + Highlights:

• Specifically Designed: Single location; up to $3 million TIV; Up to $2 million in annual sales; 4 autos or less; no installation services
• No Pre-inspection: PLM will work with business owners to conduct a virtual inspection within 15 days of binding the policy
• Fast Turnaround: a quick and competitive quote with the specialized coverage for your client’s hardware store
• Coverages Included: Property, GL, Auto, Inland Marine, Business Income, Umbrella, EPL, Cyber Liability, Crime
• Workers’ Compensation: Round out the account with WC placement through Allied Building Material Agency, PLM’s in-house wholesale brokerage, through partner carriers

As always, whether it fits with HardwareXpress or not, PLM has an appetite for hardware stores of all sizes – regardless of values, autos, or locations.

A group of PLM employees – including President and CEO John K. Smith – will be shaving their heads to stand in solidarity with the many children who have lost their hair during cancer treatment. PLM is raising money to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants.

This kind-hearted group of PLM employees is proud to Brave the Shave and participate in our head-shaving event at this year’s PLM National Meeting employee event in April.

Help our shavees reach their fundraising goals and donate today!

About St. Baldrick’s
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

Donations raised through St. Baldrick’s support the development of childhood cancer treatments to cure every child. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation coordinates signature head-shaving events worldwide, giving volunteers the opportunity to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and to raise money to support the best childhood cancer research, wherever it takes place.

• When it comes to fire, so many things can be an ignition source that spells disaster for our insureds: sparks from saws igniting combustible sawdust, unregulated smoking, wood stain and finishing sprays on oily rags. While many of these are common in wood and related industries, not everyone considers a more modern source – Batteries. Especially with mobile equipment in use.From a few years ago, PLM’s post on Safe Battery Use and Storage discusses the increased battery usage in daily operations and why it is important to understand the different types of batteries while recognizing the potential hazards associated with each one.Here are only some additional best-practice controls for all types of batteries and battery-powered mobile equipment:
  • Separate equipment by at least 25-40 feet when parked and unattended.
  • Be sure all mobile equipment is parked away from heavy wood debris that may easily caught fire
  • Batteries need to be mounted in a protected area with a non-conductive cover.
  • Installation and maintaining a fully charged multi-purpose fire extinguisher for each piece of mobile equipment
  • Regular housekeeping within the engine compartment, hydraulic compartment, and cab area is a must
  • Installation, use, and maintaining a manual electrical disconnect (master switch) on each piece of mobile equipment

  Another solution for the industry includes automatic fire suppression systems – with either dry and liquid suppression agents:

  • The goal of these systems is to extinguish the fire and cool the components to prevent reignition.
  • Discharge nozzles are strategically located to deliver fire suppression agent to known hazard areas such as turbo chargers, starters, alternators, batteries, hydraulic pumps, and in some cases, vehicle brakes.
  • Our Producer Update article from 2022 contains an in-depth discussion of these systems.

  Making sure your client is aware of hazards like these can help them prevent a serious event that can leave them with an extended downtime.

  Additional Resources:

  • The PLM Exchange – our blog where we can share our industry-specific knowledge, ideas, and resources
  • Producer Update Archive – Read past releases and keep even more updated with industry-related information and company reports with our quarterly newsletter

• 03/30 – MAIA – Small Agency Conference – Columbia, MO
• 04/05 – MIIAB – Big I MN Expo – Prior Lake, MN
• 04/20 – BIGiOK – Annual Conference – Branson, MO
• 04/20 – ICOB – Buffalo I-Day – Buffalo, NY
• 04/26 – HUG – Hawksoft National Conference – Austin, TX
• 04/27 – PIANY – Long Island RAP – Woodbury, NY