Monthly Highlights: April 2023

Our insureds know how important it is to manage risks in their wood products operations. Through tools and services designed specifically for the wood industry, our Loss Control reps help keep your wood clients’ operations open. For those brokers with clients that manufacture pallets, we wanted to highlight how they can prioritize risk management – as featured in this Pallet Enterprise article.

PLM Loss Control representative Mike Seiwert notes “[that] the wood industry continues to navigate growing threats from the supply chain, talent shortage and more [and] it may be easy for business owners to lose sight of more common risks that threaten their operations.” All of these can only be compounded by the ongoing difficulties in the supply chain and pallet business owners need to think about additional repair and rebuild times.

What are the Exposures?

• Forklift Safety – comprehensive forklift safety training is essential for pallet businesses; lack of attention to detail on forklift safety can lead to significant injuries, damaged inventory and broken machinery
• Electrical Overload – from poor wiring to utilizing extension cords that increase fire risk, electric hazards are a common cause of staff injury
• Fire Safety – risk can come from a number of areas, including dust accumulation, overheated equipment, poor pallet stacking, overloaded wires or a lack of suppression systems

Risk Mitigation – Comprehensive Safety Programs

• Check Electrical Equipment – identify if dust has infiltrated equipment or see if anything that needs to be repaired; infrared scans can help locate hotspots
• Designating Smoking Areas – maintain a specific area outside of the building for smokers to use to keep this fire hazard away from ignitable material
• Identifying Hot Work Area – a designated maintenance area separate from other welding areas with detailed hot work tags, so staff members can monitor the work and watch out for any smoldering embers
• Regular Maintenance and Cleaning – all equipment should be checked for any fire risks or potential breaks to keep operations as safe as possible
• Proper Training – industry turnover is high right now, so employees should be trained regularly on all hazards

Read more about protecting your pallet and other heavy wood manufacturing clients in the Pallet Enterprise article and with our Loss Control Guides.

During our annual Nation Meeting, a group of PLM employees – including President and CEO John K. Smith – shaved their heads to stand in solidarity with the many children who have lost their hair during cancer treatment. PLM continues to raise money to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants.

Many individuals from the insurance and wood industries (just like you) have pledged so much already to give to this great cause and we thank you all so much for your support!

Over $140,000 Raised!

This kind-hearted group of PLM employees is proud to have Braved the Shave at this year’s PLM National Meeting on April 18th.

Help us push our fundraising even further 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.

From ransomware attacks, DDOS efforts to disrupt connectivity, to so much more, there’s no doubt in the insurance and financial spaces that cyber incidents are on the rise and going nowhere. But have you consider how this can also affect your wood industry clients? Woodworking Network recently discussed how woodworking operations can best be prepared in the modern world.

How Your Wood Industry Clients Should Prepare for Cyber Threats:

• Thorough Risk Assessment – work with professional partners to conduct an exam of how their systems work and which can be affected
• Build a Backup and Business Continuity Plan – set up secondary suppliers and formalize a plan of action for when things go wrong
• Hold Security Training – train staff on security awareness and best practices
• Check Access Control Management – keep systems and control up-to-date; know how to access the older systems so you don’t get locked out of important machines

Download additional resources for your client and also to keep in your producer files.

• 04/26 – HUG – Hawksoft National Conference – Austin, TX
• 04/27 – PIA NY – Long Island RAP – Woodbury, NY
• 05/01 – PIA ND – Annual Convention – Bismarck, ND
• 05/01 – Agents Brokers United Convention – Las Vegas, NV
• 05/04 – PIA IN – Annual Convention – Indianapolis, IN
• 05/07 – AIIA – Annual Convention – Gulf Shores, AL
• 05/07 – Accelerate Powered by NetVU – Austin, TX
• 05/09 – PIA Southern Alliance – Annual Convention – Duluth, GA
• 05/11 – IIAB San Diego I-Day – San Diego, CA
• 05/17 – IIAW – InsurCon – Oshkosh, WI
• 05/17 – PIA Western Alliance – Conference – Welches, OR
• 05/17 – IIAAR – Annual Convention – Branson, MO