Garagekeepers liability insurance, garage liability, employment practices liability… the options are endless! Figuring out exactly what you need as an auto body and repair shop owner – now that is where things may get a little confusing. Fortunately for you, our agents at Wolpert Insurance are here to guide you.

There are a variety of liability coverage options that are available. Depending on the type of garage shop you run, the number of workers you employ and various other factors, your policy may differ from the next shop. We understand – you are an auto body shop expert, not an insurance agent. This is where Wolpert Insurance comes into the picture. This week, let’s take a quick look at a few of your liability insurance options…

General liability insurance: Most shops are required to have a general liability insurance policy, at the very least. This will protect the assets of your business when it is sued for something it has – or has not – done that may cause personal injury or property damage.

Garagekeepers liability: This policy is designed to cover damages made to your customers’ vehicles that are being serviced and/or held at your shop.

Garage liability: This policy is designed to provide liability coverage for the premises, products and operations. Please note that this policy is different from garagekeepers liability insurance. To learn more about the differences, refer back to our blog post from earlier this year: Difference Between Garage Liability and Garagekeepers Insurance.

Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI): This policy is designed to cover your business in the event that an employee accuses you of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment of any sort and various other employment-related allegations.

Broad form products liability: This policy is designed to provide coverage against claims of unexpected or new hazards that could develop over time – in regards to the products or services your shop offers.

For all the information you need, exceptional service and excellent garage insurance, call our agents at Wolpert Insurance. We would be more than happy to speak with you about your garage and auto body shop in order to design a “perfect fit” policy. Call us at 800-299-6819, today!

Operating an auto garage carries a lot of risk, and while we’re sure you’re aware of everything there is to know about safety, we want you to take the time to ensure your fire safety practices are up to the highest standard. Fires can break out in any type of business, regardless of the profession, but especially in auto shops. If you’re not careful, you may be looking at a claim on your auto repair shop insurance.

Since your auto shop is dealing with a variety of electrical equipment, the chance for a fire is significant and should be addressed. Here is a general fire safety checklist for your company and employees to follow:

Exterior:

• First, the exterior of your building should have its address prominently displayed so the fire department can better locate your business if they are called upon.

• Check your business’ proximity to fire hydrants; this will be important for the fire department to know if they need to use them.

Fire Suppression Equipment:

• Your fire extinguishers should always be fully charged and easily accessible if there’s ever a sudden fire. If you have them in hard to reach places then employees will have a hard time locating them immediately and as quickly as possible. The location of each one is crucial, and there should be a variety of them scattered throughout your business. Additionally, extinguishers should be inspected annually to make sure they are still in working order and are in optimum condition.

• If your auto garage has a sprinkler system, make sure no objects are obstructing it from doing its job. Also, make sure important items are within the radius of the sprinkler system so if they ever catch on fire, they are protected.

Fire Alarms:

• By law, all businesses in Massachusetts are required to have fire or smoke alarms on their premises, so it’s important to check them on a regular basis to make sure they are in working order. Usually, a fire alarm will beep when it needs a new battery, but you should check them periodically regardless.

Exits, walkways and aisles:

• Paths to fire control equipment (extinguishers, fire alarm control center) should be unobstructed for easy use.

• Your company should have fire exits and they should always be unlocked and not sealed with a padlock or any other locking mechanism.

Your auto garage’s fire safety protocol is important to not only your employees, but your customers as well. If you have more questions about fire safety or general auto shop safety, give us a call today.

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It’s time to get serious. As the owner and operator of an auto repair shop in Massachusetts, much of the decisions concerning safety primarily involve you and your influence. Safety is an extremely important component to any auto shop and yours is no different. If you want to get the most out of your auto repair shop and keep things on an even keel, we recommend following some of the standard safety procedures listed below. Ideally, these should be posted somewhere visible within your shop.

• Flammable and hazardous liquids are stores in containers that are approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation or by the State Fire Marshall.
• Lids are tight-fitting and sealed.
• Containers and tanks are labeled with the name of the material they hold and the type of hazard they present.
• Flammables are stored in an area approved by the local fire department. Examples include air tight cabinets or flammable storage room.
• Waste storage area is labeled and limits of area are marked.
• Flammable liquids are grounded and bonded during transfer and grounded during storage.
• There are no leaks or excessive spillage in chemical or waste storage areas, including around solvent sinks, pumps, pipes, hoses, couplings, fittings and valves.
• Drums of materials and wastes stored outside of the building have secondary containment.

Handling and disposing hazardous materials is part of successfully managing an auto shop up to the correct safety standards. Wolpert Insurance & Risk Management understands that things can happen that may cause damage to your building or employees, which is why we offer garage insurance for protection. We hope that you follow the tips above to make sure that you’re correctly handling materials in a safe manner.

It’s time to get serious. As the owner and operator of an auto repair shop in Massachusetts, much of the decisions concerning safety primarily involve you and your influence. Safety is an extremely important component to any auto shop and yours is no different. If you want to get the most out of your auto repair shop and keep things on an even keel, we recommend following some of the standard safety procedures listed below. Ideally, these should be posted somewhere visible within your shop.
• Flammable and hazardous liquids are stores in containers that are approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation or by the State Fire Marshall.
• Lids are tight-fitting and sealed.
• Containers and tanks are labeled with the name of the material they hold and the type of hazard they present.
• Flammables are stored in an area approved by the local fire department. Examples include air tight cabinets or flammable storage room.
• Waste storage area is labeled and limits of area are marked.
• Flammable liquids are grounded and bonded during transfer and grounded during storage.
• There are no leaks or excessive spillage in chemical or waste storage areas, including around solvent sinks, pumps, pipes, hoses, couplings, fittings and valves.
• Drums of materials and wastes stored outside of the building have secondary containment.

Handling and disposing hazardous materials is part of successfully managing an auto shop up to the correct safety standards. Wolpert Insurance & Risk Management understands that things can happen that may cause damage to your building or employees, which is why we offer garage insurance for protection. We hope that you follow the tips above to make sure that you’re correctly handling materials in a safe manner.

Working in an auto garage means that employees may be constantly exposed to certain chemicals relating to the certain elements that exist in an auto garage. Specifically speaking, if your auto shop deals with spray painting vehicles, employees may be prone to more than just getting paint on their clothes. Chemicals found in spray paint, called isocyanates, are a powerful irritant that can cause damage to eyes and respiratory organs and may lead to claims on your company’s garage insurance. Direct skin contact with this chemical may also cause inflammation. Here are some of the health effects of working with isocyanates:

Sensitization and Asthma: Isocyanates can sensitize workers, making them subject to severe asthma attacks if they’re exposed more frequently.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Workers exposed to isocyanates often develop symptoms related to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Symptoms are often flu-like, including fever, muscle aches, and headaches. Difficulty breathing may also occur.

Cancer: According to data from a recent study, courtesy of OSHA, cancer is associated with exposure to commercial grade isocyanates.

The following is a case study relating to an employee who spray painted cars:

A 37 year old male was admitted to the hospital with asthma symptoms. After working in the same environment for 20 years, the car painter was diagnosed with asthma as the result of inhaling isocyanates and was advised to switch jobs. He continued to spray paint cars, and ended up experiencing a severe asthma attack that require emergency transport to the hospital. Doctors concluded the attack was the result of continuing exposure to isocyanates.

As the owner of an auto shop, it’s important that you’re making sure your employees are staying safe when it comes to spray painting vehicles. Using masks to cover eyes and mouths is a good way to keep the risks at bay, and make sure your ventilation system is also working properly.

At Wolpert Insurance & Risk Management, we hope our clients are getting educated on the certain risks their businesses face. For more information, please give us a call today!

Working in an auto garage means that employees may be constantly exposed to certain chemicals relating to the certain elements that exist in an auto garage. Specifically speaking, if your auto shop deals with spray painting vehicles, employees may be prone to more than just getting paint on their clothes. Chemicals found in spray paint, called isocyanates, are a powerful irritant that can cause damage to eyes and respiratory organs and may lead to claims on your company’s garage insurance. Direct skin contact with this chemical may also cause inflammation. Here are some of the health effects of working with isocyanates:

Sensitization and Asthma: Isocyanates can sensitize workers, making them subject to severe asthma attacks if they’re exposed more frequently.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Workers exposed to isocyanates often develop symptoms related to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Symptoms are often flu-like, including fever, muscle aches, and headaches. Difficulty breathing may also occur.
Cancer: According to data from a recent study, courtesy of OSHA, cancer is associated with exposure to commercial grade isocyanates.

The following is a case study relating to an employee who spray painted cars:

A 37 year old male was admitted to the hospital with asthma symptoms. After working in the same environment for 20 years, the car painter was diagnosed with asthma as the result of inhaling isocyanates and was advised to switch jobs. He continued to spray paint cars, and ended up experiencing a severe asthma attack that require emergency transport to the hospital. Doctors concluded the attack was the result of continuing exposure to isocyanates.

As the owner of an auto shop, it’s important that you’re making sure your employees are staying safe when it comes to spray painting vehicles. Using masks to cover eyes and mouths is a good way to keep the risks at bay, and make sure your ventilation system is also working properly.

At Wolpert Insurance & Risk Management, we hope our clients are getting educated on the certain risks their businesses face. For more information, please give us a call today!