As the owner of an auto body and repair shop, you realize that the industry you work in is not always environmentally friendly, especially if you are not mindful! With such a significant amount of paint thinner and solvent for spray gun cleaning, it is important that you find ways to recycle instead of wasting. Do you know that recycling solvent on-site may help reduce regulatory requirements and future liability, and even save money!

While we may be your garage insurance experts, we also have a thing or two to share about recycling solvents on-site.
• You may be able to save on purchases as much as 80% by recycling solvents on-site.
• There are a variety of methods and recycling equipment to choose from. There are even some units that can be integrated with a paint gun cleaner. This tool makes it easier to transfer the recycled solvent back to the cleaning unit without pouring or handling.
• If you decide to recycle solvent on-site, the recycled solvent should only be used for paint spray gun cleaning.
• Be careful! The distillation unit will heat the solvent, meaning a potential fire hazard.
• Check with the local Fire Department before going ahead with on-site recycling. Some recycled solvents may exceed air district limitations on VOC content.
As you can see, recycling solvents on-site has its benefits, but it is always important to be cautious and careful. If not, you could be facing an accident or injury. For unexpected accidents, our garage insurance will be there to back you up. Our Massachusetts insurance agency can provide you with unique policies, including garage liability insurance, equipment and tools coverage, commercial property coverage, workers compensation and much more.
Be sure to come back next week for a blog on recycling solvents off-site!
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As the owner of an auto body and repair shop, you should realize the importance of reducing hazardous air pollutants. Particle pollution, volatile organic compounds and other air pollutants will not only affect your employees in the shop, but even your customers. While your garage insurance comes equipped with workers compensation for the times your employees are injured or need medical attention, it is still best to protect them from these hazards.

One way to reduce the emissions of these pollutants: reduce the use of solvents in your garage. Millions of workers across the nation are exposed to solvents on a daily basis. According to OSHA, “health hazards associated with solvent exposure include toxicity to the nervous system, reproductive damage, liver and kidney damage, respiratory impairment, cancer and dermatitis.” That being said, we have a few ways for your garage to reduce the use of solvents:
• Opt for an enclosed solvent gun washing system. This will help reduce evaporation when you are cleaning equipment.
• Use a water-based cleaning system instead of using solvent-based cleaners. For example: hot soap washers.
• When the cleaner is not in use, turn it off. This will also reduce evaporation.
• Go green by recycling old solvent! You can do this by using an on-site distillation unit.
At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure that the work environment you expose your workers to is not hazardous to their health. By reducing the use of solvents, you could be avoiding a workers’ compensation claim in the near future. However, if a claim is inevitable, our unique garage insurance program will have you covered! This program is designed to protect both you and your employees from the unique risks in your shop, giving you the option to purchase workers compensation, automobile insurance, employment liability, property insurance, umbrella insurance and much more. Contact our agency today to learn more and grab a free quote.
Be sure to come back next week; we will be discussing solvent recycling!
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As the owner of a garage and auto body shop, it is important that you protect your company. Of course, having the proper garage insurance policies in place will help protect your assets and operations. Of course for employees, they are covered with workers compensation and receive benefits, but protection runs much deeper than coverage.
Are all of your workers certified or qualified in all areas of your business? For example, if any of your employees operates a vehicle that weighs over 10,000 lbs, they must be DOT certified. If not, in addition to being held liable for any accidents or damages that happen, you will more than likely face a large lawsuit and DOT fines. To avoid this from happening, it is important to meet the DOT driver qualification standards for any employees who may be operating CMVs. This means, among other things, that:
• Drivers must be medically certified every other year to be in good health and physically able to perform all duties of a driver;
• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Be able to drive the vehicle safely;
• Must have a valid driver’s license;
• Pass a driver’s road test or equivalent;
• Have their 10-year motor vehicle driving history reviewed and approved;
• Before operating equipment 26,001 pounds or more, they must have a valid Commercial drivers license (CDL), be drug tested and have a passing result and be entered into a pool for random drug tests.
Sure, not all of your employees may be moving and driving CMVs but those who will need to be DOT qualified!
If you have any other questions or concerns, never hesitate to contact our experts at Wolpert Insurance. We would be more than happy to answer your questions and provide your business with a free garage insurance quote!
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As the owner of a garage and auto body shop, you understand that the risks you face are nothing short of unique. As a result, you invest in reliable garage insurance to cover all aspects of your business; employees, liability, building, equipment, etc.

Let’s talk about your building insurance. As an insurance agency, we understand your desire to insure your building for what it is “worth.” Some think “worth” is the local tax or bank appraised value; others think “worth” is the price at which you can sell it and some believe “worth” to be an amount equal to what they feel would be the probable damage the structure would suffer.
In fact, “worth” to an insurance company is typically expressed as replacement cost (the cost in today’s dollars to rebuild the structure from the foundation up).
Let’s take an example. Let’s say you purchase a $100,000 policy with a $1,000 deductible for a building with a replacement cost of $1,000,000, under the belief that any loss suffered would probably be less than the $100,000 of coverage you purchased. A loss occurs due to a fire and destroys $50,000 of the building. All set, right? After all we purchased $100,000 of coverage!
Not so fast. The appraiser is likely to arrive and ask you. “Did this $50,000 damage occur in the $100,000 part of the building you insured or the $900,000 part that you didn’t insure?”
Interesting question! To determine the answer we need to look at the policy. Generally, all policies contain a co-insurance clause as part of the contract. This says if you insure just a part of the building the company will pay only a part of the loss.
In the above example, if the policy had a 100% co-insurance clause in the contract, that means that the insurance company expects you to insure 100% of the replacement cost of the property.
You only insured 1/10th of your building’s replacement value; so an insurance company is going to give you 1/10th of the damage (less your deductible). In the example above, that you suffered damage of $50,000, so you will receive a check for $4,000 ($50,000 x 1/10 of the building you insured… less your deductible of $1,000). You will be responsible for the rest!
It is critical that you understand how your policy works or you may find yourself co-insuring your property with your insurance company.
If you have any other questions or concerns about your garage insurance coverage or co-insurance, do not hesitate to speak with our experts at Wolpert Insurance. If you would like to request a free garage insurance quote, do not hesitate to do so! We would be happy to provide you with one. Just fill out the form on our website!
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As you may know, yesterday was Earth Day! Many Americans may have decided to pass on driving for the day or may have helped clean-up litter in their community. While we have one day designated to going green, that does not mean we should forget about it entirely until next year.

Have you ever considered going green in your auto body shop? Many business owners are making the switch, whether they are changing the products they use or recycling. Making your products and services more environmentally friendly, safe for consumers and cost-effective will benefit your business, from bringing in more customers to possibly benefiting your garage insurance premium.
So where do you start? Here are a few pointers:
• Each time you paint a vehicle, the environment is impacted. Make the switch from toxic Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint to waterborne paint. Waterborne paint is environmentally friendly for the simple fact that it is NOT a solvent. It reduces VOC emissions during application, the risk of fire and it is easier to clean-up. It’s a win/win!
• Opt for biodegradable cleaners in your shop.
• Recycle oil and fluids whenever you can (oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, etc.)
• You can do something as simple as changing the light bulbs in your shop. Choose compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs to save energy.
So what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to start going green in your shop! Once you have done so, be sure to check in with us over at Wolpert Insurance. We would be happy to discuss your premium or protect your green auto body shop with our comprehensive garage insurance program. Come on over and grab a free quote!
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As a garage and body shop owner, you know that the risks on the job are endless. While you may assume tools, machinery and chemicals are the only cause for concern, you are mistaken. Did you know that slips, trips and falls constitute for the majority of general industry accidents? According to the OSHA website, these types of accidents “cause 15% of all accidental deaths and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities.” Wow!
Luckily, your garage insurance policy includes workers compensation for any accidents or injuries on the job site, but it is still best to avoid this type of mishap. Here are a few solutions that OSHA suggests:

• Keep walkways and stairs clear of scraps and debris;

• Coil up extension cords, lines and hoses when they are not in use;

• Make sure all tools are placed in their proper place to avoid tripping;

• Keep electrical wires out of the way;

• Use salt and sand for safety when the surface is slippery;

• Grease, oil or paint spill? Clean it up immediately;

• ALWAYS put up a “Caution” sign or cones around a slippery or wet area;

Your garage should always be safe for your workers, no matter what type of job they are working on! The last thing you need is a simple slip and fall to put one of your mechanics out of work.

If this situation should happen to you, at least you have workers compensation to fall back on. At Wolpert Insurance, we have designed a unique garage insurance program that addresses each unique risk that your business faces on a daily basis. From garage liability coverage to workers comp, we will have you covered!

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Last year, My Fox Boston reported that more than two million residents had become victims of data breaches since 2010. As you can see, this issue is on the rise! As a garage and auto body shop owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you take care of your customer’s card numbers, social security numbers and any other personal information that could be compromised.

While garage insurance can cover the costs of a data breach, it is still best to avoid this issue as best as possible in your auto body and repair shop. If not, it may cost your business directly:
• Notification Expense
• Investigation Expense
• Communications/Public Relations Expense
• Costs to “Manage” the Data Breach (time spent away from business)
• Legal Fees
• Payment of any judgments
And do not forget about the indirect cost of this issue: loss of customers!
As you can see, it is in your business’ best interest to keep data breach issues to a minimum, no matter how much garage insurance you have. We do not need to keep adding to the two-million mark!

If you are concerned about protection from data breach mishaps, come and speak with our experts at Wolpert Insurance. We would be more than happy to discuss coverage options and put the proper protection in place.
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As the owner of a garage and auto body shop, you are dealing with customers and their credit cards on an everyday basis. The cost for most jobs and repairs in your shop is probably too expensive to be paid in cash! Obviously, the customer trusts you with their card to make the payment. However, there are privacy laws in place that, if you are not careful, may end up coming back to bite you.

While your business may be protected with garage insurance, it is still best to avoid a legal issue or crisis. Here are a few FAQ that you may want to look over. It is important to be educated on these laws!
1. To whom do these laws apply to?

a. Individuals, corporations, associations, partnerships, and legal entities who own, license, store or maintain personal information about a Massachusetts resident.

2. What does “personal information” mean?

a. You have a Massachusetts resident’s personal information if you have their first and last name or the first initial and last name in combination with any one of the following: a social security number, a driver’s license number, state-issued identification card number or financial account, credit or debit card number.

3. What do these regulations require?

a. The development, completion, maintenance and monitoring of a complete written information security program, otherwise known as WISP. It must be applicable to all records containing the personal information of Massachusetts residents.

4. Who should you report security breaches to?
a. You are required to report known security breaches and unauthorized use of personal information to the Massachusetts Attorney General, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation and the owners of the personal information affected.
Now that we have answered a few common questions, be sure to come back next week when we discuss the costs of a data breach to your business. Trust us, you do not want this to happen to your auto body shop!
We at Wolpert Insurance believe that your protection and security is important, just as important as your customer’s protection! This is why we offer comprehensive garage insurance for your unique business. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information on the protection we offer, from auto insurance to employers’ liability insurance.
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As the owner of an auto body and repair shop, it is no secret that the risks your business will face are unique and just about endless. Luckily, garage insurance can be designed to cover every scenario possible.

Take this situation for example…
You have just finished fixing Mr. Smith’s high priced car when a man enters the shop claiming that Mr. Smith has sent him to pick up the vehicle. You check to see the status of the repair. Noting that the repairs are complete and the deductible is paid, you release the vehicle to the gentleman. Several hours later, Mr. Smith comes in and asks about his vehicle. It is only then you realize that the gentleman you gave the vehicle to was not actually sent by Mr. Smith. Does your MA garage insurance cover this?
Generally, policies include a voluntary-parting exclusion, which bars coverage when an insured voluntarily parts with property “if induced to do so by any fraudulent scheme, trick, device or false pretense.” If unendorsed, your policy may not respond.
To get coverage for Mr. Smith’s auto, it would be necessary to buy false pretense coverage. Sounds reasonable, right?
Now, what happens if you have a sneaking suspicion that a relative, long-time employee or close friend had something to do with the situation? Would you want to file a claim?
Typically, when this coverage is purchased, the insured is held to higher standards by the company. Generally, the insured’s duties in the event of a loss, such as the scenario described above, would include taking all reasonable steps to cause a warrant to be issued for the arrest of anyone involved. Failure to cause such a warrant to be issued may invalidate the coverage otherwise afforded. So, if you are looking to get paid from the company for this claim, it may come with a big price tag for someone you never intended or hoped to hurt.
At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure you are 100% protected. Many times, it is best to take typical policies a step further and look into the specialized garage insurance options, such as false pretense coverage. Never hesitate to speak with one of our experts if you have any questions or concerns!
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Back in the day, car keys were simple. If you lost it, you would head over to your local locksmith and have a duplicate made for a cheap price. However, the easier it is to copy a key, the easier the access for thieves. Consequently, keys have undergone many changes. These days, transponder keys and fobs are common. Of course, as expected, these keys are also much more expensive to replace due to their exclusive nature (many times, you need to go to the dealer to get a spare key made).

With this technology quickly spreading to lower-priced cars, we have to wonder; will a typical garage insurance policy cover these keys? Let’s take a look at a possible scenario:

You store all FOB’s together in a locked cabinet overnight in your shop. The next day, you show up to find that the shop has been burned or the cabinet has been destroyed. Let’s estimate that each fob costs between $150 and $500. If you are holding 20-30 fobs in your shop, that is an estimated $9,000 worth of keys!

Will your garage insurance policy be able to cover this loss? Surprisingly, most unendorsed policies do not pay for customer’s goods in your care, custody or control. If you want to avoid paying for such a large loss in the future, it is best to ask our experts at Wolpert Insurance! We would be happy to protect your business with the proper garage insurance policies, including protection for destroyed FOBS and much more.

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