Archives for December 2014

Blog Posts For December/2014

Stay Safe During Your Holiday Party

It is often stressful to host family and friends for busy holiday gatherings. Planning and preparing the meals, decorations and comfort of your guests can take its toll, but carelessness can also cause unnecessary accidents and injuries. It’s important to take your time in preparing your home and delicious seasonal traditions. Avoid costly injuries, illnesses and damages by following proper safety guidelines. It is easy to be caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, which is why emergency rooms can fill up during December and early January.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, clostridium perfringens is the second-most common bacterial cause of food poisoning. Outbreaks occur most often around the holidays and meat and poultry accounted for 92 percent of outbreaks with an identified single food source. It is recommended to always use a food thermometer to guarantee that foods are cooked to a safe-to-eat temperature.

Home fires also occur at a higher frequency during the winter months and especially around the holidays when large meals are being prepared or a candle is knocked over during a dinner party. It’s a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in the case of a turkey emergency. Teach all members of the household how to use it and ensure it is not expired. Also be sure that all smoke alarms in the home are in working condition with fresh batteries.

Another way to avoid a home fire is to never leave food on the stove or in the oven unattended. Always keep children away from the stove and any hot food or liquids, which can spill and cause injury. The kiddos should be assigned to other tasks if they insist on helping, such as taking guests’ coats or removing bags from entrances, which can cause people to trip and fall.

You should also conduct a quick review of your home insurance policy to find out what kind of property and liability coverage you have before hosting that holiday party. Knowledgeable, independent agents at United Insurance Agency can help identify any gaps in your current coverage, suggest ways in which you can save on your premium, and even assist you in finding a better policy. Contact us to find out more about a home insurance policy that can protect your home during this holiday season and beyond.

Find the Perfect Insurance for Your Restaurant

As a restaurant owner, you know the importance of choice, customer service and consistency. You want an insurance policy as well managed as your eatery. If your policy hasn’t been updated for years or contains undiscovered gaps in coverage, you could be risking it all.

All restaurants and food service businesses should have certain types of insurance coverage. Your state or municipality most likely requires you to carry specific policies, so be sure to check with your local bar and restaurant authorities on those regulations.

A basic restaurant insurance package should include: general liability coverage; workers compensation insurance; property damage coverage; identify theft or data breach coverage; mechanical breakdown coverage and loss of revenue insurance.

You run a tight ship, but just one accident from an employee or customer can leave you at risk to liability claims and lawsuits. Chefs could cut themselves while chopping vegetables or a customer could slip on a damp bathroom floor. A clever criminal could access credit card information from your nightly tickets. You want a full menu of protections from all of these exposures.

Mechanical breakdown coverage can save you the costs associated with the event a freezer or cooler malfunctions and spoils thousands of dollars worth of food. Loss of revenue coverage can help maintain your restaurant’s income while repairs are being completed due to a damaging storm or severe weather event. You’ll also want to ensure your property insurance coverage is up-to-date to reflect any recent equipment purchases, such as the addition of a new oven, dishwasher or smoker.

You may need to consider additional coverage options if your restaurant sells alcoholic beverages, offers catering or delivery services or grows some of its own produce or proteins. You want your restaurant insurance package to meet all of your unique culinary needs.

Knowledgeable, independent representatives at United Insurance Agency are always available to answer any questions you may have, suggest coverage options best suited for your specific type of restaurant, and even assist you in filing a claim. We are able to locate you a variety of policy quotes from a number of providers, ensuring the package you choose offers the best coverage at the most competitive rates. Contact us to find out how you can obtain the perfect restaurant insurance package.

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