PRE-CLAIMS PLANNING
Get Set For A Safe , Busy Season
Proactive Pre-Claims Planning That Engages Your Workforce Helps Prevent Risky Incidents .
BY : MATT JONES VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
Eyes wide open .
A napkin that falls on the floor of your restaurant presents a slipand-fall risk . A puddle of water by a self-serve drink station is another claim culprit . A stack of boxes on uneven footing in the supply closet could result in a workers ’ compensation situation . These ' little things ' can cause big ramifications — from ruining a brand ’ s reputation to losing workers , paying hospital bills , and hiking up insurance premiums . That ’ s why we tell owners in the hospitality industry to keep their eyes wide open to minimize risk exposure .
This message also applies to proactive preclaims planning . Solve problems before they become risks to prepare for a safe , busy season . Here are some pointers to keep in mind as you get ready to serve the crowds .
ASSESS PROBLEM AREAS
Awareness is job one . But it ’ s easy to overlook potential risks when we ’ re focused on solving the urgent problems of the day . This is where your team can come in as an extra set of eyes . So can your insurance advisor , who will ask questions while reviewing the site to discover potential problem areas . Dedicate a safety meeting to a workplace tour and engage employees by asking them some of the issues they might experience in each environment . By including your team in the discussion , you ’ ll gain more buy-in to promote safety and also identify potential risks you might not have recognized .
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SOLVE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME RISKS ..."
SEND A SAFETY MESSAGE
Safety is everyone ’ s responsibility . Working from the assessment of potential risks , design safety meetings to address those problems . Keep in mind , a claim can take years to bubble up if an issue goes unresolved . Emphasize the importance of identifying and documenting incidents — even the ' small stuff ' that employees might call a slip-up or little accident .
As the season starts , you ’ re bringing on new employees and welcoming back returning team members . Now is the time to review policies and procedures and retrain to build a safety culture . Throughout the season as you recruit and onboard new workers , repeat the process . While taking the time amid the summer rush can feel like mission : impossible , doing so could save you from costly claims and reputational damage .
EXPLAIN HOW CLAIMS WORK
Connect your people to the insurance claim process because they ’ re often the ones who can impact whether an incident occurs or not . Accidents happen . When they do , team members should have a documented process in place so they can report claims and prevent them . For instance , a server accidentally drops a tray and a drink lands in a guest ’ s lap . The worker apologizes and replaces the drink . But this incident should be reported to a manager . What if the customer returned later and claimed it was a hot drink ? By establishing and teaching the claims process to your people , you ’ ll raise awareness of potential risks and assure proper reporting . These situations also become teaching opportunities for safety huddles . +
Matt Jones is the Vice President of Sales at Deeley Insurance Group , and a thirdgeneration agent , following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather . He lives in Salisbury with wife Kelly , two sons and two daughters . 410.213.5628 • mjones @ deeleyinsurance . com
Be Sure
Checklist
• Engage employees in an exercise to identify potential problem areas where claims could occur .
• Educate staff on the claims process and develop a procedure for reporting incidents internally .
• Lean on your insurance advisor for resources such as what details are required for reporting specific claims . It varies by incident .
• Emphasize that safety is everyone ’ s responsibility .
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