The 2019 NBIS Risk Management Roundup

by Kyle Rask, Concrete Pumping Program Manager, NBIS

With 2020 right around the corner—and because risk management topics never really go out of style—we thought we’d close out a year of risk-management articles with this 2019 risk management roundup: a bite-sized list of takeaways from topics we’ve covered the past eleven months. It’s our hope that as you plan for next year, you’ll dedicate the time you need to making sure you’re managing your risk and becoming a better, safer organization.

YOUR INSURANCE AGENT MATTERS

Who you ultimately pick as your insurance agent matters; and what your agent doesn’t know about your business matters too. Ensuring that you select the right agent—and making certain that agent possesses the industry knowledge they need to adequately protect you in the event of a claim isn’t just a good idea—it’s imperative.

TELEMATICS IS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT

Telematics has radically changed the kind of information available to safety managers. One of the biggest benefits to using telematics is the sweeping insight it gives you into the behavior patterns of your drivers. Not long after implementing a telematics solution, you begin to understand your driver’s behavior on a much more comprehensive scale—both in terms of what they’re doing right and what they’re doing wrong. You also begin to understand that the data is telling you a story—a story about just how safe your company truly is.

GROUND CONDITIONS LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE IN YOUR CONTRACT

Ensuring ground conditions language is in your daily rental ticket helps protect your operator, equipment and business. The ASME B30.27-2014 Material Placement Systems national standard added responsibilities for seven defined roles involved in the pumping process. The standard places responsibilities for ground conditions within multiple roles. Be sure you know and understand your role(s) and responsibilities, in addition to the other roles (by reading the standard), and reference ASME B30.27 in your contracts. ASME B30.27-2020 has been approved and will be available for purchase in early 2020.

YOUR INSURER SHOULD BE HELPING YOU BECOME A BETTER COMPANY

One of the primary objectives of your insurance company should be to provide the finest insurance coverage available while simultaneously improving the risk profile of their policyholders. At NBIS, we see the changing safety, regulatory and technology landscapes as opportunities to both educate and provide coverage. Can your current insurance carrier say the same?

MAKE A DAILY COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

If “your people are your most valuable asset,” as many companies like to say, then prove it by making a real investment in your employees. Be sure to provide ongoing safety and risk management training—both online and in person—on a variety of topics, like the switch from CSA to IRT, defensive driving, and general construction safety. And don’t forget to document that training.

As we move into a new year, be sure to bring the lessons learned and commitments made in 2019 with you. As always, for more information on safety, risk management and training, or to for more information on how your agent can obtain an insurance quote from NBIS, call (877) 860-RMSS or visit www. NBIS.com.