2023-24 Insurance Awareness Campaign

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The OIPA is competing in the annual CAIW Insurance Awareness Campaign contest sponsored by CAA Insurance. Each member of the OIPA will contribute an insurance awareness tip that specifically speaks to the public and relates to their profession. 

The OIPA won the 2020 Canadian Association of Insurance Women Insurance Awareness Campaign. The award money is used to support networking events and opportunities for our members.

This week's #BeBlunt post is by #OIPAMember and secretary, Melisa Jones. With spring temperatures already in the air, it's almost time for Seasonal Cottage owners to open up their "home away from home".
But before you hit the beach, boat, or deck you'll want to make sure that your cottage, without winter habitants (at least the human kind), has been inspected properly to make sure everything is safe and ready for another fantastic summer in the sun!
Before you even head up to your cottage, remember to have your insurance policy handy in case there are any "surprises" when you arrive.  Make sure you have all your keys, some cleaning supplies, and a tool kit in case something needs to be addressed as soon as you get there.

Check for any damage to power lines, phone lines, the chimney, the deck, the dock, windows, screens, and under the cottage at the posts, pads, and beams.

After surveying your property, head inside and check cupboards and counter tops for signs of mice or other animals, and look for any water damage that may have occurred over the winter.

Replace batteries in smoke alarms and flashlights.  Make sure your fire extinguishers are charged. Clean the eaves troughs and any branches that have become too close to the cottage over the winter.  Replace any filters that need replacing.

Inspect the water lines for damage before turning the water back on.  Take extra precautions when filling your hot water tank up and watch for leaks!

And finally, you're ready to relax and enjoy your summer!

There's Always A Reason to Smile.....Find It! 

This week's #BeBlunt post is by John El Khazen of El Khazen Engineering Corporation.  Why Did The Material Fail? Was it poor design, lack of maintenance, misuse, other? How do you properly determine why a system, product, or component led to a loss? Before beginning the forensic investigation it’s imperative to determine the scope of the assignment and the client’s requirements. Will it involve Failure Analysis (FA) or Root Cause Analysis (RCA)? FA focuses on the mechanical aspects of the failure or the physical root cause only. RCA, on the other hand, entails a more thorough investigation to determine the reasons for the loss or failure, including evaluation of mechanical and non-mechanical matters. If it’s a small component such as industrial samples or a relatively small loss then it might only be necessary to carry out failure analysis, after consulting with the client. The scope of the assignment could be determining the immediate cause of failure, for example, did the material experience brittle or ductile fracture? Click here for John's full article.  Communication with the client is integral for the establishment of project scope and problem definition before deciding between failure analysis and root cause analysis. This was a brief discussion of metallic fractures. For more information or if you have any questions feel free to contact John El Khazen, Principal at El Khazen Engineering Corporation, john@elkhazen.ca, 647-393-6212. #oipa #elkhazenengineering #metallicfractures #ductilefracture #brittlefracture #forensicengineer #materialsengineer #failureanalysis #rootcauseanalysis #OIPAmember

Mind the leaks! A leaking toilet can cost thousands! #OIPAmember Andrea Hadlington, CAIB, CPIB shares this great article from OTIP (Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan) on the importance of maintaining your plumbing exposures to prevent costly repairs and potential property claims.
Full article here: https://lnkd.in/ecNHB-b
#beblunt #insuranceindustry #riskmitigation #lossprevention

This week's #BeBlunt post is by Tania Lee of Centric Investigation Services Inc.Social Media Investigations – How Can They Help?

The same goes for every type of investigation – the more information you have, the better.

As social network sites continue to grow and social media continues to increase in popularity, people are becoming less concerned with their personal privacy. Social media has ingrained itself in the daily routines of many people, and users are consistently posting photos, comments, and tagging themselves and others – exposing a lot of information to a lot of people.

By contrast, social media has become a tool for private investigators to obtain information on their subjects of investigation.

Social media investigations are often conducted prior to surveillance, as they are very helpful in providing insight into the daily life of a subject – their movements, routines, associates, etc.

They can also assist in confirming actions that contradict work restrictions and insurance claims, locating subjects/missing persons, establishing timelines, and verifying employment among other things.

The metadata attached to most posts can provide more in-depth information as well, including where a subject was at the time that the post was made. This information can be useful in discrediting fraudulent claims, and sometimes even in questioning the reliability of a subject as a witness.

Private investigators are trained on how to obtain social media and all internet information in a way that is completely legal and admissible as evidence in court. Reports containing social media investigations always include the sources of the information, and investigators are always prepared to testify on the collected data.

https://www.centricinvestigation.ca/contact/

#OIPAmember Leah Sangster-Rydzik, Account Manager at Accomsure -ALE Management Solutions shares some important tips on reducing stress at the time of a claim. It’s no surprise that COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the lives of Canadians and people around the world. However, the pandemic has left certain people more financially vulnerable than others, especially when unexpected disasters arise in the home.

For this article, we will take you through the journey of a policyholder who was not financially prepared for a pandemic and the loss of her home. This anonymized example represents the experiences of many Canadians who have been laid off due to the pandemic and are now unable to shoulder the cost of temporary accommodation following an unexpected disaster.

What happens when policyholders can’t afford ALE expenses after losing their job? How can adjusters support these policyholders in their time of need? The following story will outline how losing a home can be especially hard for policyholders without access to emergency funds and how Accomsure can provide a light at the end of the tunnel for policyholders facing this difficult situation [like]:

Visit our website, send us an email, or call us at 1.888.212.5815 to submit a claim.

#OIPAmember Randy Henderson of Arcon Forensic Engineers shares these tips. With people spending more time at home and indoors, now is the perfect time to do your very own Fire Safety Risk Assessment for your residence. Here are some simple things to do and things to avoid, they could save your life or at least your home and the keepsakes and important documents that are in there. Replace your smoke detector batteries with every change in season, regardless of whether they are hard wired or not. Check the expiry date on your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors – these units do need to be replaced! Don’t power appliances such as window air conditioners with extension cords. Extension cords are designed to provide temporary power and are not meant to be a long term wiring solution. Even if you are using a cord that is suitable for the electrical load, it is still only meant for temporary power supply. Ensure that extension cords are not covered – they do heat up and need air circulation around them. Don’t be tempted to have 5 appliances plugged into a two-receptacle outlet. There is a reason for how many receptacles in each outlet and how many outlets per circuit. Related to this is that if a fuse panel fuse or breaker keeps failing, call in an electrician. Clean the lint trap in your dryer after every load and periodically (depending on frequency of use) check the dryer exhaust to ensure that there is no build-up of lint. Airborne particles of lint can lead to dryer fires. Only use candles for ambience during a romantic dinner and never as a light or heat source. Be sure to extinguish the candle before you leave the room regardless of the dinner result. Don’t leave portable appliances such as crock pots, plugged in and operating for hours if you’re not home. Clean out your toaster – unplug it first – to make sure particles of bread don’t ignite this is also true for your oven where uncleaned spills from a previous use can catch on fire. Don’t leave oily rags or rags doused in paint thinner in a pile or in a heap, even in your garage. Make sure combustible items are not stored close to open bulbs in closets or other storage rooms.  

#OIPAmember Oliver Gonzalez of OGEE Solutions Inc. shares some insight on mould (Not mail...mould) 🍄 
Every home has a certain amount of mould spores in the indoor air (and within wall cavities). But what are the types of moulds present? At what concentrations? Should you be CONCERNED?

The answer is “possibly”, but it depends on many factors. Yet, a good start to better understand your indoor air quality is to have air sampling completed to assess airborne mould spore concentrations. 

A mould investigator can help identify areas of mould concern and the proper procedures to remediate. An assessor is able to interpret the mould air quality results based on her/his training, experience, and assessment of the areas of concern. An airborne concentration of 50 spores/m3 of Aspergillus/Penicillium  type mould may not be of concern, but that same concentration of Stachybotrys mould spores can mean significantly different conditions. 

Also consider this: if you’re conducting any type of abatement or restoration, do you take into consideration the mould types you’re releasing into the indoor air from within wall cavities? Are you being safe for yourself and your clients??

Mould conditions can be A LOT worse within wall cavities 🍄🦠 That’s why proper containment and isolation of the work area are VERY important during restoration or renovation projects ✅ 

Once openings are made, the levels of airborne mould can easily spike within the work area and the home (if no containment) 🏡 This can lead to a variety of issues, including health concerns!

Make sure to hire informed contractors for mould abatement ✅ And make sure they understand the regulations/guidelines that guide abatement as well as health and safety! 

For more information contact OGEE Solutions Inc. today! 

☎️ 647-588-7660
📧 oliver@ogeesolutions.com 

👩‍💻 www.ogeesolutions.com

OIPA President and commercial broker at CCV Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Amber Arter CRM, CIP, shares some information about what a business insurance broker can do for you. “A broker acts on behalf of you, their client. They will take the time to understand your background, your current needs, and your expectations to help you identify the risks your business faces every day. Once you’ve narrowed down the risks, your broker will help you better manage those hazards, determine the appropriate type and extent of coverage you need, and find the best business insurance solution for you.” Read full article here: https://lnkd.in/e24PSrt
Article source: Northbridge Insurance
#businessinsurance #OIPAmember #BeBlunt Canadian Association of Insurance Women #insuranceawareness

 #OIPAmember Sami Shaker of Kodsi Forensic Engineering offers this tip that debunks this Myth: "I have ABS or All-wheel drive so I don't need winter tires." Winter tires are very important. Tires are the most significant safety equipment on vehicles; they are the only part of our cars, vans, trucks, and SUVs that touch the road, and they transfer all driving forces. Yet, with the exception of Québec which has mandatory winter tire legislation, only about a third of Canadians make use of winter tires. Many drivers believe that they do not need winter tires unless there is a lot of snowfall, or because they have a vehicle which boasts either all-wheel drive or ABS. The fact of the matter is that neither of these features actually improve traction; these technologies only optimize the vehicle’s use of available traction. Winter tires, however, will increase your traction and can reduce stopping distance by up to 30%. That could very well be the difference between a hit and miss! See full blog post at https://lnkd.in/e6j7rwi

#beblunt #wintersafety #onauto #kodsiengineering