Flood insurance changes to note as Hurricane Joaquin hits the East Coast

Hurricane season began back on June 1^st, but people often forget that it extends until November 30^th. The summer along the East Coast was very mild in terms of the number and intensity of storms, but the emergence of Category 1 Hurricane Joaquin has disrupted this lull with its torrential rain and flooding. Ninety percent of all natural disasters include flooding, which highlights the importance of possessing flood insurance. Bear in mind that everybody is in a flood zone, but some areas are at greater risk than others. Even if you do not live or own a business on the east coast and are far away from Joaquin’s path, all 50 states have been hit by floods or flash flooding in the past five years.

Do you have the appropriate workplace violence coverage?

Often times, the public only hears about extreme examples of workplace violence, such as the Virginia shooting homicide of two journalists on live television or the beheading of a woman at an Oklahoma food processing plant. However, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration reports that roughly two million workers per year are the victim of workplace violence. This includes everything from verbal abuse to physical assaults to homicide. Contrary to popular belief, workplace violence is not always about work, and can be completely random. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the assailant had no known personal relationship with his or her victims in two-thirds of workplace homicides.  The frequency of these incidents is creating pressure for employers and risk managers to develop preparedness to deal with such challenges.

Lithium batteries and air shipment risks

Lithium-ion batteries were cited in South Korean investigators’ final report as a contributing factor in the 2011 Asiana Airlines Boing 747 crash that killed both pilots on board.  Since 2006, lithium-ion batteries have been connected to several airline cargo fires including two jumbo jet crashes and a UPS cargo plane emergency landing.  Also interesting to note, Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was reported to have been carrying 440lb of lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium batteries, when packed tightly together, can overheat and emit gasses which build up leading to fire and explosions.  Recent testing by the Federal Aviation Administration shows aircraft fire protection systems “are unable to suppress or extinguish a fire involving significant quantities of lithium batteries, resulting in reduced time available for safe flight and landing of an aircraft to a diversion airport,” aircraft makers said. “Therefore, continuing to allow the carriage of lithium batteries within today’s transport category aircraft cargo compartments is an unacceptable risk to the air transport industry.”

Internet conglomerate enters the insurance market

The latest news that Google is investing in consumer health insurer, Oscar Health Insurance, will no doubt have traditional health insurers worried.  How worried is the question.

Stories outline that Oscar Health will deploy wellness techniques including free fitness devices and more telemedicine while focusing on becoming more of an internet service than traditional health insurers.  However, these are hardly big new discoveries.  Nor are there any barriers keeping traditional insurers from copying the tactics if they work.  

Energy cyber concerns are real, report reveals hacks

It was reported this week that cyber attackers compromised the security of U.S. Department of Energy computer systems over 150 times between 2010 and 2014. The information came from a review of federal records and confirms what many of us have long feared was the case, that the cyber attacks against our energy infrastructure are a reality and could be potentially devastating.

USA Today, with the help of various reporters across the country, obtained access to federal energy records and found that nearly every four days, part of the nation’s power grid is struck by a cyber or physical attack, potentially leaving millions in the dark. The records obtained by USA TODAY through the Freedom of Information Act, confirm the vulnerability of such an attack on our critical energy infrastructure.

UK insurance premium tax gets a reprieve

It was announced last month that the U.K. Insurance Premium Tax would increase to 9.5% from the current 6% for coverage purchased on or after November 1st by the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne as part of his summer budget. Though the insurer pays the tax directly to the government, it would show up as higher premiums for the buyer in the long run.

Following the announcement, there was such an uproar that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) then temporarily relaxed the filing requirements for insurers. Even though the dust has settled since the surprise statement, but some experts in the industry are still concerned about the impact that the potential rise could have on the market.