June 2006 HSB Can Help Your Clients Prevent Surge Damage Install surge protection. Pull the plug. These are some ways to help prevent electrical damage due to power surges. But how many of your clients have thought about this common exposure, or know how to protect their equipment? Warmer weather increases the risk of electrical surges. Click here for loss prevention guidelines prepared by the equipment specialists at HSB. A.M. Best Affirms Its Highest Rating For HSB, A++ (Superior) A.M. Best Company has affirmed its highest financial strength rating, A++ (Superior), for the Hartford Steam Boiler Group (HSB). In issuing its rating A.M. Best noted that HSB "has met the criteria for A.M. Best's highest rating category on a stand-alone basis." A.M. Best also assigned a stable outlook for HSB ratings. Only two percent of the U.S. property-casualty insurance groups rated by A.M. Best currently hold the prestigious A++ (Superior) rating. The courts increasingly require employers accused of EPL charges to demonstrate that they have made reasonable efforts to prevent unlawful practices. HSB's Portfolio EPL program offers online loss prevention services for insured clients. How many of your clients take proactive steps to avoid employee EPL claims? Click your answer below: •  Most of them. Employers today realize their exposure to work-related charges. •  Some of them. More employers are becoming aware they need to have formal policies in place. •  Few of my clients have formal procedures. They know the risk is there, but may be confused about what they can do to reduce their exposure. EPL Claims are Emotional, Take More Than a Year to Settle HSB Will Vigorously Defend Your Small Business Clients The anxiety over workplace charges makes employment practices liability (EPL) claims challenging. The fact that most EPL charges made against smaller employers prove to be groundless can be distressing to employers who feel they've done nothing wrong. It takes specialized knowledge, experience and resources to resolve EPL claims. DIFFERENT FROM PROPERTY CLAIMS "Employment claims are different from other liability or property claims," said Jeffrey O'Shaughnessy, assistant vice president, who directs HSB's Portfolio EPL program for small businesses which is offered through other insurance companies. "On average, EPL cases take more than a year to settle. In order to resolve these claims efficiently, you need specially trained claim adjusters and skilled employment law firms." CLIENTS FEEL BETRAYED Business owners often feel betrayed by employees who file EPL charges. They worry the distraction will hurt their business and may not know how to respond. Clients often say they thought of the worker as "part of the family," instead of an adversary who may cost them thousands of dollars in defense and settlement expenses. HSB DEFENDS THEM That's why it's important for small business owners to have quality EPL coverage. HSB has the ability to vigorously defend small business clients against EPL claims. With our program, HSB adjusts the EPL claims for insurance companies that add our coverage to their policies and provides access to specialized employment law firms around the country that have extensive experience with EPL cases. Doesn't Scan Following a utility power outage at a hospital, technicians discovered electrical damage to fluoroscopy and CAT scan machines. The machines were down for three days during repairs, forcing the hospital to cancel diagnostic tests for patients. Repair Cost Business Interruption Total Paid Loss $38,864 $4,225 $43,089 This example summarizes actual losses and coverage. For all terms, conditions and exclusions, consult the actual policy. Hartford Steam Boiler - One State Street - P.O. Box 5024 - Hartford, CT 06102-5024 Phone: 860-722-1866 - Fax: 860-722-5106 ©1996-2006 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.