Avoid Owner’s Liability Risk With This Quick Checklist

bowling shoes

There’s a lot of risk involved with running a family entertainment center. In the unfortunate situation that an accident occurs, it’s ultimately the owner’s liability. Keeping this in mind, it’s pretty clear how important it is to establish a safe and secure foundation for your business. Everything from preparing your center top-to-bottom before opening the doors, checking often for safety hazards and maintaining these procedures and regulations throughout daily operation is crucial to keeping your family fun center as safe as possible.

Tips From Our Experts

Obtaining the right owner’s insurance for your FEC is what we do best, but we also try to educate each of our clients in the many rules & regulations to take into consideration for proper FEC maintenance and safety procedures. Use these tips to help make your center a safer, more successful business:

• Insurance:

Have the proper and complete coverage regarding the type of FEC in question. Bounce house fun centers with inflatables and party rooms will have different coverage than an FEC with go karts, mini golf, batting cages, climbing walls, etc.

The same principal applies to bowling centers where alcohol is present. Make sure you keep in touch with your insurance agent regularly and alert them to any changes or additions you might make to your center.

• Loss Control Evaluation:

Have your facility evaluated by your insurance company or qualified loss control expert.

This evaluation will examine your FEC for questionable items such as trip, fall and laceration hazards, electrical hazards, proper safety signage in place, functional emergency lights, fire extinguisher certification, etc. We include this valuable service to all FECs and bowling centers insured by the Sterling & Sterling Insurance program.

• Crisis Management Plan:

Accidents are going to happen, so be as prepared as possible. One accident or serious injury could potentially ruin your business if not handled properly. Having a Crisis Management Plan in place prior to opening your FEC or bowling center helps prepare you for handling the crisis properly and managing any fallout created by the incident.

If an accident does occur, make sure you contact your insurance agent immediately.

• Policies and Procedures:

Prior to opening your FEC or Bowling Center, establish the policies and procedures necessary to operate a profitable company. Procedures for safety, staff hiring and training and retraining, maintenance, crisis management, etc. should be in place and carefully thought out.

• Following Manufacturers Instructions:

Regardless of what type of fun center equipment you purchase- whether it be go karts, inflatable bouncers, climbing walls, paintball field, video arcade, etc. – all have operating and maintenance instructions that must be accurately followed to provide the safest and entertaining experience possible to visitors and employees. Following these instructions will keep your center running smoothly and safely.

• Adequate Staffing:

Establish your minimum staffing levels. You can consult the equipment manufacturers and also check with any state and local requirements. Having well trained adequate staffing will provide enough eyes to help ensure a safe operation. Never sacrifice safety for the few dollars more it would take to have a staff member on watch!

• Employee Background Checks:

If your fun center caters to children (from toddlers to teens), make sure to screen potential employees with thorough background checks before hiring.

Preparing your FEC with these suggestions will ensure that your visitors have a safe place to have fun! After all, that’s really the point isn’t it? This will keep them coming back time and time again for more enjoyment at your fun center. If you have more questions about running a safe and successful FEC, reach out to us at (800) 767-7837.

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Sterling & Sterling, Inc. is ranked as one of the top 50 Privately Held Insurance Brokerages in the United States. We help our clients reduce risk and spend less with our unique Risk Profile System®. By using these tools, on average, we have saved our clients 25% on their overall insurance costs. To see how we can help you create a safer, more successful family entertainment center, reach out to one of our insurance professionals today by contacting us here or calling toll free at (800) 767-7837.

Electrical Safety Tips For Your Family Fun Center

Insure my FEC electrical outlet safety

Electrical Safety in Your Family Fun Center

Does the picture above look like something you have lying around in your family entertainment center? We hope not! Electricity powers everything around us, providing comfort, convenience and security.

When it comes to family entertainment centers, electricity is not only an integral part of daily routine; it’s also one of the major reasons your FEC needs to have liability insurance. How can this be so? While vital to running your FEC attraction, electricity can also make matters take a turn for the worse if not cared for properly. When it comes to electricity, safety needs to be a major concern.

How Safe is Safe Enough?

Any business owner will tell you that it’s important to find the right owners insurance for your business. But having even the most comprehensive insurance policy doesn’t mean you can (or should) throw caution to the wind. When it comes to electricity and safety, there are a few rules to follow that will help keep your center safe for all. If you offer indoor or outdoor attractions, you should take the following into consideration:

Electrical/Water Hazard Safety

• Water and electricity don’t mix. Together, they can form a deadly combination.
• Keep water away from electricity and electrical appliances.
• Never use electrical appliances while standing in water.
• Always make sure your hands are dry when using an electrical appliance.
• Never use appliances while near water or outside when it’s wet or raining.

Use electrical cords wisely

• Repair or replace cords that are frayed or cracked.
• Always remove a cord from the outlet by pulling on the plug rather than the cord itself.
• Extension cords are only for temporary use. Prolonged use of extension cords can cause overheating and fire.
• Cords should never be nailed or stapled to a wall, baseboard or any other object.
• Cords should not have any furniture resting on them or be placed under a carpet or rug.
• Do not leave a cord where it can be stepped or tripped on.
• Never remove the third prong from a three-pronged plug. The third prong grounds electricity and are there for safety. If you don’t have a three-hole outlet, adapters are available at your local hardware store or home supply center.

Stay safe throughout your FEC

• Always install light bulbs that are the correct wattage for your lamps and fixtures.
• Cover unused wall outlets with plastic safety caps to protect children.
• Never overload outlets by using multiple plug-in adapters or power strips.
• Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). These special outlets prevent electric shock by detecting faults and shutting off electricity to the outlet when necessary. They are especially important in kitchens, bathrooms, and other places where water is present.

Have Your Center Inspected for Dangers

To really spot all the dangers, you need a professional eye. At Sterling & Sterling FEC Insurance, we offer our clients routine safety inspections to help make their fun centers safer. From common safety hazards to situations you’d never think of, our on-staff licensed safety professional can help you spot the dangers you’d never see coming. For more information, call us toll free at (800) 767-7837.

10 Tips For Liability Insurance & Loss Control Planning

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10 Ways to Manage Your Liability Risk

Any business owner can tell you they are constantly looking to cut costs, especially in today’s economy. That said, we want to let you know right from the start one corner you should absolutely not be cutting is your liability insurance. Instead, implement a loss control plan to help your business reduce costs and prevent the number of insurance claims you have to file. In the long run, this means lower premiums and safer patrons.

What Makes a Successful Loss Control Plan?

Regardless of the size of your family fun center, having an effective Loss Control Plan in place will provide you, the owner, a safer place for your visitors to have fun and a safer place for your employees to work.

Owners insurance is a must in running any successful business (and can’t for any reason be substituted), follow these tips when implementing your loss prevention plan:

1. Management Support: All management, including the owners and upper management executives, must show an interest in safety (click here to find out how important training is for this phase), and proper planning. Management should also be held accountable for enforcing safety rules and for any incidents that result from these rules being broken.

2. Create a written safety policy: A written safety policy is crucial in keeping your family fun center organized and safe. This document indicates the company’s safety goals, and includes objectives that should be developed and shared with all of your employees.

3. Employee input: All of your employees should be able to give input to management regarding safety suggestions. In most cases, employees are aware of existing problems regarding safety but, more importantly, these problems need to be communicated to management. With team work, solutions are easily created.

4. Training: Here at Sterling & Sterling Family Entertainment Insurance, we’re big believers in making sure our clients include a training program into their business model. You should always provide ongoing training programs to all employees and make sure that when new employees are oriented, they are also introduced to the safety policy we talked about in step two. Also, employees should be instructed to report any hazardous conditions to their supervisor immediately, regardless of how small it might seem.

Family Fun Center Insurance Risk Management

5. Accident Investigation: Accidents happen. No matter how much you plan and how hard you work to prevent them, accidents are a risk of the business. When one does occur, you should have a plan in place to properly investigate what happened. Investigation should be conducted to obtain all the facts and, most importantly, to prevent it from happening again. Make sure you contact your insurance professional immediately to report any claims.

6. Self-Inspection: While accidents are a part of the business, it certainly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do everything in your power to prevent them! Conduct self-inspections on a regular basis and identify any hazards found so you can correct them. In addition, inspections from your insurance carrier will be helpful in identifying hazards. Sterling & Sterling, Inc. Family Entertainment Center Insurance provides an on-site inspection to all FEC’s insured through our liability insurance program.

7. Keep Detailed Records: Keep accurate accident reports and logs. These will help you to watch for trends, repetitive injuries, etc., and help identify problem areas. These items, combined with a proper safety and Loss Control Program, will help you reduce the amount of claims at your FEC.

8. Safety Meetings: Regularly-held safety meetings should be coordinated with employees (at the very least, safety should be a topic at general meetings). Various issues can be addressed, ideas can be exchanged and problems can be solved. We recommend all FECs hold a monthly safety meeting to discuss any concerns and allow the staff to provide input.

9. Facility Protection: All facility safety equipment procedures should be reviewed and followed. This might include fire sprinkler systems, burglar alarms, fire extinguishers, access to emergency exits, etc. Owners should also be familiar with their city and state codes.

10. Knowledge of Equipment: Getting a new piece of equipment for your center can be an exciting event. Take the time to check all new equipment to make sure it is in compliance with federal, state and local regulations. In addition, make sure you read and understand the supplier operating instructions that come with the equipment, and implement a regular maintenance program.

With these 10 tips, you’ll be well on your way to having a complete Loss Control Plan for your family fun center. Want more help or have general questions? Head over to “Ask Matt” and get the answers you’re looking for.

Tips For Updating your Family Fun Center

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Is it REALLY February already? The beginning of a new year gives us all the chance to start fresh, with a new slate and a new positive outlook. When it comes to your family fun center, this refreshed way of thinking should absolutely be applied to your business.

Spring is quickly approaching (despite what a certain groundhog might say about it), and many fun centers will be opening their doors for another exciting season. Naturally, now is the perfect time to make sure your family entertainment center is in tip-top shape. Why not start with your website? There are several fairly easy updates you can apply to your website that will ensure that your family fun center is ready to take on another successful year.

Update your Information

First, make sure absolutely everything is up to date! This is the simplest solution, but is surprisingly often overlooked.

Have you:

• Added new items to your menu?
• Extended your business hours or changed your contact information?
• Added new birthday/party packages or changed your admission prices?
• Offering new deals and promotions?

Whatever the changes may be, make sure they are properly reflected on your website. There is nothing worse than visiting a business’ website and finding that their information is out of date.

Contact Your Family Fun Center Insurance Broker

Last, but certainly not least, many of the changes made to your family entertainment center must be reported to your insurance company. We cannot stress this enough. Adding a new ride or attraction to your center can be very exciting, but it could also potentially and drastically change your family fun center insurance policy.

If you offer any new activities where you could be liable to any injuries or damaged property – let your insurance professional know!

If you’ve recently made changes and aren’t sure if they will affect your liability insurance policy, head over to our F.A.Q. section and Ask Matt for help. (You can follow Sterling & Sterling FEC Insurance on Facebook and Twitter for more tips!)

Keep Your FEC Safe and Claim-Free This Halloween Season

October is a great time of the year for family entertainment centers. Whether you are hosting Halloween parties in your party rooms or building your very own haunted house, we thought we’d share these great tips from the Haunted House Association to help you avoid any scary liability insurance situations this holiday.

1. Flame Resistant Materials

If you are thinking about creating your own haunt this Halloween, flame resistant materials should be at the top of your shopping list. However, you might be surprised to learn that there are many different types available- latex paint additive, raw wood, fabric, outdoor-based flame retardant and more.

We suggest you contact your local fire authorities and talk to them about your plans, or ask your friendly family entertainment insurance broker via our “Ask Matt” service.

2. Emergency Lighting / Exit Signs

While we agree that creating a totally immersive haunted house might be the most fun, it’s not always the safest. Make sure emergency lighting and exit signs are properly displayed at all times throughout your haunted house.

3. Keep the Floors Clear & Safe

The Haunted House Association recommends you make sure your walking surfaces are even, and that your inclines are ADA compliant. This is extremely important in an environment where guests will constantly be looking everywhere, except where they are going!

Make sure any spills are cleaned right away and if possible use slip-resistant rubber mats or tack tape to decrease the chance of any slipping accidents – something you’d have to claim with your owners insurance.

4. Props

If you are planning to use any props in your haunt, be sure to check them thoroughly for any safety hazards. If you are using anything that might have contained toxic fumes or flammable contents, keep it outside or away from any possible ignition sources. Remember: the idea is to construct the illusion of a dangerous environment – not to actually create one!

If you follow all of these tips, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your haunted FEC safe for patrons this Halloween season, and avoid filing any claims with your family entertainment center insurance company.

Happy Halloween!

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