Tag Archives: owners insurance

Inflatable Safety Tips For Your Family Fun Center: Gas Cylinders

Safety starts at the tank

Over the past seven years, our safety expert has visited over 1,000 family entertainment centers and performed loss prevention inspections for these businesses, several of which are insured through the Sterling & Sterling family entertainment center insurance program.

One thing many of these FECs have in common is their compressed gas cylinders safety and, unfortunately, how poor it is. Whether you’re using them for your inflatable business (read more about our inflatables insurance), use them to inflate balloons or for welding in your maintenance shop, these tips will go a long way in helping you make sure your setup is a safe one.

How to properly secure compressed gas cylinders

When it comes to securing these often bulky and very heavy tanks, you have a few options to choose from. If you’re going to keep it in one place, you can secure the compressed air tanks to the wall using a welded chain.

Do:
• Secure each of your compressed gas cylinders separately.
• Use toggle bolts if you are securing it to drywall.
• Use lag bolts if securing it directly to a wall stud.

Do NOT:
• Never try to secure more than one gas cylinder at a time!
• Don’t use plastic or crimped chain (typically used for hanging plants or other lightweight items) – this is an accident waiting to happen.

If you’d prefer to keep your tanks mobile, you can purchase floor stands that are designed specifically for compressed gas cylinders. The brackets for properly securing compressed gas cylinders can be found online through supply warehouses, or you can go to your local hardware store and purchase the materials and secure the tanks yourself (view the photos below to see examples of properly secured tanks).

insuremyfec gas cylinder safety

Ask your local compressed gas supplier if you are having trouble tracking down the right supplies or brackets. They should be able to provide you with information you’ll need to safely secure your tanks.

Don’t take the risk!

We cannot stress enough the importance of properly securing compressed gas cylinders in your family fun center. These cylinders are heavy and contain compressed gas; if one of them were to fall over there’s a high risk of serious injury for your customers. If they fall over and the valve breaks off, even on an empty cylinder, you have a small rocket to deal with and no way of controlling its direction of travel- watch the video below for proof!

No amount of professional liability insurance can prevent a catastrophe from happening, but a solid safety plan and a little common sense are a huge help!

In all of the photos and illustrations shown above, compressed gas cylinders are secured separately. Never try to secure more that one at a time! Far too often we have seen instances where two, three or even six compressed gas cylinders are secured with a single chain.

Handle With Care

The safety training with which this equipment is operated is another extremely important item to consider. Compressed cylinder usage and storage should be included in your FEC safety policies and procedures and training manual. All employees should be properly trained on the usage and dangers of compressed gas cylinders.

Have a question about any of the safety tips we mentioned? Call us toll free at (800) 767-7837 to see how you can make your FEC safer and talk to us about how our client safety inspections work.

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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 and help you avoid owners liability, 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.

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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.

10 Tips For Liability Insurance & Loss Control Planning

Insuremyfec Risk Management


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.

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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.

Nice Ice, Baby

Preparing an Ice Rink For The Holiday Season

Last week’s opening of Manhattan’s famed Rockefeller Center Ice Rink reminds us that the wintery holiday season is almost upon us. In fact, all around the country family entertainment centers that feature an ice rink are getting ready for their guests. But what goes in to making the perfect ice skating rink?

Watching professional skaters glide across the surface looks effortless – something the leisurely skater has probably questioned after falling down a few times. But there’s more to a great skater than meets the eye. It’s all in the ice.

Why Skatin’ Ain’t Easy

Varying the characteristics of indoor ice just the slightest bit can mean the difference between an embarrassing spill and winning the gold. Indoor ice rinks are used for all sorts of sports and recreational activities, not just figure skating and speed skating. Freezing an ice rink correctly takes more than a dozen steps, each playing a pivotal roll in the process of making the perfect skating surface.

Making The Ideal Ice Rink

Constructing an ice skating rink might seem like it’s as simple as flooding the floor with a bunch of freezing-cold water. Like most things in life, however, it’s not that simple.

Creation of a modern ice rink begins by running refrigerated pipes through, or under, a concrete slab. This part of the process is something guests rarely realize as they enjoy one of winter’s best family activities.

Once the slab reaches the correct temperature, the crew must apply the water atop it carefully and slowly, in order to insure ideal thickness. An ice surface that is too thick needs more energy to keep it frozen and is prone to getting soft on top. A surface that’s too thin is dangerous because skaters risk cutting straight through the ice, something that could cause accidents and an owners insurance nightmare.

After the ice reaches a thickness of around 2-3 centimeters (around one inch), a final, thin layer is added to create a nice, smooth surface for skaters to enjoy.

Now you know!

Want to know how to keep your ice rink in tip-top safety standards for the winter season? “Ask Matt” for answers from a expert insurance underwriter.

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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.

New Family Entertainment Center is a Welcome ‘Surprise’

Surprise, Arizona residents looking forward to their first family entertainment center

After years of requests, Arizona’s most unexpected city will finally get its first bowling and family entertainment center next spring.

Uptown Alley plans to open a 60,000-square-foot facility that will include a bowling center, laser tag, climbing wall and restaurant for guests.

According to local officials, a survey of more than 1,000 residents found that a bowling center was their second-most requested type of business to bring to the area. Except for a movie multiplex, Surprise has no large entertainment venue.

The developer behind the project plans to host a variety of events that are fun for all ages, including bowling leagues and group events, and programs for teens and seniors.

The new family entertainment center is expected to create at least 75 new jobs and bring $4.8 million in investment to the area.

Surprise is one of the many U.S. cities that are turning to larger family entertainment centers for their communities. Last week, we mentioned a new FEC that is set to open in Colorado Springs, bringing hundreds of jobs and heaps of fun to its community, as well.

Any way you slice it, it’s a good time to be in the entertainment industry. If you are thinking about starting your own center, or are curious to know if you have the right owners insurance for your current facility, “Ask Matt,” our expert insurance underwriter.