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6 Factors That Affect the Cost of Restaurant Insurance

Posted by David Ross on Sat, Jun 17, 2023

Understanding cost factors can help you save on Restaurant Insurance in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Lancaster, Reading, Harrisburg, Bethlehem, Allentown, and anywhere in PARestaurant Insurance provides protection for a variety of establishments – full-service restaurants, bars, nightclubs, pizzerias, delis, caterers, food trucks, and more. And each type of restaurant has different risks and needs, which is why Restaurant Insurance can be complicated and should be customized.

It is a necessary investment for any restaurant, but no restaurant owner or manager wants to pay higher insurance premiums than necessary. So, whether you're still developing your business plan or have been in business for generations, understanding factors that affect your insurance premium can help your restaurant's bottom line. Here are six factors that can affect the cost of your Restaurant Insurance.

  1. Type of Restaurant

Every business is assigned a classification code based on the business's industry and activities. It may come from Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) or the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) is the Workers' Compensation rating authority. Cafes, fast food restaurants, fine dining, and family-style restaurants are a few examples. The code assigned to your restaurant can affect the cost of your insurance premium.

Insurance is all about risk; therefore, the more risk you carry, the higher your insurance premiums. For example, a restaurant selling alcohol has more risk than one that doesn't. Furthermore, the volume of alcohol sales in relation to your total gross sales will also affect your premium. If a large percentage of your total gross sales is alcohol, you expose your business to more risk, and your premiums will probably be higher. Some insurance companies won't insure you if they deem the percentage of alcohol sales too high.

If your restaurant offers additional activities, such as entertainment, delivery, off-site catering, a mechanical bull, etc., you may also pay a higher premium due to the added risk.

  1. Value of Assets

Another factor affecting insurance rates is how much it will cost to replace or repair something if it is damaged. If your assets – the building, furnishings, electronics, kitchen equipment, vehicles, artwork, etc. – are higher end, your insurance premiums will be higher. So before purchasing an expensive vehicle for deliveries, you may want to consider how it will affect your insurance premiums.

  1. The Space

If you lease the space, your lease agreement will probably have specific insurance requirements. If you own the property, you may pay a higher premium for a larger space because there may be more risk and a higher value. Many insurance companies base the rate of property insurance per 100 square feet. The location of your restaurant can also affect insurance costs.

  1. Number of Employees

The number of full– and part-time employees can affect several types of insurance, such as health insurance and certain types of liability insurance. Furthermore, in Pennsylvania (and most states), employers are required to carry Workers' Compensation Insurance (WC) for their employees, so the more employees you have, the higher your WC costs.

  1. Your Restaurant's History

If you have been in business for a few years and have proven to be riskier than the average restaurant, you may pay higher Restaurant Insurance rates. On the other hand, if you've proven to be a lower risk, you should be able to lower your insurance rates. Insurance companies look at the number of years you've been in business, your loss history, and more to determine your premiums.

  1. Independent vs. Captive Insurance Agent

Many insurance companies focus on different types of insurance, so sometimes getting various types– property, liability, WC, etc. – from different carriers is the least expensive route. A captive agent only represents one insurance company. Whereas an independent agent represents several insurance companies and will check with each to ensure you pay the lowest rate for your insurance coverage.

The agents at American Insuring Group are independent agents. We'll help you get the right coverage at the lowest cost. Contact one of our agents specializing in Restaurant Insurance today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

Tags: Restaurant Insurance, Restaurant Insurance Reading PA, Restaurant Insurance Costs

5 Tips to Minimize the Hazards of Commercial Deep Fryers

Posted by David Ross on Sat, May 29, 2021

Deep Fryer Safety Tips to help lower the cost of restaurant insurance in Philadelphia, Reading, Allentown, Pittsburgh, Erie, Lancaster, York, and throughout PennsylvaniaUsed properly, commercial deep fryers can result in delicious foods, but they can also cause injuries and damage, which increases Restaurant Insurance costs. Deep fryers are a staple in most restaurant kitchens. However, you can’t have a deep fryer without hot oil and grease, and both are powerful fuel sources and fire ignitors.

Hazards of Commercial Deep Fryers

Fire

Deep fryers are involved in about one in five restaurant fires. The FDNY reports that deep fryer fires cause an average of five deaths, sixty injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage every year.

Burns

The oil in commercial deep fryers is typically between 350- and 400-degrees Fahrenheit. Splashing oil can cause severe burns.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If a vent hood or fryer exhaust isn’t adequately cleaned or functioning properly, carbon monoxide – an odorless, colorless gas – can quickly fill a kitchen, causing carbon monoxide poisoning.

5 Tips to Minimize the Hazards of Commercial Deep Fryers

1. Proper Training

To avoid an unsafe cooking environment, any employee that uses a deep fryer should be trained on the proper operation and cleaning of a fryer and fryer safety protocol. They should also be trained on appropriate PPP, such as goggles and thermal rubber gloves when operating a fryer. And all kitchen staff should be trained on what to do if there is a fire.

2. Proper Maintenance

A deep fryer and oil that are properly maintained are less likely to cause a problem and more likely to function correctly for longer. Plus, it can help your fried foods taste better. Always have fryers services according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Here are four maintenance tips from Wasserstrom:

  1. Maintain the oil by filtering oil at least once a day, using a skimmer, allowing oil to cool during slower times, shaking off ice crystals from food, and not salting food above the fryer
  2. Regularly clean fryer oil well
  3. Once a week or as needed, perform a full-tank cleanse
  4. Calibrate the fryer every three months

3. Keep Area Around Fryer Clean

Employees should be trained to maintain a clean area around the fryer at all times. Spilled oil on the floor can quickly become slippery, causing an employee to slip and fall, and dirty vent hoods can cause fires, so make sure those are regularly cleaned. Another way to minimize slippery floors is to invest in non-slip mats with holes and require employees to wear non-slip shoes.

It’s also important to keep plastic away from fryers as hot oil can quickly melt plastic, creating a hazard. Utensils used in fryers – such as spatulas and mesh skimmers – should be stainless steel – not plastic. Also, avoid using plastic equipment – such as buckets - to clean fryers.

4. Use Fryer Baskets

Use commercial-grade fryer baskets designed for your fryer to hold and drop food into the hot oil. Although many restaurant kitchens use the word “drop” to describe adding food to hot oil, actually dropping the food or a fryer basket into hot oil can cause the oil to splash out. Gently lower the baskets into the oil to avoid burning someone or creating a slippery floor.

5. Keep a Class K Fire Extinguisher

Water doesn’t put out oil fires. Therefore, a Class K fire extinguisher - made specifically for fires involving cooking media, such as fats, grease, and oils – should be easily accessible. And all employees should be trained on how to use a fire extinguisher properly.

Commercial deep fryers are a staple in most restaurant kitchens – from food trucks selling French fries to upscale restaurants serving fried quail eggs. Following these tips will help keep your employees and your kitchen safe and help improve your bottom line.

Get a Free Restaurant Insurance Quote!

The independent agents at American Insuring Group specialize in Restaurant Insurance, so we can make sure you have the right insurance at the lowest price. Give us a call today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 or connect with us online to get a free insurance quote.

Tags: Restaurant Insurance, Restaurant Insurance Reading PA, Restaurant Safety, Restaurant Insurance Costs

The Real Cost of Employee Injuries in Restaurants

Posted by David Ross on Fri, Apr 23, 2021

Reduce your restaurant insurance costs in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Reading, Allentown and throughout PA with these tipsWorkplace injuries do more than increase your Restaurant Insurance costs. They cost your business in many other ways, such as lost productivity, lower morale, and more. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates the “total economic costs of work-related deaths and injuries” in 2019 at $171 billion, $1,100 per worker, and $1.2 million per death. Those figures include “income not received or expenses incurred because of fatal and nonfatal PREVENTABLE injuries.”

The good news – as the NSC points out – is that many of these injuries are preventable. Here are seven ways to minimize the risk of injuries – and the ensuing costs – in your kitchen. 

Suitable Attire

Ensuring your employees are appropriately dressed can go a long way to preventing accidents and protecting the quality of the food you serve. 

Providing or requiring closed-toed, non-slip shoes is essential to keeping workers safe in the kitchen. Closed-toed shoes help prevent cuts from falling knives and burns from hot oil. Non-slip shoes help prevent slips and falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 27% of the nonfatal work injuries in 2018 that resulted in days away from work were related to slips, trips, and falls. 

Personal Protective Equipment – such as gloves, oven mitts, and aprons – help prevent injuries such as burns. Properly-fitting uniforms - such as chef coats, cook shirts, and aprons – can help protect employees and minimize injuries. 

Professionally laundered uniforms have been shown to provide superior cleanliness as opposed to home washing machines. Hats and hairnets keep hair out of the way and prevent food from falling into the food. 

Non-Slip Mats

Again, 27% of work injuries result from slips, trips, and falls, and restaurant kitchens tend to be high-paced, busy places with employees constantly on the move. Therefore, anything you can do to keep your employees from slipping, tripping, or falling is essential to kitchen safety, making non-slip mats crucial for any restaurant kitchen. 

Proper Ventilation

“Having proper ventilation for your restaurant is imperative for employee and customer health as well as food sanitation,” FSR magazine states. “Improper ventilation can result in safety violations, higher utility bills, decreased employee productivity, and even flaring tempers from customers as well as employees. It can also result in loss of traffic due to unpleasant odors or uncomfortable conditions.” 

Fire Suppression System

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, “Restaurant fires accounted for about 6 percent of all nonresidential building fires reported to fire departments each year. These fires resulted in an average of less than one fatality per 1,000 fires, 11 injuries per 1,000 fires, and $23,000 in loss per fire.” 

Deep fryers are involved in one out of ten kitchen fires. Pouring water on a grease fire is not a good idea as it can cause the oil to splash and spread the fire, and the vaporizing water may carry grease particles, which can spread the fire further. 

Proper maintenance and cleaning of deep fryers help minimize the risk of fires, and installing a fire suppression system helps ensure that if a fire does occur, it is put out quickly and safely. 

Equipment Guards

Kitchen Equipment, such as mixers, grinders, and slicers, are an essential part of most commercial kitchens, but they also present a safety risk. In a fast-paced environment or without proper training, accidents can happen. An easy way to avoid cuts or amputations is installing appropriate guards that keep fingers and hands out of harm’s way. 

Appropriate Signage

Signage can draw attention to potential hazards – such as a wet floor – and prevent injuries. 

Proper Cleaning

Good sanitation should be a top priority in any kitchen. One uncleaned filter can cause a fire. A spill that isn’t immediately cleaned can cause an employee to slip and fall. 

Employees need to be trained on how to clean surfaces, equipment, and floors properly. Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly cleaning checklists and schedules should be strictly adhered to. 

When Injuries Can’t be Prevented

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, an employee is injured. Or a customer gets sick from a foodborne illness. Or a fire damages your kitchen. The right insurance helps protect you, your business, your customers, and your employees. 

Give one of the experienced agents at American Insuring Group a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 or connect with us online. Not only will we ensure you have the right insurance, but we’ll also ensure you get it at the lowest cost.

Tags: Restaurant Insurance, workers comp insurance, Restaurant Insurance Reading PA, Restaurant Safety, Restaurant Insurance Costs

Restaurant Safety and Outdoor Dining Tips

Posted by David Ross on Sat, Jul 11, 2020

Outdoor dining tips to help restaurants saver on insurance in Philadelphia, Berks County, Pittsburgh, Erie, Harrisburg, PA and far beyond.The rules and restrictions put in place by Gov. Tom Wolf, during the COVID-19 pandemic, forced many restaurants to get a little creative. At first, only take-out and curbside pickup were allowed, and then in early June, restaurants were given the okay for outdoor seating.

Many restaurants that hadn't offered outside seating before the pandemic, quickly adapted. And even as we moved into the green phase and some of the restrictions on indoor dining were lifted, many diners continued to feel safer eating outside.

Even without the fear of COVID-19, many people enjoy outdoor dining. Still, restaurants need to remember that outdoor dining presents a few challenges, including risks that could affect the cost of Restaurant Insurance.

Here are tips to ensure the safety of your customers and staff:

Food Safety

Food safety should always be a priority for restaurants, but as the temperatures rise, it becomes even more crucial. According to the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS), there is a "Danger Zone" – temperatures 40 to 140 degrees F - where bacteria can grow more rapidly. 

If you are in the "danger zone" (which will often occur with outdoor dining in the summer), don't leave food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours, and if temperatures are above 90 degrees, that time goes down to one hour. Cold foods should be kept at 40 degrees F, or colder and hot foods should be kept at an internal temp of 40 degrees F or higher.

Weather

Bad weather can be just a nuisance or an actual danger to outdoor diners and restaurant staff.

Restaurant managers can keep an eye on the weather and be more prepared for bad weather by uploading a weather app to their phone.

A roof, partial enclosure, or even table umbrellas can help keep diners dry and protected from the hot sun.  Other ways to keep diners cool are fans or mist sprayers. Also, make sure your staff provides cold water to customers on particularly hot days.

As the weather begins to cool, you can extend your outdoor dining time with patio heaters to keep diners warm on chilly fall evenings.

Bugs

Bugs are just a part of summer living, but that doesn't make them any more tolerable when your customers are trying to enjoy their meals al fresco! Consider adding mosquito-repelling plants (such as lemongrass or scented geraniums) or a commercial bug zapper or bug light. Do NOT spray insect repellent around food or customers.

Smoking

According to the PA Department of Health, smoking is not banned for "structures such as a deck or patio that is not enclosed by walls and a ceiling." You should still have a policy in place, especially if you decide to extend the ban to outdoor spaces at your restaurant.

Pets

Americans are obsessed with their pets, and many would love to bring their dogs along with them when they eat outside. While many states (17, according to Michigan State University's Animal Legal and Historical Center) are beginning to allow pets into outdoor areas of restaurants, Pennsylvania is currently not one of them – unless it is a service animal protected under the American with Disabilities Act. The reasons for this restriction given by many experts are health (diseases and parasites), safety (biting), and aesthetics (barking).

Lower Your Restaurant Insurance Costs

Keeping diners and staff safe helps keep the costs of Restaurant Insurance in check. Another way to keep those costs down is to work with an independent agent (like those at American Insuring Group) who can compare the cost of your insurance with several carriers to ensure you get the best price. Give us a call today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 or connect with us online.

Tags: Restaurant Insurance, Restaurant Insurance Reading PA, Restaurant Liability Insurance, Restaurant Safety, Restaurant Insurance Costs

Do You Need Restaurant Liability Insurance Coverage?

Posted by David Ross on Thu, Dec 29, 2016

Things to consider when purchasing Restaurant Liability Insurance in Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Allentown, Erie, Pittsburgh, PA and beyond.Imagine… One of your servers loses his grip on a hot cup of coffee and it lands on a patron’s lap. Or a woman slips on a wet spot in your restroom and breaks her ankle in two places.

As a restaurant owner, you’re probably already aware how quickly an accident can happen in your establishment. So it’s incumbent upon you to be prepared for the lawsuits and expenses that often accompany these type of mishaps. Without adequate restaurant insurance protection, your business assets could be seized to pay any claims for which you’re found liable. 

Even when the court does not rule in the patron’s favor, your restaurant will still be responsible for court costs and your attorney's fees to defend the case.

 

Getting the right insurance protection

Without the proper insurance coverage, incidents like these could bankrupt, or at least derail, your small business. Liability insurance safeguards your business from claims from others, including lawsuits. This insurance starts with a General Liability (GL) policy, but there are also plans to meet a restaurant’s specific needs. These include:

  • Liquor Liability if your business serves alcohol
  • Excess Liability to increase the liability limits on your policy
  • Assault and Battery Liability if a fight breaks out and there are injuries
  • Cyber Liability to address data breaches

Who needs this insurance?

Restaurant liability insurance is appropriate for a variety of hospitality businesses including:

  • Full-service restaurants
  • Fast-food restaurants
  • Bars and taverns
  • Sports bars
  • Night clubs
  • Delis
  • Pizzerias
  • Food trucks
  • Caterers

This list is not comprehensive, but it gives you an idea of the types of establishments that incur the risks associated with serving food and drinks to customers and clients.

What does general liability insurance cover?

Liability policies will usually include the following:

  • Financial awards to the plaintiff if you lose your case
  • Attorney’s fees for defending your business in court
  • Future medical payments for an injured party
  • Settlement costs if it makes sense to settle out of court

If a patron’s injury or illness results in death, your GL policy will cover the medical expenses, funeral expenses, and any court-awarded compensation. Just remember, when your employees are injured or become sick while working for you, they are not covered under your GL but by your Worker’s Compensation insurance.

Property damage claims coverage may be included

Keep in mind that your policy may also protect your food service business from liability due to injuries or property damages that happen at other locations. Think about a business that caters an event at which a food warmer malfunctions and the resulting fire causes property damage at the venue. Your policy would handle the costs and any lawsuits.

And don’t forget personal and advertising injury claims

When your restaurant uses advertising or any promotional literature, you need to take into consideration that you may be infringing on another restaurant’s brands or copyrights. A general liability policy that covers you if you copy the promotional literature of another business would make sense. It protects you from accusations that your advertising slandered or libeled another company or person and caused non-physical damage.

 

Be Prepared - Contact Us for All Your Restaurant Insurance Needs

Contact us for Restaurant Liability InsuranceNo matter how well prepared you think you are, your food service business is not immune to accidents. A Restaurant General Liability policy is a must to protect you against the unpredictability of mishaps, oversights, and lawsuits.

When shopping for coverage, contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 for help in finding the right policy to fit your restaurant business needs.

Tags: Restaurant Insurance, Restaurant Insurance Philadelphia PA, Restaurant Insurance Allentown PA, Restaurant Insurance Lancaster PA, Restaurant Insurance Reading PA, Restaurant Liability Insurance

Food Product Recalls and Restaurant Insurance Solutions

Posted by David Ross on Tue, Oct 13, 2015

Restaurant-Insurance-Food-RecallsHaving the right type of restaurant insurance coverage is key to protecting your business in the event of a food recall. That's because food recalls have become a major concern for restaurant owners and others in the food businesses in recent years.

The number of recalls has nearly doubled since 2002, costing many of these affected businesses more than $10 million for each incident, with some going as high as $100 million. Most of that money is spent on product disposal costs, business interruptions, and customer reimbursements. And those figures do not include the reputational damage that lowers profits for food producers.

A 2013 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated that nearly nine million people were sickened by contaminated food that year, costing the U.S. public health system a stunning $15 billion in hospitalization costs and lost wages.

Food recalls are triggered for several reasons, nearly half of which are for microbiological contamination. Another 25% come from incorrect or missing labelling. Defective packaging, physical and chemical contamination, and unapproved ingredients round out the list. 

Food Product Recalls and Restaurants

As a restaurant owner, it’s imperative that you keep on top of all food recall information – from both the FDA and the USDA. You can do that by regularly checking www.foodsafety.gov. You can also get recall information sent right to your email inbox or by uploading an app.

If you discover that there is a recall on a product that you serve, check to see if the items you have in stock are part of that recall. Then, find out the reason for the recall. As we mentioned, food can be recalled for everything from microbiological contamination to inaccurate ingredient labeling. If you do have recalled product, identify and separate those products. Finally, contact the manufacturer to determine whether to return or throw away the recalled product and to ask for a refund.

Restaurant insurance is a vital component of risk management

Contaminated foods can have a devastating effect on a food manufacturer or restaurant’s reputation. Also, consumers who have been poisoned by contaminated food can file claims for financial compensation. All of this points to restaurant insurance as a means of mitigating the financial impact of a recall. There are several possible solutions:

Product Liability Insurance provides compensation of justified third-party claims and defense costs for injury caused by a contaminated food product.

Product Recall Insurance reimburses expenses for the recall of any food product that was accidentally contaminated or labelled incorrectly and resulted in sickness, disease or death. It covers the company’s expenses related to the recall such as notification, testing, disposal, product replacement, and reimbursement of the purchase price.

Contaminated Product Insurance pays expenses that are associated with accidental contamination, malicious contamination, or product extortion demands. Specific losses that are covered include recall expenses, pre-incident consulting, post-incident crisis management, third-party expenses, loss of gross profit, and rehabilitation expenses.

Get the Right Restaurant Insurance for Your Peace of Mind 

Each of these types of insurance addresses a specific need. Click here to contact us or give us a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to find the right insurance solution for your company based on your risk exposure and the level of protection that you need.

Tags: Restaurant Insurance, Restaurant Insurance Philadelphia PA, Restaurant Insurance Allentown PA, Restaurant Insurance Pittsburgh PA, Restaurant Insurance Reading PA