With the New Year, many are reflecting on 2018. Unfortunately, 2018 saw many natural disasters in the United States. From hurricanes to wild fires, many homeowners and business owners were required to clean up and rebuild.

As 2019 begins, it can be beneficial to reflect and reevaluate the measures your Lodge has in place, should something similar occur where you reside. Take the time to evaluate your Lodge’s natural disaster preparation plan because a few simple steps can help you make the best of a terrible situation:

How to Prepare your Lodge

Your buildings are likely your Lodge’s biggest assets, and can also be the most costly to repair. With these tips, your Lodge will be better prepared and protected.

• Risk Assessment – Start by evaluating the natural disasters that your Lodge […]
  

A surprising number of claims come from an unexpected source: metal folding chairs. Collapsing chairs are dangerous and often collapse during normal use. Many injuries can occur from a chair collapse, including:

• Heavy bruising
• Smashed fingers
• Broken arms and wrists
• Fractured pelvises
• Severe lacerations
• Concussions

Injuries associated with deteriorating folding chairs may require corrective surgeries, hospitalization and significant recovery times. They are extremely expensive to both the injured and your Lodge, as medical expenses alone can easily top tens of thousands of dollars.

Evaluate Folding Chairs to Prevent Collapse

To avoid an injury and costly claim, perform a thorough and in-depth safety review of all chairs—whether they are folding or standard design. Questions to ask when determining if a chair should be retired:

• When was the chair purchased? If it’s over 10 […]
  

With the holiday season fully upon us, many Lodges are ready to decorate. During this joyous season, it is important to consider holiday decorating safety. Whether your Lodge decorates a small Charlie Brown tree or goes full Chevy Chase, keep your Lodge’s property and members safe with these tips:

Indoor Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

• If your Lodge purchases a live tree, check for freshness as a fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard. Because heated rooms dry live trees, fill the tree stand with water each day.
• If your Lodge has an artificial tree, ensure it has a fire resistant label. If not, consider purchasing one that does.
• Artificial or real, be sure to place your tree at least 3 feet away from all […]
  

Leaders make daily decisions that impact the success of their Lodge. As a leader, these members are expected to accept the same guidelines and duties that the heads of major corporations follow: the duties of diligence, loyalty and care.

Despite training and having the best interests of the Lodge at heart, mistakes can happen. When errors occur, members, other Lodge employees and even outsiders may question the decisions of your Lodge’s leaders.

Costly claims can follow board members’ choices, especially if a decision leads to a financial burden on the Lodge. These claims of mismanagement or breach of fiduciary duties can threaten the personal assets of your Lodge as well as your directors, officers and trustees.

Directors and Officers Liability protects your board members and their personal assets are protected. D & […]

Just like a home or vehicle, there are many things you can do to upkeep and maintain safety protocol at your Lodge. Implement these 5 safety essentials:

1. Fire extinguishers

All buildings and homes should have primary fire extinguishers, as well as supplementary extinguishers. Your local fire department should be able to help you determine overall fire safety standards for your Lodge, including the correct number of fire extinguishers and where to place them.

2. Smoke / Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Place smoke detectors on every floor of your Lodge and one in the kitchen. Test the batteries monthly, and change batteries yearly.

Carbon monoxide detectors help identify unsafe levels of carbon monoxide gas, an odorless, tasteless gas that can be lethal in large quantities. Like smoke detectors, they should be placed […]