Cameron Ellis

Many small and mid-sized construction companies often hesitate to hire a dedicated safety coordinator, seeing it as an unnecessary expense. But experts say that decision can lead to costly problems as a business grows. Shawn Gentry, Senior Loss Control Construction Manager at Central Insurance, points out that safety is more than just following rules or … Read more

Inflation is driving up the cost to rebuild, repair, or replace business property, but many small business owners haven’t updated their insurance coverage to keep pace. This gap can leave them underinsured and vulnerable if damage occurs. Prices for key construction materials like steel and aluminum have jumped by more than 13% and 22% over … Read more

Construction sites can be tough places to keep both workers safe and productivity high. A key way to improve both is through better toolbox talks, the short safety meetings held daily on job sites. Shawn Gentry, a senior loss control construction manager at Central Insurance, shares practical tips on how making these talks more relevant … Read more

Truck driving might look like a low-key job where you just sit behind the wheel for hours, but it’s much tougher than most people realize. Drivers face a lot of physical challenges that can lead to serious, long-lasting injuries. Sprains, strains, and muscle problems make up a huge part of these issues, with about 60% … Read more

Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company started in 1876 in Van Wert, Ohio, with a simple goal: to protect local property owners from loss. What began as a small, community-based mutual insurance setup has grown into a nationwide company still focused on serving people and their insurance needs nearly 150 years later. In the early days, … Read more

Small businesses across the U.S. face growing risks from cyberattacks, and experts say now is the time to take action. Cybercriminals are getting smarter and targeting smaller companies, which often lack the resources to protect themselves. The costs of these attacks add up fast, with the average breach costing close to $17,000—a number that has … Read more

Bringing new employees on board is an important moment for any business, but it also comes with some risks. Studies show that workers in their first year are much more likely to get injured than those with experience. This is because everything feels new—the tasks, the tools, and the pace of work can all be … Read more

In the construction world, safety is more than rules on paper—it’s about keeping workers safe every day. That’s where a site safety director comes in. This role is now seen as a key part of protecting workers and helping a construction business run smoothly. Jim Johnson, a construction loss control expert at Central Insurance, explains … Read more

In construction, a company’s reputation is often its most valuable asset. A single careless decision on a jobsite can have a big impact, changing how clients, contractors, regulators, and future workers see a business. The problem isn’t always the mistake itself, but what it reveals about the company’s culture and professionalism. Josh Buckley, a loss … Read more

Employee turnover is more than just a hassle for small business owners—it’s a costly problem that affects productivity, team morale, and workplace safety. Nearly all companies, 93% to be exact, have concerns about keeping their employees. When key workers leave, the cost goes beyond hiring and training replacements. It also touches on overtime wages, the … Read more