Smooth is a very important word when it comes to auto body paint jobs. You want to avoid that orange peel effect and get a beautifully smooth finish. You also want the process itself to go smoothly, so you don't end up with a fire or explosion in your paint spray booth. A smooth operation at your auto body service shop starts with meeting the current codes and standards from the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®). Specifically, NFPA 33 is the code that provides requirements to reduce

Everyone knows you have to insure your cars, trucks and other farm equipment. But what about all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and those vehicles you use for fun? Coverage for ATVs Physical damage coverage is important, just as for any other piece of farm equipment. You can select physical damage deductibles with State Auto's Farm and Ranch Policy for as low as $100 in most states. To cover possible injury, purchase liability coverage Our policy covers your liability when vehicle is on your

Today's farmers often have a much larger fleet of vehicles than in the past. This means more farm employees are involved in driving those vehicles, creating a huge need for driver safety programs. To keep the farm operation from an unanticipated increase in risk exposure, you must identify issues and manage employee driver behaviors.  All farm employees - whether full time, part time or seasonal - and all members of the household on the farm should be included in a driver safety program.

You may have increased the number of vehicles and trailers you use in order to maximize harvest transportation and keep labor costs down. There are many hazards associated with using these types of vehicles, especially by an inexperienced or perhaps inattentive driver. Understanding maintenance needs, how to inspect vehicles, and how to recognize hazardous conditions are all important for vehicle safety. Here are some things you can do to maintain safe farm vehicles: Check tire condition and

  Most farms have detached garages or other private structures that are designed solely for your personal use. Did you know that State Auto's Farm and Ranch Policy automatically provides 10 % of the dwelling limit for these structures that are located near your house? Typically includes private garages, utility buildings, boat slips and docks in same location as your house. Other structures covered include gazebos, tennis courts, children's play houses, structures for hot tubs, in-ground

  Download Checklist   State Auto Insurance makes no representations or guarantee as to the correctness or sufficiency of any information contained herein, nor guarantees results based upon use of this information. State Auto does not warrant that reliance upon this document will prevent accident and losses or satisfy federal, state and local codes, ordinances and regulations. The reader assumes entire risk as to use of this information.

As a business owner, do you need professional liability or general liability for your business? The answer could be both. If you're not sure why you might need these two types of liability insurance, or, if you're thinking, "Aren't those the same thing?", keep reading. Let's start with the easy answer - most every business owner needs some form of business liability coverage. A popular version is called a General Liability Policy, also called commercial liability, or CGL. No matter what kind of

The construction industry is growing and becoming more complex at the same time. For a contractor, this means keeping up with marketing, hiring and design-build trends. Oh, and making sure all aspects of your work are covered by insurance. According to The Associated General Contractors of America, there are 7 million contractors employed in the construction industry in the United States. That's a lot of jobs to be filled by a workforce that has continued to dwindle since the economic downturn

Lawsuits concerning construction defect often give contractors cause to rethink their insurance and consider adding endorsements to enhance their policy. Building owners, lessees and general contractors are now adding requirements to their contracts. When a contractor is entering into a contract for a construction project, the insurance agent can help with coverage and help identify potential issues. Here are the 5 most common situations where an endorsement is needed on a contractor's general

Pop quiz: Is the work of subcontractors covered by your liability insurance? If you answered yes, you may be correct. If you said no, you may also be correct.  You likely already know that the typical commercial general liability (CGL) insurance policy doesn't cover "your work." (Why is "your work" in quotation marks? Because it's like that in the actual policy … indicating it's a specifically defined word in the policy.) For example, one of the more commonly used forms in the insurance