Bedbugs
What You Need to Know
Bedbugs are brown, oval, flattened and up to ¼” in size and are attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat
One female can lay 12 eggs/day or more and can live for a year without eating
Bites often occur as a series of 3-“breakfast, lunch, and dinner” most often on shoulders and extremities
Most often found in wood, furniture, carpeting, wall cavities, inside clocks, phones, computers, baseboards, clothing
Evidence- blood, sweet musty odor
What You Need to Do
Seal cracks, crevices, correct structural deficiencies, to reduce infestation potential
Have professional bedbug expert on contract with 24/7 availability
Educate occupants/staff and encourage “speak up” program
Be alert as reintroduction is a constant threat
Myths and Misconceptions
Bedbugs are attracted to dirt, food, and poor housekeeping-FALSE
Bedbugs rarely transmit and/or carry disease-TRUE
“Bug Bombs” or total release aerosols are effective against a bedbug infestation-FALSE
Commercial buildings, as well as residential buildings are often infested with bedbugs-TRUE
Expert Services:
Insurance
Claims: Prevention and Response
- Site Investigations/Inspections
- Loss Mitigation Protocol Development
- Creative Scope of Work Development
- Project Oversight
- Environmental Sampling
- Cause and Origin Investigation
- Emergency Response
- Client Interface
- Communication/Alert Development
- Liability Exposure Minimization
- Expert Consultation
Underwriting: New Product Development and Risk Assessment
- New and Emerging Risk Education-Focus on New Areas of Coverage Opportunity
- New and Emerging Product/Technology Applicability to Underwriting Coverage
- Recommendations for Coverage Expansion Based on Risk Minimization Strategies
- Policy Language Review/Development Based on Industry Specific Issues
Due Diligence: Investigation, Auditing, Verification and Risk Assessment
- Project Oversight Ensuring Compliance with Policy Coverage
- Immediate Communication re Project Issues Impacting Policies
- Detailed Reports of Project Findings/Oversight with Recommendations
- Cost Estimate Development Based on Construction/Remediation Options
- Phone Surveys/Desktop Reviews Focusing on Issues of Potential Concern
Remediation Cost Auditing and Risk Quantification
- Review/Audit of Contractor Invoices
- Scope of Work Performed Analysis (Best Practices, Regulatory Compliance)
Expert Testimony
- Environmental Risk
- Healthcare Risk
Education and Training: Claims and Underwriting
- Seminars/Webinars on Environmental/Healthcare Issues Focusing on Claims/Underwriting Risk
- Seminars/Webinars on Emerging Issues and Policy Impact as well as Coverage Expansion Opportunities
- White Paper Development
Insurance Toolkits: Claims and Underwriting
- Development of Underwriting Applications for Healthcare/Environmental Risk
- Development of Value Added Risk Management Checklists/Protocols for Insureds
- Operations and Maintenance Programs for Water Intrusion Risk Management, Asbestos, Lead Based Paint
- Hazard Assessment Critical Control Point Programs (HACCP)
Insurance Risk Alert Service
- Development of Insured Alert Communications re Emergency Healthcare/Environmental Risk
- Development of Employee Alert Communications re Emergency Healthcare/Environmental Risk