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Key Risks in Cold Chain Shipping and How to Mitigate Them
Key Risks in Cold Chain Shipping and How to Mitigate Them 1000 667 James Hallam

Cold chain shipping is an integral part of the global shipping industry. In this post, we will outline the key risks in cold chain shipping and how to manage them, so as to guarantee maximum efficiency while maintaining the integrity of your goods.

What is Cold Chain Shipping?

Cold chain shipping is the specialist transport of goods that must be kept at a certain temperature to retain their integrity. This can include food, horticultural products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. These goods are stored in a temperature controlled environment, and they are packed in specialist containers that will keep them at the desired temperature during transit, usually with the use of dry ice, gel packs, or liquid nitrogen.

Real time monitoring and specialist handling techniques are required throughout the goods’ journey to their final destination. The goods are stored in cold warehouses at every stop of the journey, and they are transported in temperature controlled vehicles, such as refrigerated trucks.

The specific temperature requirements will depend on the goods being shipped. Some goods will simply require refrigeration at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C. Other goods must remain frozen at temperatures of around -18°C throughout their journey. Some goods require transporting at ultra-low temperatures, around -80°C.

Key Risks of Cold Chain Shipping

Any issues with the cold chain shipping process can result in spoilage, which will invariably lead to significant losses, and damaged customer trust. But in cold chain shipping processes involving chemicals and pharmaceuticals, any issues could lead to additional health risks, and even death.

Below we will outline some of the key risks of cold chain shipping, before exploring how you might address these risks, including:

  • Poor temperature management
  • Inadequate packaging
  • Poor training
  • Lack of contingency planning

Poor Temperature Management

Unless you act to ensure that all goods are kept at the required temperature throughout the entire shipping process, there will be a strong risk of spoilage, deterioration, and even the potential for pathogen growth.

This is a particular issue when goods are shipped overseas in refrigerated containers (reefers). If reefers lose power during a voyage, either as a result of mechanical breakdown or human error, then the temperature control can fail, which could cause entire shipments to be lost.

Issues with reefers during overseas cold chain shipping processes can lead to additional issues, as it is often difficult to determine just who is liable for the container losing power. This can lead to costly disputes between shippers and carriers.

Inadequate Packaging

The packaging used in a cold chain shipping process should do more than keep the goods cool. It should also protect them from humidity, light, and impact.

Poor Training

Employees may assume that all products involved in a cold shipping process have the same temperature storage requirements, which may not necessarily be the case. Some products may carry additional storage or handling requirements beyond the temperature requirements. If your employees are not familiar with these procedures, it could lead to losses, and even certain health risks.

Poor training could also lead to inconsistent labelling and recording, which could lead to compliance issues, along with considerable delays to the end-to-end shipping process.

Lack of Contingency Planning

Many things could go wrong during the cold shipping process. Power outages, equipment failures, traffic delays, and other factors could compromise the integrity of your goods. If you are not prepared for such unforeseen circumstances, then the slightest setback could lead to severe problems down the line.

How To Mitigate the Risks of Cold Chain Shipping

There are a number of ways you can start mitigating the risks of cold chain shipping to reduce spoilage and potential risks, including:

  • Risk assessments and contingency planning
  • Staff training
  • Packaging
  • Technology

We’ll address each of these in more detail below, covering how you can follow these processes and reduce risk.

Risk Assessments and Contingency Planning For Cold Shipping Issues
Take the time to consider anything that could go wrong at every stage of the cold shipping process, and outline how you would address each issue. Create a document that describes the actions that should be taken in the event of each specific setback, along with who is responsible for taking these actions.

Staff Training for Monitoring and Handling Shipments
Any employee involved in a cold chain shipping process should be trained to treat each specific shipment as its own unique case, with specific temperature, storage, and handling requirements. To ensure compliance and operational efficiency, employees should also be trained in the correct labelling and documentation procedures.

Packaging Best Practice
Never cut corners when it comes to your packaging solutions. Always choose the most durable solutions that are validated for the specific temperature ranges required for the process.

Invest in Tech for Real-Time Temperature Monitoring
Do not rely on outdated tools to monitor your temperatures and record your shipments. Instead, invest in advanced tools to allow for continuous real-time temperature monitoring, so that you can respond to any issues as soon as they become apparent.

Get Specialist Marine Insurance for Cold Chain Shipping

Everard Insurance Brokers provides specialist cargo insurance solutions, which can include dedicated cover for cold chain shipping operations. We can help ensure your cargo is properly protected from origin to destination.

Your specialist marine insurance could include parametric cargo insurance cover. If a temperature fluctuation takes place during the shipping process, GPS sensors in the container can automatically notify your insurer. As well as helping to avoid liability disputes between the shipper and the carrier, you may also be able to get a settlement even before the container is opened and the damage is discovered.

Find out more about our specialist marine insurance services.

 

Right of Light Insurance Explained for Property Developers
Right of Light Insurance Explained for Property Developers 1000 667 James Hallam

A right to light claim can delay or derail any development project, and it could result in significant financial losses. This is why it is important that everyone involved in any property development project takes the time to understand what right to light is, along with the possible implications of a claim.

What is Right to Light?

Right to light is a legal easement that gives landowners a right to receive light through any defined aperture, such as a window or a skylight, on any building on their land.

This is an extremely old law, based on measures first outlined in the Ancient Lights Law of 1663, and further developed in the Prescription Act 1832. The Prescription Act 1832 stipulates that a property owner obtains an absolute and indefeasible right to light after 20 years of uninterrupted access through a buildings window or opening.

What are the Purpose of Right to Light Laws?

These laws are put in place to prevent developers from building extensions or structures that block or reduce natural light below acceptable levels.

If a landowner has been receiving natural daylight through windows or other apertures for 20 years or more, then they can prohibit any development that would deprive them of this light

In practice, this means that neighbouring properties cannot build anything that would obstruct this light.

What is a Light Obstruction Notice (LON)?

Often a Light Obstruction Notice (LON) is issued by the developer to the neighbouring properties. A LON is a legal tool used in England and Wales to stop a neighbour from gaining a legal right to light. It acts as a virtual barrier which pauses the 20-year time limit to claim that light and lasts for 12 months if registered correctly.

How Does the Right to Light 20 Year Rule Work?

Imagine a landowner who has been living in their property for 20 years or more and they have always received light through the large windows in their living room. However, one of their neighbours builds an extension which blocks a lot of this light. As a result, their living room is not as bright as it used to be.

In this instance, the claimant could make a right to light claim by verifying their entitlement by hiring a specialist surveyor / solicitor to investigate. Most disputes end in financial compensation or adjusted building plans, but it could also end up with a court-ordered cut back, demolition or an injunction stopping the development altogether.

This is why it is crucial for property developers to have a financial contingency plan.

The Role of Insurance in Right to Light Claims

An insurance policy can provide you with the necessary financial contingency plan. Whilst it doesn’t remove the issue, it provides peace of mind that if a claim occurs then the insurance policy will indemnify the insured for financial losses covered in the policy.

What does a Right to Light Insurance policy cover?

  • Court costs and out of court settlements
  • Loss in market value of the property
  • Abortive costs of works and alteration, demolition and reinstatement of a property
  • Professional fees associated with the above
  • Defence costs, legal fees and other expenses

Additionally, you can add the following to the insurance policy if required:

  • Delay costs: The costs associated with the suspension of works pending a court order or resolution of a claim
  • Business interruption: Loss of rental income and service charges in the event of an injunction
  • Re-location costs: costs of relocating tenants in the event of an injunction or court order pending resolution
  • Service provider costs: utilities and other services can be covered by the insurer if there is a delay in a development due to the defect. Some insurers provide delay costs as standard in their policies.

When to Arrange Right to Light Insurance

If you are developing and think that you could be infringing onto the neighbouring properties right of light, then it would be best to first speak with a right of light surveyor and an insurance broker. The earlier you seek insurance the easier it is to obtain a policy which fully protects the developer.

Get in Touch for Insurance Advice

At James Hallam we work with your surveyor to ensure you have a strategy that suits your needs as a developer and make sure that insurers structure this into the policy wording.

If you would like us to obtain a Right of Light quotation for you, we would need the following information:

  • The Rights of Light Report (with Equivalent First Zone Figures EFZ)
  • Gross Development Value
  • Details of neighbourly matters e.g party wall / crane oversail
  • Details of whether any light obstruction notices have been served
  • Planning officers report if cover is required post planning

get in touch for a free quote today.

What Home Insurance Do I Need For an Airbnb?
What Home Insurance Do I Need For an Airbnb? 1000 667 James Hallam

If you want to let your property on Airbnb, then your standard home insurance policy will not give you the cover you need. Instead, you will need some specialist home insurance for your Airbnb.

Why Won’t Home Insurance Cover an Airbnb?

If you let your home to paying guests, then you will expose yourself and your property to many risks that will not be covered by a standard home insurance policy.

These include:

  • Accidental or intentional damage to your property, or to neighbouring properties and common areas.
  • Loss or damage of guests’ property.
  • Accidents or injuries sustained by guests on your property.

As the property owner, you could be held personally liable in any of these situations, and your standard home insurance policy simply would not give you the cover you need. But a dedicated home insurance policy for an Airbnb would cover any legal fees and compensation payments that may arise in the event of a claim.

Other Common Exclusions in Home Insurance Policies

Most home insurance policies will not cover you for accidental damage or wear and tear. But there are certain other common exclusions that would make a standard home insurance policy unsuitable for an Airbnb property.

For example, most home insurance policies will not cover you if your home is left unoccupied for an extended period, which is usually between 30 and 60 days. The cover will not apply if your home is unoccupied for longer than this.

There are many different ways to use a property as an Airbnb.

If you are letting a separate room or building on your property, such as a shepherds hut, or annex in your house, then it is unlikely that your property will be unoccupied for too long. Though it’s important to note that regular checks doesn’t always qualify as ‘occupation’.

However, if you want to list an entire property on Airbnb, then the property may be unoccupied for long periods throughout the year. Some parts of the world will only attract visitors during certain times. And there may be long periods where, for one reason or another, you simply struggle to attract any guests.

In any case, if your property is unoccupied for these extended periods, then your standard home insurance policy would not give you the cover you need.

What Home Insurance Do I Need For an Airbnb?

Specialist home insurance for your Airbnb should include the following core areas of cover:

  • Host liability Liability – Cover for any accidents or injuries your guests may experience while staying on your property. This can also include cover for losses arising from your guests’ actions. For example, a guest might accidentally leave a door unlocked before they vacate your premises, which could put you at greater risk of theft or vandalism.
  • Unoccupied property insurance – A dedicated Airbnb policy could cover your property for any periods where it might be unoccupied, even if you need to shut down your property completely at the end of the holiday season.
  • Buildings Insurance – Cover for your property, along with any neighbouring properties and common areas, for any accidental or intentional damage from guests.
  • Contents Cover – As well as covering your property’s fittings, furniture, and fixtures, your insurance can cover any items you purchase specifically for your guests to use, including bedding, cutlery, games etc.

How Much is Home Insurance For an Airbnb?

The amount you pay for your Airbnb insurance will depend on a number of factors:

  1. The type of letting – Are you letting a single room, or annex, of your house? Or is it a separate building on your property? Or are you letting your entire property? Each arrangement will bring different risks and considerations, all of which will affect the cost of your cover.
  2. The size of your property – The more people who will be using your property at any one time, the greater the chances are that something might go wrong. It will cost more to insure an entire property for six guests than it would, for example, a single shepherd’s hut for two guests.
  3. Your location – You may have to pay more for cover if you are based in an area with relatively high crime rates, for instance. Yet in this case, you may be able to make savings on your cover if you invest in extra security systems.

We Can Help You Get The Insurance You Need For Your Airbnb

If you are looking for home insurance for an Airbnb, we are here to help.

We can help you access the specialist insurance you need to cover your property on Airbnb, including host liability insurance, host damage protection, and comprehensive second home or holiday home insurance.

Find out how we can help you with Airbnb insurance today.

How to Calculate Business Interruption Cover
How to Calculate Business Interruption Cover 1000 660 James Hallam

Business interruption cover can help your business recover from an incident such as a fire, a flood, or a break-in.

Yet it is one thing to have a business interruption policy in place. It is just as important to ensure that your business interruption insurance will give you the cover you need should you ever make a claim on your policy.

According to one report by the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters, around 40% of businesses with business interruption policies are underinsured. This means that their policy would not stretch to cover all their expenses if they ever needed to make a claim.

In this post we will explore how you can calculate your business interruption cover to ensure you will have the cover you need when you need it most.

What is Business Interruption Insurance?

Following an unexpected event, such as fire, flood, or theft, you may be forced to temporarily halt or modify your business operations. In this case, business interruption insurance can cover your overheads for as long as it takes for your business to recover.

A good business interruption insurance policy should give you enough cover to restore your business to the exact position it was in before the incident took place. Plus, the policy should provide enough to cover your business throughout the entire recovery period, even if it takes years.

What Does Business Interruption Insurance Cover?

  • Loss of Gross Profits – Business interruption insurance may cover for loss of gross profit, which will cover your business’s net profit loss following an insured event. This type of cover is most suitable for businesses with multiple variable costs.
  • Loss of Revenue – Alternatively, a business interruption insurance policy may cover for loss of revenue, meaning it will cover your loss of turnover or income following an event. This form of cover is more suitable for businesses with more fixed costs, which must be paid regardless of whether the business is operational.
  • Increased Cost of Working (ICOW) – This is cover for any extra investments you may need to make in order to continue operating as normal following an unexpected event. This might include cover for renting alternative working spaces, for hiring temporary staff, and for acquiring new stock or equipment.

How to Calculate Business Interruption Cover

There are two key things to consider when calculating your business interruption cover:

  • Sum Insured – This is essentially the settlement you would get if you made a claim on your policy. As we outlined above, your sum insured may be based on your loss of profits, your loss of revenue, or your increased cost of working.
  • Maximum Indemnity Period – This is the maximum period for which your business interruption insurance policy will cover you. Think of it as an estimate of the time it would take your business to fully recover from the unplanned event.

How to Calculate Your Sum Insured

Depending on the nature of your business, your sum insured may be based on:

  1. Your loss of gross profits or your loss of revenue
  2. Your increased cost of working

When it comes to calculating your gross profit or your annual turnover, it is not enough to simply look at figures from previous years. You should also consider possible future trends, along with the potential impact of inflation.

Whether you are calculating your gross profit or your gross revenue, you should always factor in ongoing expenses such as:

  • Purchases
  • Utility costs
  • Staff wages

While accountants may deduct these expenses when calculating gross profit, your business interruption insurance will need to cover you for these expenses, and more.

When calculating your increased cost of working, as well as calculating any additional costs your business may incur, such as through renting alternative premises or hiring temporary staff, you might also consider how you might save on certain expenses throughout your recovery. For instance, if your employees are able to temporarily work from home, you could make savings on ongoing operational costs such as utilities.

How to Calculate Your Maximum Indemnity Period

One of the most common mistakes businesses make when calculating their business interruption cover is in underestimating just how long it would take their business to recover from an unplanned event such as a fire or a flood.

In a business interruption insurance policy, the maximum indemnity period is a hard line: Once you reach your policy’s maximum indemnity period limit, you will cease to receive any further claim payments, even if you have not yet received the maximum amount of your sum insured.

It will likely take you much longer than you think to recover from an event, and you will need your business interruption insurance to cover you for the entirety of your recovery period. So, you should aim to make the maximum indemnity period as long as possible.

Some insurers offer a 12 month indemnity period as standard. But others have started to offer a 24 month indemnity period as standard, so as to help businesses avoid a common underinsurance trap.

We Can Help You Calculate Your Business Interruption Cover

An insurance broker can help you determine what kind of business interruption policy is right for you, based on how your business operates, whether this is a loss of gross profit policy, a loss of revenue policy, or a dedicated ICOW policy. They can then help you calculate your sum insured, based on your past and projected profits and revenue, along with any extra costs or contingencies you may need to consider.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who are committed to getting you the cover you need at a price you can afford. We can help you get tailored business interruption insurance while avoiding some common underinsurance pitfalls, so that you will have all the cover you need when you need it most.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

Welcome to James Hallam: Supporting Anthony Jones Business and Personal Insurance Customers
Welcome to James Hallam: Supporting Anthony Jones Business and Personal Insurance Customers 500 334 James Hallam

When your insurance arrangements move to a new broker, it’s understandable to have questions. Will your service change? Who do you contact? Will you still receive the same expert advice?

If you’re an Anthony Jones business or personal insurance customer, you can be reassured that you’re moving to a broker with a long-standing reputation for delivering specialist insurance advice and outstanding customer service.

James Hallam is proud to be the official nominated insurance broker for Anthony Jones customers, providing continuity, expertise and access to an even broader range of insurance solutions.

A broker you can trust

Insurance isn’t just about policies. It’s about having experienced people who understand your circumstances and are there to help when you need them most.

As one of the UK’s leading independent insurance brokers, James Hallam has been arranging insurance for businesses and private clients for more than four decades. We work with a wide panel of leading insurers, enabling us to recommend cover that’s tailored to each client’s individual needs rather than a standard, one-size-fits-all solution.

Whether you’re protecting your family home, your car, your business premises or your professional liabilities, our advisers take the time to understand what’s important to you.

Looking after both personal and business insurance

One of the advantages of working with James Hallam is the breadth of expertise available under one roof.

For personal customers, we can arrange insurance for homes, vehicles, travel, valuable possessions and many other everyday risks.

For business owners, we support organisations across a wide variety of industries, arranging cover for property, liability, professional risks, cyber threats, fleets and much more.

Many of our clients appreciate having a single trusted broker who can look after both their business and personal insurance requirements, making it easier to review cover, identify potential gaps and ensure their insurance evolves alongside changing circumstances.

Making the transition straightforward

We understand that changing brokers can seem daunting, but our priority is making the process as seamless as possible.

Our experienced advisers are available to answer questions, explain your options and support you throughout your renewal and beyond.

You’ll continue to receive personal service from knowledgeable insurance professionals who are committed to helping you make informed decisions about your insurance.

Insurance advice that grows with you

Insurance requirements rarely stay the same for long.

Businesses expand, employ more people, purchase new equipment or enter new markets. Families move home, buy new vehicles or acquire valuable possessions.

Regular reviews help ensure your insurance continues to reflect your current circumstances, providing appropriate protection without unnecessary complexity.

As an independent broker, James Hallam can work with you over the long term, adapting your insurance programme as your needs change.

Welcome to James Hallam

We’re delighted to welcome Anthony Jones customers to James Hallam.

Our focus is simple: providing expert advice, excellent service and tailored insurance solutions that give you confidence in the protection you have in place.

Whether you’re renewing an existing policy, reviewing your insurance portfolio or looking for advice on future cover, our team is here to help.

We look forward to building a long-term relationship and helping you protect what matters most, both in business and in your personal life.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of the dedicated Anthony Jones team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

What is Contractors’ All Risk Insurance and Who Needs It?
What is Contractors’ All Risk Insurance and Who Needs It? 1000 666 James Hallam

If you are a building contractor, contractors’ all risk insurance can cover almost every aspect of an ongoing construction or development project, including the equipment and materials you are using, and any people involved in the project.

What is Contractors’ All Risk Insurance?

Contractors’ all risk insurance is specialist insurance cover for building contractors. As the name suggests, it is designed to cover all of the risks you might face throughout a building and development project.

Core areas of cover include:

  • Insurance for contract works on construction sites, including cover for demolition and excavation projects.
  • Plant and equipment insurance.
  • Business interruption insurance, to cover project overheads in the event of delays.
  • Insurance for any temporary buildings you use throughout the project.
  • Liability and personal injury insurance for any individuals involved in the project, including workers and other members of the public who might spend time on or near the construction site.

Once the project is complete, contractors’ all risk insurance can also provide some cover for your completed buildings while they are unoccupied and awaiting tenants.

Contractors’ all risk insurance should not be confused with contract works insurance. For more information, read our guide to the difference between contractors’ all risk insurance and contract works insurance.

Who Needs Contractors’ All Risk Insurance?

Contractors’ all risk insurance can provide essential comprehensive cover for many parties concerned with construction projects, including:

  • Building contractors and construction firms.
  • Subcontractors, such as those who provide specialist services during a building project, including electricians, plumbers, and roofers.
  • Property developers, should a renovation require extensive construction work.
  • Property owners arranging for construction of renovation work.
  • Civil engineering contractors.

In most cases, the main building contractor will take out a contractors’ all risk insurance policy to cover the project, and they may take out a joint policy with a second party, such as a property owner.

Each of the parties we have listed above should ensure they are covered by the main contractor’s all risk insurance policy. If not, then they may have to get a policy of their own to cover their own materials, equipment, employees, and liabilities.

Is Contractors’ All Risk Insurance a Legal Requirement

Though contractors’ all risk insurance is not always a legal requirement in the UK, many large scale construction or renovation projects will require such cover to be in place. The contract may also specify who is required to arrange for the cover, whether this is the main contractor, or the employer.

Why You Need Contractors’ All Risk Insurance

Yet even without a legal obligation, and even if there are no contractual obligations, you should still view contractors’ all risk insurance as an absolute necessity, particularly when it comes to certain kinds of construction or renovation projects:

  • Large projects involving extensive complex works, in which the costs of any potential damage or delays would be significant.
  • Development projects organised by the property owner, for which they would be liable for all financial risks.
  • Joint projects involving numerous contractors, subcontractors, and other parties.

In any of these situations, a single incident could lead to significant costs which could jeopardise not just the project, but also your business. Contractors’ all risk insurance would cover these costs, providing essential protection for the project itself, and for all parties involved.

Get The Specialist Construction Insurance You Need With James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a specialist team of experienced insurance professionals who are committed to protecting construction business.

We will take the time to understand your construction project so that we can advise on the specific risks you are facing. We can then help you access a specialist contractors’ all risk insurance package that meets all of your needs at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

 

Warehouse Racking Safety, Inspections, and Regulations
Warehouse Racking Safety, Inspections, and Regulations 1000 666 James Hallam

You will find numerous guides on our site outlining key safety considerations for warehouse managers, including a warehouse health and safety checklist, and a guide to warehouse fire safety risks assessments.

In this post we will focus on a further aspect of warehouse management: Warehouse racking safety, with information on the relevant regulations, and the sort of inspections you should carry out to ensure compliance.

Why Warehouse Racking Safety is Important

Issues with your racking could lead to a number of incidents, including injuries from collapsing racks or falling stock. Also, falling stock will inevitably get damaged, which will affect your turnover while leading to costly disruptions to your operations.

In the event of an accident, if it transpires that your racking was not up to standard, then your insurer may reject your claim, meaning you could be liable to cover all losses yourself. Finally, as we will outline below, there are strict racking safety regulations in place in the UK. Failure to comply with these could lead to fines, and even legal action.

Warehouse Racking Safety Regulations

There is extensive UK legislation that applies to racking safety. This includes:

Warehouse Racking Load Capacity and Signage Requirements

Signage is essential for communicating each rack’s load limit to your warehouse staff. Load signage should be clearly displayed on every racking system in your warehouse. The signage should indicate:

  • The rack’s maximum shelf load.
  • The rack’s maximum bay load.
  • Manufacturer or installer details.

Racking Inspection Procedures

How Often to Inspect Warehouse Racking 

You should inspect your racking either weekly or monthly, in order to identify any potential risks, along with any signs of damage or wear and tear.

On top of this, you should arrange for a formal inspection from a qualified third party at least once a year, or immediately following any incident or modification.

What to Include in Racking Inspections

Here are the key factors you, or an appointed member of staff, should check during your routine racking inspections:

  • Are there any signs of structural damage or corrosion?
  • Are the beam locks and safety clips intact and in good condition?
  • Is the anchoring in place, and are the racks stable?
  • Are the load signage and labels visible? Has the rack been loaded in line with the guidelines?

Keeping Inspection Records

You should keep a record of your inspections, reporting any damage as soon as you identify it, and any maintenance as soon as it is carried out.

Staying Compliant With Warehouse Racking Safety Regulations

  • Invest in staff training, to ensure every member of staff understands safe loading practices, along with how to report any issues they spot. You could also appoint one member of staff to carry out the weekly racking inspections, with further training to help ensure they know which key checks to make.
  • Set up regular formal inspections to take place at least once a year, and be sure to arrange for a new inspection following an incident or a redesign.
  • Keep records of all of your training, maintenance, and inspection procedures. Above we mentioned how failure to meet racking standards could affect your insurance cover. Yet if you can evidence to your insurer the steps you take to secure your racking, you could ultimately make savings on the cost of cover.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers.

We can help you get specialist stock and warehouse insurance that can help to cover you and your employees for all the risks you face in your work, at a highly competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

Shop Fire Safety: Alarms, Extinguishers, and Risks
Shop Fire Safety: Alarms, Extinguishers, and Risks 1000 667 James Hallam

A single fire can destroy your business overnight. If you run any kind of shop, fire safety should be one of your top priorities.

In this post we will outline some fire safety essentials for retail businesses of all kinds.

Common Causes of Fire in Shops

According to London Fire Brigade, the key causes of fire for shops are as follows:

  • Wiring (responsible for 28% of all retail fires)
  • Smoking related (17%)
  • Lighting (9%)

Electrical equipment, such as lighting, can cause fires when it is placed too close to flammable materials. If this equipment is not properly tested or maintained, it can lead to electrical faults, which can contribute to fire outbreaks.

Smoking related fires are also common. Usually, the fire either starts due to the incorrect disposal of smoking materials, or because smoking has been permitted in an inappropriate area – such as a stockroom, where there might be a high concentration of flammable materials.

Arson is also a leading cause of fire for shops, and the risk of arson can be greater if you store your stock or rubbish in a publicly accessible location.

You Have a Legal Duty To Address The Fire Risks in Your Shop

If you run a retail business, then you have a legal duty to ensure the safety of your employees, along with any other members of the public or contractors who might visit your premises.

Your legal duties include:

  • Performing a fire risk assessment to identify all of the fire risks throughout your shop.
  • Taking action to protect your employees and other members of the public from fire.
  • Introducing measures to reduce the risks of fires breaking out.
  • Providing adequate fire safety systems, including alarms and essential firefighting equipment.
  • Ensuring there is a safe evacuation plan in the event of a fire.

Penalties for Failing to Meet Fire Regulations

You will face severe penalties if you do not take your fire safety duties seriously. Minor offences can lead to fines of up to £5,000. Major offences can lead to unlimited fines, and up to two years in prison.

Read a full guide to fire safety legislation for retail businesses.

Key Shop Fire Safety Tips

As we mentioned above, you have a legal duty to carry out a comprehensive fire risk assessment for your shop, which will involve identifying all of the possible sources of fire in your store, while outlining the steps you will take to manage, mitigate, or eliminate these risks.

Below we will list some of the fire safety essentials you might introduce following your fire risk assessment.

How to Review Your Fire Safety Systems

Shop fire safety systems can include:

  • Sprinkler systems.
  • Fire extinguishers – These should be suitable for extinguishing the sorts of fires that could break out in your store. For example, water or foam for wood, paper, or textile fires, or CO2 for electrical fires.
  • Emergency lighting.
  • Emergency signage, to highlight your emergency exits, and your evacuation routes.

You should periodically review your fire safety equipment to ensure that everything is still functional and in-code, and you should periodically test your alarms and other systems.

You should also regularly test all electrical items in your store, to help prevent any fires breaking out due to electrical failure. Stop using any faulty or damaged equipment immediately, and aim to replace it as soon as possible.

The Importance of Staff Fire Training

Above we outlined the most common causes of fires in shops. Many fires start as a result of staff negligence, such as leaving electrical items too close to flammable materials, or incorrectly discarding of smoking materials.

With this in mind, your staff can be your frontline of defence against fires in your shop:

  • Implement a strict smoking policy. Staff should not smoke anywhere in your shop, and they should refrain from smoking in outdoor storage areas, or any other locations where a stray spark could ignite some flammable materials.
  • Carry out regular fire safety training sessions, along with fire drills, so that people know what to do in the event of an outbreak. Every member of staff should know which evacuation route to use, where to assemble having left the premises, and who they should report to. They should also know how and when to use your fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.
  • People with disabilities, whether they are staff or customers, may struggle to evacuate in the event of a fire. Your staff should also know how to assist anyone who needs help evacuating.
  • Finally, make sure your staff understand the risks of electrical fires. Make sure nobody is using counterfeit phone chargers, that nobody is overloading sockets, and that everybody knows how to inspect electrical equipment for damage or faults.

Review Your Insurance

Finally, you should ensure your insurance will give you the cover you need to bounce back following a fire.

As well as cover for your building and your contents, you should also get business interruption insurance. This can help you to meet all of your business overheads if you are forced to temporarily close following a fire.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a team of experienced insurance professionals who are dedicated to protecting your shop from the risks you face.

Talk to us and we will give you access to a range of hand-picked, A-rated insurance providers. We can also show you how to evidence your fire risk assessment o your insurers, which can help you make savings on the cost of cover.

Learn more about our tailored insurance solutions for shops like yours, and get a free quote today.

How To Reduce Takeaway Insurance Costs
How To Reduce Takeaway Insurance Costs 1000 667 James Hallam

In recent years, businesses in the hospitality sector have faced rising costs, which includes an increase in the cost of insurance cover.

In this post we will look at the factors that can affect the cost of your takeaway insurance, and explore some strategies that can help you reduce your takeaway insurance costs.

If you run a takeaway of any kind, specialist takeaway insurance can give you all the cover you need at a competitive price.

What Affects The Price of Takeaway Insurance?

A number of factors can affect the cost of your takeaway insurance, including:

  • The size of your shop. The bigger your shop, and the more staff you employ, the more you will have to pay for cover. Insuring a chain of takeaway shops will also cost more than insuring a single takeaway shop.
  • Your location. You will have to pay more for cover if you are located in an area with relatively high crime rates, for example.
  • The type of takeaway you run. Some types of takeaway shops may have to pay more for cover than others. There may be greater fire risks in a chip shop compared to a burger bar, for example.

How To Reduce Takeaway Insurance Costs

While there are things you can’t change, there are some actions you can take to help reduce your insurance costs, including:

  • Invest in security. Taking steps to secure your shop can make a huge difference to the cost of cover, particularly if you are based in an area with high crime rates. CCTV, roller shutters, alarms, and extra secure locks can all help to deter criminals.
  • Invest in staff training. Train your staff to understand and prevent the common risks they face in their work, along with the fundamentals of food safety, and you could help prevent numerous costly incidents, which could in turn help to bring down your cover costs.
  • Invest in fire safety. Take the time to identify all of the fire risks in your takeaway, and devise a plan for how you will reduce or eliminate each of these risks. This could be through committing to more regular cleaning and maintenance routines, through buying more fire safety equipment, such as extinguishers and sprinklers, and through devising a safe and effective evacuation plan for all staff.

If you run a takeaway, see our specialist takeaway insurance for more on what’s covered and to get a quote to see how much it might cost for you.

A Comprehensive Risk Assessment Can Help Reduce Takeaway Insurance Costs

A formal risk assessment involves several steps, including:

Step One: Identifying every possible risk that could exist in your takeaway, then determining the likelihood and possible severity of an incident, and highlighting exactly who might be affected, whether that is staff, or customers, or other members of the public.

Step Two: You can then specify the steps you will take or the measures you will introduce to manage, mitigate, or eliminate each of these risks. This can include appointing a member of staff who is responsible for managing each specific risk.

Step Three: You should review your risk assessment at least once a year, and you should also revisit it any time you make a change that could create new risks, such as hiring new staff, or investing in new equipment.

A formal risk assessment document can demonstrate to your insurers that you are actively working to prevent accidents, injuries, and other incidents in your takeaway. This can make insurance claims less likely, which can lead to lower insurance costs.

Get Specialist Takeaway Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you get specialist takeaway insurance at a competitive price, and we can also show you how to evidence your risk management processes to your insurer in order to make further savings.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

Project Cargo vs General Cargo: Key Differences Explained
Project Cargo vs General Cargo: Key Differences Explained 1000 563 James Hallam

If you’re new to logistics, the terms project cargo and general cargo can be confusing. The main difference is simple:

  • General cargo is standard freight that fits into containers or pallets and can be moved using normal shipping methods.
  • Project cargo consists of large, heavy, high-value, or oversized items that require specialist equipment, planning, and handling.

Understanding the difference helps businesses choose the right transport and insurance solution.

What Is General Cargo?

General cargo includes everyday commercial goods that can be shipped using standard containers, trucks, aircraft, or vessels.

Examples of General Cargo:

  • Consumer electronics
  • Furniture
  • Clothing and textiles
  • Food and beverages
  • FMCG products

General Cargo Key features:

  • Standard size and weight
  • Routine handling and transport
  • Standard customs procedures
  • Lower cost and complexity

Best for: Regular commercial shipments.

What Is Project Cargo?

Project cargo refers to oversized, heavy, or complex shipments used in industries such as mining, energy, construction, and oil & gas.

Examples of Project Cargo:

  • Mining equipment
  • Generators and transformers
  • Wind turbine components
  • Construction machinery
  • Oil and gas equipment

Project Cargo Key features:

  • May exceed standard container dimensions
  • Requires cranes and specialist trailers
  • Often involves detailed route planning
  • May need permits and escorts

Best for: Infrastructure, industrial, and engineering projects.

Key Differences Between General Cargo and Project Cargo

Feature General Cargo Project Cargo
Size Standard dimensions Oversized or overweight
Handling Standard equipment Specialist lifting equipment
Planning Simple Detailed and complex
Transport Standard road, sea, or air Often multimodal and customised
Permits Usually standard Often requires special permits
Risk Lower Higher
Cost More predictable Typically higher

 

Why Marine Insurance Matters For General Cargo and Project Cargo

General cargo and project cargo both face risks during transit, but project cargo often involves higher values and greater complexity. The right insurance helps protect against loss, damage, delays, and unexpected costs.

Everard Insurance Brokers provides specialist marine general cargo and project cargo insurance solutions, helping businesses protect valuable shipments throughout the supply chain. Whether you’re moving standard freight or large-scale project equipment, Everard Insurance Brokers can help ensure your cargo is properly protected from origin to destination.

Find out more about our specialist marine insurance services.

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