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As your dedicated partner in safety management, our specialized consultants help clients craft exceptional programs aimed at risk identification, mitigation, and prevention. Safety Management Services Company (SMSC) Building a culture of safety for a secure and successful future. CONNECT WITH OUR TEAM Cottingham & Butler Safety Management Services Company (SMSC) is your dedicated partner in safety management and loss control. Our team of specialized safety consultants help clients craft exceptional programs aimed at risk identification, mitigation, and prevention. Safety Offerings In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, we prioritize building a strong safety culture within your organization. Our consultants work closely with you to instill a safety-first mindset, seamlessly integrating safety practices with productivity even in the most streamlined and lean work environments. Safety Assessments Employee Risk Evaluation Risk Improvement Programs Workshops & Seminars Safety Resources Portal Management Training Mock Compliance Audit Safety Webinars Click here to learn more about our safety leadership program > Safety Education and Training Imagine a workplace where safety isn't just a priority, it's a shared value. At Cottingham & Butler, we don't just offer safety training, we create transformative learning experiences. Our engaging workshops, interactive seminars, and expert-led programs go beyond checklists and compliance. We focus on empowering your employees, creating positive safety behaviors, and building a culture of ownership. The results? Reduced incidents, improved morale, and a safer, more successful organization. A Powerful New Partnership to Transform Your Fleet Compliance Safety Management Services Company (SMSC), Cottingham & Butler's safety consulting company, has partnered with Haul Compliance, a leading fleet compliance software provider, to offer clients access to Haul’s AI-driven platform which centralizes fleet management across compliance, maintenance, and safety. Through this collaboration, our solution will help motors carriers manage: DRIVER QUALIFICATION FILES VEHICLE MAINTENANCE RECORDS FMCSA/DOT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS Click here to download the full guide >> Ready to Transform Your Compliance Management? To learn more about how this solution can benefit your fleet, contact us for a personalized demo. Chad Hoppenjan Vice President, SMSC choppenjan@smscsafety.com Kara Vines Senior Safety Consultant, SMSC kvines@smscsafety.com Safety Insights Crash Data Analysis: What Your Fleet's History is Telling You Hosted by SMSC Safety Consultant Barry Wertz, "Crash Data Analysis: What Your Fleet's History is Telling You" explored Excel's essential features that turn raw data into actionable insights. On-Demand 7 Best Practices for Managing Heat Stress in Indoor Work Environments Heat-related injury and illness are occupational hazards that impact many industries and affect millions of employees annually. Heat stress occurs when an individual’s body accumulates more heat than it can dissipate. Articles OSHA Proposes Rule to Remove Its Walking-Working Surfaces Standard Deadline OSHA recently published a proposed rule to remove the Nov. 18, 2036, deadline in its Walking-Working Surfaces standard. This standard would have required all fixed ladders extending more than 24 feet above a lower level to be equipped with personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems by this deadline. Articles VIEW MORE “Safety Management Services Company (SMSC) has been a great partner and a tremendous resource as we have worked toward our safety goals. Their knowledge and practical, real-world solutions have been an instrumental part of our success.” Chad A. Burroughs | United Building Centers Let’s Get to Work Our dedicated team of Safety Consultants is here to support your success. With expertise across various industries, we're confident in our ability to assess and better manage risk in your business. For a personalized consultation on how we can help your business operations, reach out to us today. Safety Management Services Connect with a Safety Consultant Today!

The Cottingham & Butler Food & Agribusiness Practice sets the standard as a premier insurance consultant, uniquely equipped to understand the intricacies and challenges of the food & agribusiness industry. Food & Agribusiness Industry We cultivate success for the food and agribusiness sector through specialized insurance and risk management solutions. The Cottingham & Butler Food & Agribusiness Practice sets the standard as a premier insurance consultant, uniquely equipped to understand the intricacies and challenges of the food & agribusiness industry. With a team of experts deeply rooted in the field, we deliver personalized risk management strategies, protection for your most valuable assets, and an unrivaled service experience. Your Trusted Source for Comprehensive Insurance Solutions in the Food & Agribusiness Industry. Food & Agribusiness Coverages Accidental contamination / Product recall coverage Alternative risk Auto Crop Environmental risk Excess liability General liability International risk and exposures Livestock / Animal mortality Ocean and domestic cargo Property Stock Throughput Umbrella / Excess Workers’ Compensation Food & Agribusiness Services Claims advocacy and management Contract review and insurance policy compliance Disaster management and loss prevention services Experience modification review and analysis Premium allocations and budget preparations Competitive bidding of insurance programs Download our FREE E-book “Risk Resilience” and discover how we can be your partner in achieving food safety excellence. Food Safety Expertise for Growth Did you know foodborne illness costs the US food industry an estimated $15.5 billion annually? Cottingham & Butler, alongside The Acheson Group (TAG), empowers food & agribusiness companies to cultivate a culture of safety and minimize risk. Our expertise can help you: Reduce recall & contamination risks Optimize operations and boost profitability Navigate complex food safety regulations Specialized Food & Agribusiness Niches Food Processing Food Retailers Food Distribution Bottling & Distribution Swine Operations Dairy Operations Egg & Poultry Operations Grain, Feed, & Seed Commercial Farming Cannabis / Hemp Featured Expertise Food Safety Made Smarter 1 in 6 Americans get sick from contaminated food annually! Ensuring food safety is a top priority for any food & agribusiness company. After all, it's about protecting consumers and the integrity of your brand. But here's the surprising truth: many companies, confident in their existing procedures, miss hidden risks that could lead to costly recalls or outbreaks. Our FREE 3-part diagnostic tool helps you proactively identify these hidden strengths and potential areas for improvement in your food safety practices. RECALL & CRISIS MANAGEMENT Navigate Risk with Confidence - Explore Captive Insurance Solutions The food and agribusiness industry is the backbone of our nation's food supply, but it also faces a complex web of risks. From unpredictable weather patterns and volatile commodity prices to ever-evolving regulations and food safety concerns, traditional insurance might not always provide the tailored protection you need. Captive insurance offers a revolutionary approach to risk management. Imagine a self-funded program co-owned by a group of food and agribusiness companies like yours. EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF CAPTIVE INSURANCE With roots dating back to the late 1800s, our Food & Agribusiness Practice proudly stands as the longest-established niche focus at our firm. From its inception, Cottingham & Butler was founded with a deep commitment to serving the needs of our food & agribusiness community, forging a legacy of expertise and dedication in the industry. Watch our client success video and hear directly from our food and agriculture clients Explore our expertise, risk solutions, and track record of exceptional results for clients. DOWNLOAD OUR FOOD & AGRIBUSINESS BROCHURE Food & Agribusiness Insight & Impact Beef Processor: Rebuilt a Fragmented, Overpriced Program and Saved ~$3M One of the country's largest beef processors was facing increased premiums, lack of options, and difficulty obtaining adequate insurance. Case Studies 2026 Property Market Update: Are We Approaching the Bottom? Six months ago, we entered 2026 expecting a favorable property insurance environment driven by abundant capacity, healthy reinsurer balance sheets, and increasing competition among carriers. Articles Safety Leadership: Empowering Supervisors to Drive Change "Safety Leadership: Empowering Supervisors to Drive Change," hosted by SMSC Safety Consultant Scott Christenson, explored how Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) principles can become everyday leadership tools. Rather than relying on compliance-driven oversight, attendees learned how to spark meaningful conversations, identify system weaknesses, and champion improvements that actually help people succeed. On-Demand VIEW MORE Connect with a Food & Agribusiness Expert!

Whether you're an owner-operator or manage a national fleet, safeguarding your drivers, trucks, and cargo is critical for success. Industry-Specific Benefits Benchmark Report COMPARE AND COMPETE In today's competitive market, having the right benefits package isn't just important—it's essential for success. Use our industry specific benchmark reports to give you detailed insights into what other companies in your industry are offering, helping you design a benefits program that attracts top talent without overspending. Enter in your company details below to claim your free report! First name Last name Email Job Title Company name Industry Submit What's Inside? This data-driven report helps you understand how your benefits program compares to market standards and identifies opportunities for enhancement. Each industry benchmark report provides a detailed analysis across eight critical areas of employee benefits: Employer Contributions & Plan Design Analysis of premium cost-sharing, funding strategies, and comparison of medical, dental, and vision plan features. Ancillary & Disability Benefits Overview of supplemental insurance (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity) and examination of short-term and long-term disability coverage. Leave & Retirement Benefits Review of paid time off, family leave policies, and assessment of 401(k) and other retirement plan features, including employer matching. Employee Preferences & National Comparison Insights into benefit selection patterns, utilization trends, and evaluation against industry standards and national benchmarks. Contact Contact a Benefits Consultant to learn more.

For over 15 years, Cottingham & Butler has collected data from motor carriers coast to coast through the Trucking Benchmark Survey to provide participants with a detailed outlook on how their benefits and compensation programs compare against others in the industry. 5 Proven Strategies Every Employer Needs to Know How to Cut Healthcare Costs by Up to 30% Did you know that the average cost of family health coverage in the U.S. is a staggering $31,000 per year? That's nearly half of the typical household income. We've compiled five of the most impactful considerations your company can make to save on health coverage costs while providing exceptional benefits plans for your employees. Free Guide Access Your Free Guide By downloading, you agree to receive updates from Cottingham & Butler. You can unsubscribe at any time. Inside this Free Guide: Prescription Drug Cost Management Learn how to cut drug costs by up to 25% without compromising care. Uncover Hidden Savings Discover alternative coverage options that benefit both you and your employees. Family Coverage Optimization Improve coverage to save $10,000+ per family annually. Smart Healthcare Shopping Discover tools to help employees save thousands on procedures. Innovative Funding Strategies Learn how alternative risk programs can help cut premiums by 5-8% annually. $310,000 Saved A school district with 200 employees optimized their family coverage plans, resulting in substantial savings.

Discover IRIS, Cottingham & Butler's exclusive transportation management portal. Streamline fleet operations, access real-time data, and simplify insurance and compliance with one intuitive platform. IRIS – Your Fleet Management Resource IRIS is available exclusively to Cottingham & Butler transportation clients, designed to deliver a one-stop solution to easily access and manage the many moving parts of your business. The IRIS Transportation Portal has an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface that provides at-a-glance access to your driver and vehicle lists, Cottingham & Butler client service team, the ability to make real-time account changes, and much more! Avaliable 24/7 Easily Submit Updates Online Submit Payments Online Claims Reporting Access to Excess Cargo Coverage Manage your entire fleet with one powerful, user-friendly tool. IRIS Portal Advantages Manage your driver and equipment list by making changes easily online Export your current vehicle and driver lists Access the direct contact information of your dedicated C&B support team Access to your safety and compliance platform – Risk Management Center Easily access and manage your certificates of insurance Certs Online Connect to your organization’s claims management system – Ventiv Alerts on Cottingham & Butler news and events Easily submit secure, online payments with an instant receipt of payment Ready to Get Started? Current C&B clients can complete the form below to request a new account and a member of your client service team will send your unique log in details shortly. Transportation Insight & Impact Helping Brokers Identify Small Fleets Cottingham & Butler works with owner-operators and small fleets every day, helping them strengthen the safety, insurance, and operational areas that matter most to brokers and shippers. Learn what makes a carrier stand out — and how proper coverage plays a role in winning freight opportunities. Articles The New Insurance Playbook: Surviving and Winning in a Shifting Market The trucking insurance market has fundamentally changed. Here's what carriers need to know to stop reacting and start winning. Transportation Crash Data Analysis: What Your Fleet's History is Telling You Hosted by SMSC Safety Consultant Barry Wertz, "Crash Data Analysis: What Your Fleet's History is Telling You" explored Excel's essential features that turn raw data into actionable insights. On-Demand VIEW MORE Connect with a Transportation Expert!

WEBINAR Mastering HOS & PC Rules: Split-Sleeper in Action Tuesday, November 17th | 1-2 PM CST In this session, SMSC Safety Consultant Christopher Caldwell will walk attendees through the 11, 14, and 8-hour Hours of Service (HOS) rules and demonstrate how to properly apply the Sleeper Berth Provision to maximize driver flexibility while staying compliant. Christopher will also clarify Personal Conveyance regulations and what to expect during roadside inspections, equipping you with practical knowledge to avoid violations and keep your fleet on the road. An interactive Q&A session at the end of this session will give attendees the opportunity to ask specific HOS questions and discuss real-world compliance scenarios unique to your operation. November 17, 2026 1:00 PM VIRTUAL Learning Objectives Information Coming Soon! Your Host Christopher Caldwell Safety Consultant, SMSC Upcoming Events WEBINAR July 13, 2026 Leave of Absence Management in Trucking When an employee goes on leave, the compliance clock starts immediately. In this session, Cottingham & Butler VP of Compliance Bret McKitrick, JD breaks down the layered framework employers must navigate — from applicable law to plan documents to handbook policies — so you can handle every leave situation consistently and compliantly. Read More Register Now WEBINAR August 20, 2026 HSAs vs. FSAs vs. HRAs Choosing the right account-based benefit strategy requires understanding how HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs truly compare. This webinar breaks down the similarities and key differences among these plans — including eligibility, funding rules, tax treatment, and portability — and explores how employers can strategically leverage each option to support workforce needs while staying compliant. Read More Register Now WEBINAR August 4, 2026 Too Good to Be True? The Truth About Captive Insurance for Trucking If you've heard the pitch on captive insurance—dividends, pricing stability, control over claims—and thought it sounded a little too good to be true, you're not alone. In a market where commercial auto premiums seem to climb without end, bold claims about captives deserve a closer look. Read More Register Now WEBINAR July 16, 2026 Mid-Year Regulatory Update Regulatory change doesn't slow down, and neither should your compliance strategy. This mid-year update recaps the most important benefits and employment law developments from the first half of 2026, plus a look ahead at what's coming and practical takeaways to help employers navigate the rest of the year. Read More Register Now WEBINAR SERIES September 24, 2026 Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong. Read More Register Now IN-PERSON July 22, 2026 Healthcare Costs Panel Discussion / Peoria, IL Rising healthcare costs affect every employer in the room, but the full picture rarely gets discussed openly. This moderated panel brings together perspectives from across the healthcare landscape - including hospital administration, health insurance carriers, physicians, and pharmacy - to give you a seat at a conversation that usually happens behind closed doors. Audience participation and open Q&A are built into the format, so come with your questions. Read More Register Now View All Events Connect with a C&B Representative Today!

Cottingham & Butler Mastering Your Resume: A Guide for College Graduates Up Published on Written by: Page View January 1, 2024 Cottingham & Butler As you prepare to transition from college to the professional world, creating a compelling resume is key for landing your dream job. Your resume serves as your personal marketing tool, showcasing your skills, experiences, and qualifications to potential employers. Here's a complete guide to help you master and maximize your resume as a recent college graduate: Start with a Strong Heading: Open your resume with a clear and professional heading that includes your full name, contact information, and optionally, your LinkedIn profile URL. Make sure your email address is professional and avoid using nicknames or unprofessional handles. Craft a Compelling Personal Statement: Follow your heading with a brief personal statement that highlights your career goals, key skills, and what you bring to the table as a candidate. Tailor this section to the specific role or industry you're targeting and keep it brief but impactful. Highlight Your Education: As a recent graduate, your education section should be prominently featured on your resume. Include the name of your institution, the name of your degree, your major/minor, graduation date (or expected graduation date), any academic honors or awards you've received, and optionally, your GPA. Showcase Relevant Experience: Next, outline your relevant work experience, internships, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Focus on experiences that are directly related to the job you're applying for and use action verbs to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate tangible results. Be sure to list the most to least recent. Emphasize Transferable Skills: Highlight transferable skills gained through your coursework, internships, and extracurricular activities that are applicable to the job you're seeking. These may include communication skills, leadership abilities, problem-solving capabilities, and teamwork. Include Additional Sections as Needed: Depending on your background and experiences, consider adding additional sections to your resume, such as relevant coursework, certifications, professional affiliations, athletics, clubs and organizations, language proficiency, or technical skills. Only include sections that elevate your application and are relevant to the job you're applying for. Proofread and Format Professionally: Before submitting your resume, thoroughly proofread it to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Additionally, ensure that your resume is formatted professionally and consistently, using clear headings, bullet points, and an easy-to-read font, but also don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Keep your resume length to one page whenever possible. Seek Feedback and Revise: Don't hesitate to seek feedback on your resume from trusted mentors, career advisors, or other professionals. Incorporate their suggestions and revise your resume accordingly to ensure it’s polished and effective. Submitting and Sharing Your Resume: Once your resume is finalized, it's time to submit it to your potential employer. Follow the application instructions provided in the job posting, whether it's through an online application portal, email, or mail. Additionally, consider sharing your resume with your network of contacts, including family, friends, professors, and alumni. Networking can often lead to valuable job opportunities and referrals. By following these tips and strategies, you'll be well-equipped to create a standout resume that effectively showcases your strengths and accomplishments as a recent college graduate. Good luck on your job search journey! Discover exciting career opportunities at Cottingham & Butler today! Whether you're seeking a full-time position or internship opportunity, we're always eager to welcome talented young professionals like you to our team. View All Posts TAGS: Article Cottingham & Butler Upcoming Events WEBINAR August 4, 2026 Too Good to Be True? The Truth About Captive Insurance for Trucking If you've heard the pitch on captive insurance—dividends, pricing stability, control over claims—and thought it sounded a little too good to be true, you're not alone. In a market where commercial auto premiums seem to climb without end, bold claims about captives deserve a closer look. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR SERIES September 24, 2026 Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR August 20, 2026 HSAs vs. FSAs vs. HRAs Choosing the right account-based benefit strategy requires understanding how HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs truly compare. This webinar breaks down the similarities and key differences among these plans — including eligibility, funding rules, tax treatment, and portability — and explores how employers can strategically leverage each option to support workforce needs while staying compliant. Register Now! Register Now! View All Events Connect with a C&B Representative Today!

Construction Bond Producer vs. Surety Advisor: Beyond the Bond Up Published on Written by: Page View October 7, 2016 Cottingham & Butler When you're looking for a solid bonding relationship, shouldn't it be built on a complete risk review and not simply on a complete financial review? Sure, your financials are strong, but they can be misleading or downright unreliable if your surety team hasn't gone beyond just delivering a bond. Imagine facing an uncovered loss with a full backlog and no money to prosecute the work. It's bonded work and that means the surety must step in and complete it; you didn't forget you personally indemnified that bond, did you? Imagine facing a serious loss where your limits were adequate to your company's net worth 3 years ago but haven't contemplated that new $4,000,000 in revenue you've added since then. Are you a bigger target at $6,000,000 revenue than you were at $2,000,000? You've bonded these jobs, and you've produced a clear, contractual financial guarantee in which you are fully indemnifying the surety both corporately and personally. When you set those insurance limits, didn't at least part of that calculation take into consideration the corporate veil, your protections personally against liability? Of course they did. Did you adjust those limits when you took on a project which, through that personal indemnity pierces the veil and leaves you personally exposed? This is piercing the veil from the inside. You may not experience a loss that can break through the veil head on but an uncovered loss or a loss with inadequate limits can wreak havoc on current operations and leave you staring down the barrel of a sizeable bond loss. You might enjoy personal protection from the veil on the insurance claim but what if that claim wipes out the working capital in your company? The surety still has your personal indemnity option to complete that work and pay those subs on your behalf. How's that veil doing? In most cases, it's not that one swift blow. It's usually a long-term effect of your company under siege where you and your senior management lose focus on critical day-to-day management and new growth as your energy and money pour into defending what you've built. Performance, morale, cash flow, revenue..... the spiral can be awful. We have the experience and the rounded team who will provide this in-depth review. The people who are not merely up-to-date on emerging risks but up-to-date with how fluid those risks are when considered by a company heavily involved in modern construction. The Bond Producer will get you the bond and call it a success and, yes, we do that too. We "get the bond" every day, and most days, on an hourly basis. The Surety Advisor delivers that bond along with these and other critical services that should be the standard, but we all know aren't. From clients just starting out and in search of their first $300,000 bond, to firms with over 100 years in contracting and bond lines in excess of $150,000,000, we have the experience, team, and drive to deliver beyond the bond. View All Posts TAGS: Article Construction Surety Bonds Upcoming Events WEBINAR SERIES September 24, 2026 Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR August 20, 2026 HSAs vs. FSAs vs. HRAs Choosing the right account-based benefit strategy requires understanding how HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs truly compare. This webinar breaks down the similarities and key differences among these plans — including eligibility, funding rules, tax treatment, and portability — and explores how employers can strategically leverage each option to support workforce needs while staying compliant. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR July 16, 2026 Mid-Year Regulatory Update Regulatory change doesn't slow down, and neither should your compliance strategy. This mid-year update recaps the most important benefits and employment law developments from the first half of 2026, plus a look ahead at what's coming and practical takeaways to help employers navigate the rest of the year. Register Now! Register Now! View All Events Connect with a C&B Representative Today!

Employee Benefits Providing a Better Open Enrollment Solution Up Published on Written by: Page View December 28, 2022 Cottingham & Butler A West Virginia manufacturing company wanted to communicate more effectively and implement a holistic benefits package to compete with other surrounding employers. Cottingham & Butler’s employee benefits team got to work by utilizing our unique benchmarking tool to analyze the data and bring various plan options to best fit their employees. Following the employer’s decisions to ensure their employees were appropriately covered by the non-medical lines of coverage, the next most important component was communicating the wonderful enhancements and allowing employees to use technology to enroll versus the outdated paper enrollment forms. They used Cottingham & Butler’s proprietary enrollment text system called BETSY . Our Results Paid Life & Disability Review We reviewed the company’s paid life insurance and disability to restructure the plan and adequately insure employees. This led to a $9M increase in life insurance protection and a weekly income protection increase of $30k. Open Enrollment Solutions After we implemented our easy-to-use and efficient open enrollment solution, BETSY, we were able to move away from the dated paper enrollment process, which allows employees the ability to enroll anywhere at any time and creates administrative ease for HR staff. Enhanced Benefit Plan Communications By offering a wide variety of communication mediums in phased approaches, there was a 100% completion rate and over 50% enrollment in all coverages. Enrollment Satisfaction & Utilization Employees reported back appreciating the upgrades to the communications and benefit plan, according to the employee feedback survey. View All Posts TAGS: Case Study Employee Benefits Employee Rewards & Engagement HR Efficiency Upcoming Events WEBINAR SERIES September 24, 2026 Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR August 20, 2026 HSAs vs. FSAs vs. HRAs Choosing the right account-based benefit strategy requires understanding how HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs truly compare. This webinar breaks down the similarities and key differences among these plans — including eligibility, funding rules, tax treatment, and portability — and explores how employers can strategically leverage each option to support workforce needs while staying compliant. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR July 16, 2026 Mid-Year Regulatory Update Regulatory change doesn't slow down, and neither should your compliance strategy. This mid-year update recaps the most important benefits and employment law developments from the first half of 2026, plus a look ahead at what's coming and practical takeaways to help employers navigate the rest of the year. Register Now! Register Now! View All Events Connect with a C&B Representative Today!

General Industry OSHA Reporting and Recordkeeping Compliance Updates Up Published on Written by: Page View December 27, 2023 Cottingham & Butler Did you know companies, with 11 or more employees, are required to maintain and post an OSHA log? What is an OSHA 300 Log, and when does OSHA need to be notified of an injury? Failure to maintain proper recordkeeping, or incorrectly doing so, could lead to large fines. Learn what you need to know about OSHA recordkeeping and reporting, as well as recent changes to reporting requirements. Click here to download the presentation slides. View All Posts TAGS: On-Demand Webinar General Industry Safety Upcoming Events WEBINAR SERIES September 24, 2026 Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR August 20, 2026 HSAs vs. FSAs vs. HRAs Choosing the right account-based benefit strategy requires understanding how HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs truly compare. This webinar breaks down the similarities and key differences among these plans — including eligibility, funding rules, tax treatment, and portability — and explores how employers can strategically leverage each option to support workforce needs while staying compliant. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR July 16, 2026 Mid-Year Regulatory Update Regulatory change doesn't slow down, and neither should your compliance strategy. This mid-year update recaps the most important benefits and employment law developments from the first half of 2026, plus a look ahead at what's coming and practical takeaways to help employers navigate the rest of the year. Register Now! Register Now! View All Events Connect with a C&B Representative Today!

Employee Benefits A 33% Decrease to Health Insurance Spend in 3 Years Up Published on Written by: Page View April 15, 2022 Cottingham & Butler A county in northeastern Wisconsin was facing a 6% increase in their health insurance costs. Cottingham & Butler's public sector team was invited to conduct our 3C's analysis, where we benchmark coverage, cost, and consumption compared to peer counties and municipalities in the area. This analysis leads to identifying areas for opportunity and allows us to make targeted quantifiable recommendations. Pharmacy Contract Review We renegotiated the pharmacy benefit manager contract, moving from a 3-year to a 1-year contract. We also introduced step-therapy and coupon tracking on medications that led to $115k in savings. Tenure-Based Opt Out We implemented a $5,000 cash opt-out based on tenure. This was an added benefit offered to employees with over 20 years of service to the County that led to over $84k in savings. High-Performance Network We recommended that the County introduce a tiered high-performance network, incenting members (but not mandating them) to use high-quality, low-cost providers leading to over $280k in savings. View All Posts TAGS: Case Study Employee Benefits Cost Management Upcoming Events WEBINAR SERIES September 24, 2026 Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR August 20, 2026 HSAs vs. FSAs vs. HRAs Choosing the right account-based benefit strategy requires understanding how HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs truly compare. This webinar breaks down the similarities and key differences among these plans — including eligibility, funding rules, tax treatment, and portability — and explores how employers can strategically leverage each option to support workforce needs while staying compliant. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR July 16, 2026 Mid-Year Regulatory Update Regulatory change doesn't slow down, and neither should your compliance strategy. This mid-year update recaps the most important benefits and employment law developments from the first half of 2026, plus a look ahead at what's coming and practical takeaways to help employers navigate the rest of the year. Register Now! Register Now! View All Events Connect with a C&B Representative Today!

Manufacturing Managing a "Hard" Insurance Market Up Published on Written by: Page View May 16, 2023 John Link In the 1996 movie classic, “Twister,” Dusty runs out of the RV at the drive-in movie theater and yells to Bill, “It’s coming! It’s coming straight for us!” and Bill replies with an apprehensive and fearful look at the ominous, night sky, “It’s already here.” That scene reminds me of the property insurance world and the hard market. The “hard market” isn’t coming—it’s already here! For those of you new to this terminology, a “hard” insurance market represents a period of rising rates, less capacity, and unfavorable terms mandated by insurance companies to the insurance buyer. Our team at Cottingham & Butler has been sounding the bell about the hard market, and dealing with a challenging property renewal is less about “if” than “when.” Ten years ago, a dozen admitted insurance carriers would insure property insurance for foundries—today there are less than five. This article is designed around what you can do to be prepared to manage upcoming insurance renewals. Let’s start with a brief overview of the current insurance market. Property insurance is no longer (and hasn’t been for a while) a regional issue. In today’s climate, what happens in Florida or California, affects us in the Midwest and vice versa. We’ve dealt with wildfires, windstorms, snowstorms, hurricanes, and flooding. These natural catastrophes have caused many billions of dollars in claims costs to insurers. In 2022, natural disaster damages were over $115 billion and that follows $121 billion in 2021. Along with those disasters, the industry still manages the additional losses from less catastrophic but just as costly claims ranging from fires and explosions to broken water pipes. View the column in Modern Casting's digital edition. In response, insurance carriers and their insurance providers (known as reinsurance carriers) are increasing their rates, diminishing their appetite for risk, offering less favorable terms, and heightening underwriting scrutiny. In December 2022, Ernst & Young Global predicted reinsurance rates to rise 50% during the January 2023 renewals, setting the stage for further increases throughout 2023. Another factor impacting insurance costs is the valuation of assets and inflation. The material costs of construction (e.g., concrete, drywall, pvc pipes, etc.) are up as much as 53% year-over-year. Lumber cost is the one category that saw a reduction during 2022. With that in consideration, many property valuations on insurance schedules are likely undervalued versus their true cost. The cost to rebuild your facility is significantly higher than it was three or four years ago. When was the last time you had a formal appraisal of the cost to replace your building? Likely you haven’t and therefore insurance carriers are scrutinizing the cost per square foot much closer. One final factor for the foundry industry is reputation. Google search “foundry fires” and “foundry accidents” and look at just the first results page. This is what underwriters and insurance company analysts see and use to formulate their opinions about foundries. Despite the fact that every day, 1,750 foundries are operating safely, historical events influence and cast doubt on the viability of a foundry as a good underwriting risk. These factors create the perfect storm for insurance companies to dictate purchasing terms in what we collectively call a “hard” market. In some cases, insurance companies are simply walking away from insuring what they consider “riskier” businesses. Metalcasting is one category that is considered high risk and unfavorable for underwriting. From the graph in Figure 1, the property market is seeing continued upward pressure for the last six years with a substantial spike during the latter part of 2022. The first quarter of 2023 rate increases so far have continued their upward trend. With that said, you can survive the hard market. It takes additional work and effort on your part and the part of your insurance broker, however. Here are some strategies on what we can collectively do to get through these challenging conditions:   1. Strategize with your broker and do it early! The standard approach taken by insurance brokers for the renewal process is to make submissions 90 days in advance of the expiration date with the likelihood of having the renewal finalized two weeks before your policies expire. That process works in a soft market but in the market we are in today, that process will fail. Instead, have your planning meeting five months in advance of the expiration date, update all underwriting materials, and make sure submissions go out early. Every insurance company is going to want loss control, every insurance company is going to question the values, and every insurance company is going to have to go to their reinsurance markets to build limits for your business. This takes time so use it to your advantage.   2. Decide on your risk tolerance. What deductibles can you live with? Does every structure need to be insured? Does the program need to be on replacement cost or would actual cash value suffice? These are questions many businesses are considering in order to lower their insurance premiums.  3. Update your values. When was the last time you hired an appraisal company to provide a true estimate on the replacement cost value of your buildings and equipment? When I ask that question, the answer is typically “It’s been years” or “Never.” Insurance companies are going to demand the values of your buildings be based on either a third-party valuation or another metric for you to justify why your 50,000-sq.-ft. facility is insured for $2.5 million when their data suggests it should be valued at $6 million. Higher values drive more premium, which insurance companies want; therefore, take control and tell them what your values are. If you don’t, they will dictate those terms to you, which could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.   4. Satisfy the loss control recommendations. This may be the most critical area for your team to review and the one area you can directly control. Remember when the loss control person from the insurance company visited your facility and then provided you a list of “recommendations” for improvements? You likely “filed” this and moved on with your day. No more! If those recommendations (let’s call them mandates) are not addressed or completed to the insurer’s satisfaction, there is a high likelihood that insurance carrier will non-renew your insurance policies.Key areas to review are: Fire protection: We all know we can’t have sprinkler systems over the pour floor, but insurance carriers will expect sprinkler systems everywhere else, especially your pattern and mold shops and storage areas. Hot work permit systems: I’ve seen this on almost every inspection report and the requirement to have a hot work scope of work and procedures written out in detail. Dust collection: More and more carriers will want to see updated dust collections systems with spark detection and fire suppression as part of the system. Flammables: Everything from 275-gallon solvent totes to 1 gallon paint cans need to be stored properly and away from heat and flame. I had one insurance carrier dictate they would only offer a quote if the foundry would build a separate building with sprinklers for the foundry to store all their placard flammable materials.   5. Be thorough in your description of operations. Do your insurance underwriters actually know who you are and what you do and what makes your business different from all the other metalcasters they get submissions on? Having a narrative or a “description of operations” on your business is an often overlooked part of the insurance marketing process, but if you don’t have one, then you are relying on an application and the Google search the underwriter will review to be the narrative. Again, take control and get your story told the way you want it told.   6. Know your insurance policies. I know you are working with your broker to be your advisor, but I would suggest educating yourself on what is in your insurance policy and what you are actually paying premium for. How is the business interruption and extra expense calculated? Is your policy a blanket or scheduled? What are the sub-limits? The key is to be an educated consumer so you can negotiate your options effectively.  7. Meet with underwriters directly (if this makes sense). This goes hand in hand with the description of operations discussion in that the underwriters need to know who you are and your business. Do you know many of the underwriters I speak with have never been in a foundry? Yet, we expect them to write the insurance for you! Work on getting your underwriter to come to your facility so they can see firsthand your operations and what you are doing to make your operations best in class. If you don’t feel your facility is ready for an underwriter visit, consult with your broker to uncover the steps to be prepared for this visit. The hard market is not going away anytime soon. In this market the insurance companies control who they will sell to and the terms of the sale. As buyers of insurance, the more educated we can be about the seller’s interests the better we can position ourselves for the best terms. Therefore, take charge of what you can control: Update the valuation of your assets. Conduct and document safety, site management, and basic housekeeping. Document and communicate facility upgrades and improvements. Create a clear description of operations. Partner with your insurance broker/agent for a renewal marketing plan. There are many things we cannot control, such as the facultative reinsurance market or if the insurance company “suits” decide they are pulling out of writing more foundries. However, focusing on what we can control and taking action will drive results. An adage around our firm is, “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” As the storm continues to churn and winds blow, let’s adjust the sails and find calmer seas. JOHN LINK, CPCU,CIC Vice President, Risk Management 563.590.0428 jlink@cottinghambutler.com View All Posts TAGS: Article Manufacturing Metalcasting Upcoming Events WEBINAR SERIES September 24, 2026 Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong. Register Now! Register Now! WEBINAR August 20, 2026 HSAs vs. FSAs vs. HRAs Choosing the right account-based benefit strategy requires understanding how HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs truly compare. 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