California’s Pacific storms—known as atmospheric rivers—have resulted in more than $30 billion in damages and economic losses since Dec. 2022, according to AccuWeather Inc. Major flooding, widespread power outages, landslides, fallen trees and road closures have cost between $31 billion and $34 billion in economic impact.

Each fiscal year, OSHA keeps records on the most frequently cited standards stemming from worksite inspections. The latest records outline the top 10 standards cited during fiscal year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022) and the total number of violations for each standard.

Insured natural disaster losses hit an estimated $120 billion in 2022, with North America making up the bulk of the tally due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, according to Munich Re. Economic losses reached $270 billion, down from $320 billion in 2021.

The winter months are known for bringing sickness. In particular, this winter, health experts are warning of a “tripledemic” due to the threat of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and COVID-19. Viruses transmit more effectively in cold and dry weather, increasing your chances of coming into contact with someone contagious.

Ransomware events that occur on holidays and weekends cause much higher revenue losses than cyber incidents occurring on weekdays—primarily due to lower staffing levels—according to a survey of over 1,200 cybersecurity professionals.

Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain traction in the U.S. auto market. Last year, Americans bought nearly 450,000 EVs—an 83% jump over 2020. With many federal and state governments pushing for lower CO2 roadway emissions, EV demand is expected to soar during the next decade.

The global reinsurance landscape tightened significantly on Jan. 1, with one broker deeming this renewal season “one of the hardest reinsurance markets in living memory.” Frequent natural catastrophes and economic and political shifts have introduced significant uncertainty and volatility into the insurance market, along with the biggest capital crunch in more than a decade, per recent broker reports.

Today’s society has become increasingly digital in nature, prompting businesses to leverage additional technology and online services in their operations. Specifically, some businesses have grown more reliant on the internet and social media platforms to market their products and services, allowing them to connect with a wider range of customers.

Winter weather can cause dangerous road conditions. In 2020, 374 fatal crashes occurred in winter driving conditions. Driving cautiously and understanding what to do in an emergency are key to staying safe this winter.

Extended detection and response (XDR) is a security solution that offers organizations end-to-end visibility, detection, investigation and response across multiple security layers. Unlike endpoint detection and response (EDR), XDR provides a holistic view of threats across the entire technology landscape rather than only those within managed endpoints.

Small businesses and self-employed people saw fewer cyberattacks and data breaches over the previous 12 months. Still, significant risks remain for this corner of the economy, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s (ITRC) 2022 Business Impact Report.

Cryptocurrency is characterized as a digital currency that operates independently of a banking system and leverages encryption technology to transfer its value through the internet. There are several different types of cryptocurrency, but the largest by market capitalization is bitcoin. Despite its intangible form, cryptocurrency functions similarly to physical cash across many countries and governments.

Cyber incidents—including data breaches, ransomware attacks and social engineering scams—have become increasingly prevalent, impacting organizations of all sizes and industries. Such incidents have largely been brought on by additional cyberthreat vectors and growing attacker sophistication.

OSHA has cited Amazon with 14 recordkeeping violations for failing to properly record work-related injuries and illnesses following inspections at six warehouse facilities in five states. On July 18, 2022, inspections were conducted in Deltona, Florida; Waukegan, Illinois; and New Windsor, New York.

In the commercial property insurance space, rising inflation increases the risk of undervaluing property. A rise in building costs due to factors such as labor shortages, worker wage growth, supply chain disruptions and raw material price increases can increase the severity of a property insurance claim and create potential underinsurance issues for the policyholder.

Most people understand that insurance companies have a duty to reimburse insureds for commercial property damage not excluded by their policies. What’s lesser known is that if a loss does occur, insureds also have duties they owe to their insurance company. Many commercial property insurance policies include language detailing steps that must be taken following a loss.

Office holiday parties can give employees the opportunity to celebrate a successful year of business, but they can also open companies up to liability risks, especially if alcohol is involved. However, with some advanced planning, employers can minimize those risks and enjoy the holiday celebration.

Severe weather conditions can be detrimental to job sites, placing additional strain on construction employers. While there’s no way to completely safeguard worksites from the elements, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risks posed by extreme weather events. Such weather can come in many forms, each of which require their own preparations in order to protect job sites.

The North Atlantic hurricane season—which lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30 annually—featured 14 named storms, eight of which reached hurricane strength, in 2022. While this year’s hurricane season produced fewer storms than originally predicted, it was still the third most expensive hurricane season to date.

The frequency and severity of active assailant attacks are on the rise, and they can have a significant financial impact on the owner of the premises or business where the event took place. As a result, organizations should safeguard against potential losses stemming from an active assailant attack by securing sufficient insurance.