Some of the most important work in America happens while much of the country is asleep.

Long after office lights switch off and parking lots empty, manufacturing facilities continue producing critical components. Healthcare professionals monitor patients through the night. Maintenance teams prepare equipment for the next day’s production. Truck drivers move goods across the country, ensuring businesses have what they need before sunrise.

For many organizations, these overnight hours are not simply an extension of the workday. The equipment may be the same. The procedures may be the same. The expectations may be the same, yet night shift work presents a challenge that many businesses may underestimate.

For manufacturers, healthcare organizations, construction companies, and countless other businesses, overnight operations are essential to maintaining productivity, serving customers, and keeping critical systems moving. The employees working these shifts often operate outside the spotlight, yet their decisions can influence safety, efficiency, and business continuity long before the rest of the organization arrives for the day.

For employers, the question becomes clear: How can we help night shift teams thrive?

Where Risk Really Begins

Many workplace hazards are easy to identify. A damaged ladder can be repaired. A blocked exit can be cleared. A machine in need of maintenance can be taken out of service.

Fatigue is different. It often develops gradually, making it one of the most difficult workplace risks to recognize before performance begins to suffer.

The challenge is rooted in human biology. help regulate sleep, alertness, body temperature, and numerous other functions throughout the day. During overnight hours, those natural processes prepare the body for recovery, even when work demands concentration, awareness, and decision-making.

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) shift work and extended work schedules as factors that can contribute to fatigue because they disrupt normal sleep patterns and recovery cycles. Over time, insufficient sleep can affect attention, reaction time, memory, and decision-making — all critical elements of workplace safety.

The risks extend beyond the workplace itself. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that drowsy driving contributes to approximately 100,000 crashes annually, resulting in more than 71,000 injuries. For employees working overnight schedules, extended shifts, or demanding jobs, fatigue can affect safety both on the job and on the commute home.

The Success Framework

Businesses that consistently achieve strong overnight safety performance tend to three interconnected areas: Preparation, Visibility, and Support. Together, these elements help create an environment where employees can perform confidently and safely throughout the night.

Scheduling practices, recovery time between shifts, staffing levels, overtime expectations, and shift handoffs all play an important role in preparing employees for success. A strong shift handoff, for example, does more than transfer information. It provides crucial context. Equipment concerns, production priorities, maintenance activities, and emerging hazards can be discussed before the work begins, helping employees start their shift with greater awareness and confidence.

Federal workplace the importance of adequate rest and recovery in helping reduce fatigue-related risks. Employers that prioritize predictable schedules and sufficient recovery opportunities often create a stronger foundation for both safety and performance.

Adequate staffing levels, reasonable limits on consecutive shifts, and opportunities for recovery between work periods can also play an important role in reducing fatigue accumulation. Industries that rely heavily on overnight operations often face some of the greatest challenges in balancing operational demands with employee recovery. Together, these twin elements help create the conditions employees need to perform confidently, make informed decisions, and work safely throughout the night.

Visibility

If preparation helps employees begin the shift safely, visibility helps them maintain that safety throughout the night. It’s about more than seeing clearly; it’s about giving employees the information they need to make confident decisions in real time.

Reduced lighting conditions can make hazards more difficult to identify and increase the importance of situational awareness. Walkways, equipment areas, loading zones, parking lots, and maintenance spaces all to help employees recognize changing conditions and respond appropriately.

In many environments, serve as important supplemental safety tools. Whether conducting a pre-trip vehicle inspection before sunrise, checking equipment in a dimly lit mechanical room, navigating outdoor work areas, or responding to an issue during a power disruption, portable lighting helps employees identify hazards before they become incidents.

Research continues to demonstrate the connection between visibility and workplace safety. NIOSH lighting that enhanced LED lighting improved the detection of trip hazards by 24%, improved the ability to identify moving hazards by 15%, and reduced glare by 45%. These improvements can be especially important during overnight operations, where workers may already be managing the challenges associated with fatigue and reduced visibility.

For employees working after dark, visibility is an principal part of situational awareness and hazard recognition. medical treatment for work-related eye injuries every day, underscoring the importance of helping employees clearly see their surroundings, equipment, and potential hazards before the work begins. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also proper workplace illumination as an important component of workplace safety, particularly in areas where employees perform detailed tasks, inspections, or maintenance activities.

The Visibility Checklist

• Carry a reliable flashlight or headlamp
• Inspect lighting before work begins
• Illuminate walkways and inspection areas
• Check equipment, exits, and workspaces before tasks begin
• Replace batteries and test emergency lighting regularly
• Conduct pre-trip inspections before overnight or early-morning driving

When the System Works Together

Even the most prepared employees benefit from strong support systems. Ongoing training can help workers recognize in themselves and others, including delayed reaction times, difficulty concentrating, drifting attention, and other warning signs that performance may be affected by lack of sleep.

Leadership engagement reinforces safety expectations across every shift, and technology provides additional visibility into workplace conditions and emerging risks. Options such as fleet telematics, AI-powered dash cameras, connected sensors, wearable technologies, and digital safety management platforms are helping organizations identify trends and address concerns before incidents occur. These tools do not replace experience or sound judgment; they serve to strengthen them. When paired with strong leadership, communication, and training, they can help businesses become more proactive in how they identify and manage risk.

The strength of the becomes clear when employees arrive informed about operational priorities, workspaces are designed to help them recognize hazards and maintain awareness; training, leadership, and technology provide additional support throughout their shifts. Over time, these systems begin to shape the rhythm of overnight work.

Inspections become more deliberate, communication becomes clearer, employees work with greater confidence, and potential issues can be identified earlier. Safety becomes less about reacting to problems and more about preventing them. In these environments, safety is not treated as a separate initiative; it becomes part of the everyday workflow.

Strengthening Workforce Resilience

The employees working overnight help keep production schedules moving, support patient care, maintain critical infrastructure, and prepare businesses for the day ahead. Their work influences far more than individual safety outcomes; when organizations create conditions that help these employees thrive, the benefits often extend well beyond injury reduction. They strengthen workforce resilience, improve operational continuity, preserve institutional knowledge, and support long-term performance.

At Amerisure, our Risk Management team works alongside �鶹ԭ�� every day to help identify exposures, strengthen workplace safety strategies, and support resilient operations built to meet the moments that matter most. Because some of the most important moments in business happen after dark—and the people working through those moments deserve every opportunity to succeed safely.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in each article are for general informational purposes only.

What helps construction projects stay strong when unexpected claims or liability issues arise?

Our latest workplace safety resource explores practical that can help contractors protect their operations before problems escalate. In today’s construction environment, tighter timelines, growing subcontractor networks, and increasingly complex projects continue to create new layers of exposure, making proactive planning more important than ever.

Why Risk Transfer Matters

That same challenge carries across jobsites every day. A subcontractor damages property. An injury involves multiple trades working in the same space. A disagreement over responsibility threatens to slow down work and impact profitability.

At its core, risk transfer helps shift financial and legal responsibility to the party best positioned to manage it. For contractors, that often begins with well-crafted contracts, indemnification provisions and additional insured requirements that clearly define responsibilities before work begins.

Often, the difference between a manageable disruption and a costly setback comes down to decisions made long before a project begins: how contracts and insurance requirements are structured with clarity, whether enforceable indemnification language is in place, and whether additional insured protections have been properly verified.

“Strong risk transfer is really about creating clarity before challenges arise,” said Casey Cain, Risk Management Manager at Amerisure.

“When contractors take the time to establish clear expectations, verify coverage and strengthen contractual agreements upfront, they are often in a much better position to effectively transfer risk to the appropriate parties and keep the work moving forward when the unexpected happens.”

Strengthen Your Strategy

Effective risk transfer begins long before work starts. Amerisure’s Risk Management professionals can help you evaluate contracts, strengthen insurance requirements and identify opportunities to reduce liability exposures before they become costly claims.

Explore the full resource below for expert insights and practical guidance designed to help contractors strengthen risk transfer strategies, protect project momentum, and support more resilient operations from start to finish. 

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in each article are for general informational purposes only.

Amerisure has once again been named a recognized , reflecting our ongoing commitment to building a workplace where employees can thrive, grow and bring their best every day.

This proven commitment to employee wellbeing, professional growth and workplace culture continues to shape the employee experience across Amerisure and reinforces our belief that when people are supported, they are empowered to succeed.

This distinction honors organizations that prioritize employee wellbeing through meaningful programs, supportive environments and a holistic approach to wellbeing. Amerisure is among a select group of Michigan organizations recognized for excellence in areas including wellness culture, work environment, employee engagement, and physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

For more than 114 years, Amerisure’s people have been our greatest strength. The expertise, passion and commitment to service bring our culture to life every day and help us meet the moment for our agency partners, �鶹ԭ�� and one another. That belief shapes how we invest in employee wellbeing not just as a standalone initiative, but as a foundational part of creating an environment where people can succeed professionally, personally and as members of a dedicated team.

Through our BE Well 360° program and its five pillars of wellbeing — physical; social & emotional; financial; community; and professional — we empower employees with resources, opportunities and support designed to help them thrive throughout every stage of their careers. Combined with flexible, meaningful benefits and a culture that values collaboration, innovation and continuous learning, these efforts help employees build rewarding careers while making a difference for those we serve.

A Proven Commitment to People and Wellbeing

NABR noted that this year’s winners are “leading with intention — investing in the whole person and creating cultures where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.”

That philosophy comes to life across Amerisure through a culture that champions growth, recognition and wellbeing. Through continuing education, learning and development opportunities, flexible benefits, community involvement, and programs such as BE Amerisure and the annual Amerisure Champions program, we continue to invest in our people — empowering them to expand their expertise, advance their careers and make meaningful contributions while celebrating the individual strengths and perspectives that fuel our mutual success.

That investment helps employees build capabilities that not only strengthen their own careers but also enhance the service and expertise Amerisure delivers to agency partners and �鶹ԭ��. By fostering continuous learning and recognizing individual achievements, we create an environment where employees are encouraged to pursue excellence, embrace new opportunities and make a lasting impact.

Just as importantly, Amerisure fosters a culture where collaboration and individual contributions go hand in hand. Employees are encouraged to share ideas, develop new skills and take ownership of their growth, supported by leaders and teammates who are unmistakably invested in their success.

“Earning this recognition is an honor,” said Erin Buddie, Chief Human Resources Officer. “It reinforces the importance of having a workplace where wellbeing is part of who we are, and it reflects the role each of you plays in shaping a supportive and healthy culture across our organization. We thank everyone for their commitment to creating a workplace where people can do their best and feel their best.”

Awards recognize achievement, but culture is built by people. This honor reflects the collective efforts of employees across Amerisure who foster an environment where wellbeing, growth and opportunity go hand in hand — empowering one another to thrive while delivering exceptional service to our customers and communities. Amerisure and fellow winners will be formally recognized at the in October.

Behind every recognition is a workplace culture shaped by people who are committed to learning, growing and supporting one another. To explore life at Amerisure, our commitment to employee wellbeing and development, and career opportunities across the organization, visit Amerisure.com/Careers.

Building safety is something many people do not think about until something goes wrong.

A power outage suddenly brings operations to a halt. A leaking roof damages equipment after a heavy storm. An emergency exit blocked by stored materials becomes a serious concern during an evacuation drill.

More often than not, the disruptions that impact businesses the most begin as small issues that develop quietly over time. The safest workplaces are usually built on consistent preparation long before an emergency ever occurs.

Safety in the Workplace

Proper building safety helps reduce the risk of accidents and injuries caused by fire, structural concerns, falls, electrical hazards, and other workplace exposures. It is especially important in facilities with aging infrastructure, demanding operations, high foot traffic, or hazardous materials.

help provide guidance around fire prevention, electrical safety, emergency preparedness, and fall protection. OSHA data that fall protection, ladder safety, and hazard communication remain among the most frequently cited workplace safety concerns nationwide.

Building safety also plays an important role in business continuity. Electrical failures, fire hazards, water damage, and deferred maintenance issues can quickly disrupt operations, impact productivity, and create costly downtime if left unaddressed. the importance of facility preparedness and emergency response planning to help businesses respond more effectively during disruptions, severe weather events, and other unexpected emergencies.

The Importance of Built-In Building Safety

Creating a safer workplace often comes down to small, consistent actions that help prevent larger problems later. Businesses can strengthen building safety by focusing on the following practices:

• : Buildings should be inspected routinely to identify and address potential hazards before they worsen. Electrical systems, HVAC systems, elevators, roofs, and fire protection equipment should all be evaluated regularly to help support safe operation.
• : Employees should understand how to recognize potential workplace hazards and how to respond during emergencies. Training can include evacuation procedures, hazard reporting, proper equipment use, and workplace safety best practices.
• Clear Guidelines: Safety expectations and emergency procedures should be clearly communicated throughout the organization. This includes guidance around emergency exits, hazardous materials, contractor safety, and incident response protocols.
• Updated Equipment: Aging infrastructure and outdated equipment can increase exposure to operational disruptions and workplace safety concerns. Proactively upgrading systems can help businesses improve reliability and reduce risk.
• Severe weather, utility interruptions, and unexpected emergencies can affect businesses of any size. Developing response plans in advance can help organizations respond more confidently and decisively when conditions change quickly.
• : Employers should comply with OSHA standards for building safety. Failure to comply can result in costly penalties, fines, and preventable workplace injuries.

Building Safer, Stronger Workplaces

Building safety is about more than compliance alone. It is about creating workplaces that help protect employees, support daily operations, and strengthen long-term resilience. The strongest safety programs are built through preparation, consistency, and a proactive approach to identifying risks before they become larger problems — from routine maintenance and employee training to emergency preparedness and risk management planning.

At Amerisure, our Risk Management team works alongside �鶹ԭ�� to help identify exposures, strengthen workplace safety strategies, and support safer, stronger operations built to meet the moments that matter most.

For many manufacturers, the most significant product liability exposures don’t originate on the shop floor.  They start upstream – in the supply chain.  As products become more component-driven and sourcing networks expand across regions and borders, failures tied to supplier materials, parts, or processes increasingly drive recalls, litigation, and adverse loss development.

That shift is in national data.  Federal recall dashboards hundreds of consumer and industrial product recalls each year, many traced back to component failures or supplier-driven defects rather than final assembly errors.  In these moments, legal responsibility doesn’t pause to ask where a failure originated – it flows directly to the brand owner.

That’s why a proven supplier risk management program isn’t a procurement exercise.  It’s a core product liability control.

“When a supplier issue surfaces, it’s rarely abstract,” said Eric Austin, Risk Management Expertise Specialist at Amerisure.  “It’s a real product, in a real customer’s hands, with real consequences.  The manufacturers that hold up best are the ones who treated supplier oversight as a liability decision long before it became a legal one.”

Where Liability Really Begins

A formal supplier approval process should exist before any material or component enters production.  This process must verify technical capability, manufacturing capacity, and quality systems – not rely solely on price, availability, or long-standing relationships.

Written supplier standards are essential.  They clearly define expectations for quality, safety, and regulatory compliance, ensuring suppliers understand that conformity is a contractual and operational requirement, not an assumption.  When quality standards at the supplier do not match those of the manufacturer, risk is effectively embedded into every product delivered.

From a liability standpoint, this step sets the tone.  Approval criteria, documentation, and accountability create a defensible baseline – one that demonstrates intent, diligence, and control if a claim ever arises.

Proven Supplier Controls

Not all suppliers carry the same level of risk, and effective programs reflect that reality.  Risk-based supplier tiering distinguishes between critical and non-critical components, allowing oversight to scale with exposure.

Higher-risk suppliers typically include safety-critical parts, controllers, or components where failure could reasonably lead to injury, fire, or significant property damage.  Concentrating audits, testing, performance monitoring, and documentation on these inputs improves control where it matters most – without burdening low-risk suppliers.  This disciplined prioritization mirrors how defects surface in complex manufacturing environments, particularly in cases tied to component failure.

Traceability Limits Exposure

Incoming inspection and quality verification remain essential, even with long-standing suppliers.  What separates resilient manufacturers from vulnerable ones is how quickly they can isolate exposure when a defect emerges.

Traceability and recordkeeping systems that link suppliers, materials, production runs, and customers enable rapid containment.  In recall or claim scenarios, traceability often determines whether exposure is limited – or multiplied.  Federal recall consistently that faster identification and narrower recall scope reduce downstream harm and cost.  Incoming inspections supported by robust documentation also play a critical role in liability allocation, helping identify where failure occurred if a product malfunctions after delivery.

“Traceability isn’t about paperwork – it’s about leverage,” explains Austin.  “When you can clearly connect a defect to a specific supplier, lot, or change, you protect your customers and your balance sheet at the same time.”

When Change Becomes Risk

Supplier change-management procedures are often overlooked – despite being one of the most common liability triggers.  Manufacturers should require advance notice and approval for changes to materials, tooling, processes, formulations, or sub-suppliers, supported by periodic audits that confirm approved processes remain in place.

Without formal change control, suppliers may introduce modifications the manufacturer never sees.  When production is moved offshore or subcontracted, quality systems and contractual protections can shift quietly – an issue frequently uncovered only after failures occur in .  At that point, exposure is already embedded.

This is where supplier oversight becomes a living control – one that evolves with production realities instead of lagging behind them.

Make Risk Transfer Real

Supplier contracts should do more than exist-they should work.  Clear provisions for indemnification, warranties, and responsibility for defects align legal accountability with how risk actually moves through the supply chain.  Insurance verification, including certificates that confirm appropriate limits and active product coverage, must be reviewed and monitored as living documents, not filed away.

Risk transfer only holds if the supplier can financially stand behind it.  When indemnification language is unenforceable or insurance coverage lapses, manufacturers effectively absorb supplier defects themselves-a dynamic that in product liability litigation and recall outcomes where upstream parties lack the resources to respond.  In those moments, responsibility follows visibility.  Claims flow downstream to the brand owner, not upstream to the party that caused the failure.

Compliance Is the Defense

Suppliers must meet all applicable regulatory requirements related to product safety, labeling, environmental standards, and industry-specific regulations.  Manufacturers remain visible defendants in product claims regardless of where non-compliance originates.

If a product is made for consumption in the U.S., liability can vary by state.  Aligning supplier practices with the most stringent applicable requirements provides stronger protection.  For internationally sold products, compliance complexity increases further, reinforcing the need for disciplined verification and documentation.

Build a More Resilient Supply Chain

A disciplined supplier risk management program strengthens product quality, limits recall scope, and improves defensibility in product liability claims.  By combining formal supplier approval, risk-based oversight, traceability, change control, contractual safeguards, and compliance verification, manufacturers can meaningfully reduce downstream liability while maintaining an accountable and resilient supply chain.

At Amerisure, this work happens alongside agents and �鶹ԭ�� every day – translating real-world operational insight into practical controls that hold up when pressure hits. 

To learn more about how Amerisure helps manufacturers strengthen supplier oversight and protect their business, visit our website.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in each article are for general informational purposes only.

Farmington Hills, Mich., June 5, 2026 — Amerisure Insurance today announces the launch of its new purpose statement: “Meeting the moments — with people who demand the best.”

For more than a century, Amerisure has focused on helping companies navigate uncertainty, prevent disruption, and move forward with confidence. This new purpose statement reflects how Amerisure shows up for agency partners, �鶹ԭ��, and employees in the moments that matter.

“Insurance is a noble profession because it’s centered around helping people through some of the most important moments they face,” said Greg Crabb, Amerisure President and CEO. “To us, ‘Meeting the moments…’ means showing up with care, accountability, and expertise when people are counting on us to deliver.”

At its core, the purpose statement reflects a shared belief that the way people respond in important moments ultimately shapes the strength of a partnership.

“Some of the most important moments in insurance don’t always look dramatic from the outside,” explains Bob Nicholas, Vice President of Marketing and Sales Enablement. “‘…With people who demand the best.’ reflects the shared high standard of excellence set by our employees, agency partners, and �鶹ԭ��. It speaks to the passion our people bring to transforming the insurance experience and delivering when it matters most.”

“Those are the moments that people remember because they build trust, strengthen relationships, and define what’s unmistakably Amerisure.”

For more information about Amerisure’s new brand purpose and to watch it come to life, check their , , and  pages to follow along, or visit their website.

About Amerisure Insurance

Amerisure is a leading provider of commercial property and casualty insurance solutions for U.S.-based construction, manufacturing and healthcare businesses. Licensed in all fifty states and available through an exclusive network of elite independent agents, the company upholds an “A” (Excellent) financial strength rating, industry-leading service scores, and multiple awards for innovation. Amerisure has been in business for more than 100 years and is consistently named among the best places to work in the industry and throughout the nation. To learn more, visit amerisure.com.

In observance of , trenching and excavation work lay the foundation for vital infrastructure projects, but the inherent risks demand serious attention. Cave-ins, falling debris, hazardous atmospheres, and equipment mishaps rank among the most significant dangers. According to the , trenching and excavation  some of the most hazardous construction activities, with cave-ins alone responsible for dozens of fatalities annually.

The good news? These risks are not only manageable but preventable with proper planning, adherence to safety protocols, and innovative technology.

What Makes it So Dangerous?

Trenching and excavation can  deceptive dangers. Major risks include:

• Cave-ins: Soil can per cubic yard, making collapses potentially fatal. 
• Falling hazards: Workers can fall into unprotected trenches, or loose soil and debris can fall on workers inside. 
• Hazardous atmospheres: Trenches may accumulate toxic gases or have low oxygen without proper ventilation. 
• Equipment-related risks: Heavy machinery near trench edges can destabilize walls or pose struck-by hazards. 

What Safety Planning Should Happen Before Any Excavation Begins?

Safety starts long before the first shovel hits the ground.

• Pre-job planning:  that a competent person evaluate the site, test soil stability, locate underground utilities, and establish safety protocols before work begins. 
• Locate utilities: Contact utility marking services (e.g., “Call Before You Dig” / 811) so underground fuel, electric, sewer, or water lines are identified. 
• Soil and atmospheric testing: Test soil for stability and trenches for hazardous atmospheres like low oxygen or toxic gas before workers enter. 
• Daily inspections: Trenches and protective systems should be inspected by a competent person at the start of each shift and after events like rain or heavy equipment activity. 

Identifying hazards early lets you plan protection strategies — and prevents many incidents before they happen.

What Protective Systems Are Required?

When a trench is deeper than five feet (unless it’s in stable rock), OSHA standards require to reduce cave-in risks. 

Common protective options include:

• Sloping: Cutting trench walls at an angle to reduce collapse potential. 
• Shoring: Installing supports (e.g., timber or hydraulic systems) to stabilize trench walls. 
• Shielding: Using trench boxes or shields to protect workers from cave-ins. 

These systems help ensure that soil or debris doesn’t trap workers as excavation progresses.

How Should Workers Enter and Exit Trenches?

Safe access and egress are critical — especially in emergencies.

• Trenches should have ladders, ramps, or stairs installed within 25 feet of workers. 
• Ramps and ladders must be properly designed and free of tripping hazards. 
• Using a competent person to evaluate and confirm these access points is essential. 

Quick and reliable exit routes can make all the difference if conditions change rapidly. 

How Can Technology Improve Safety?

Safety innovations are helping worksites detect hazards sooner and act faster:

• Real-time soil monitoring detects instability before it becomes a crisis. 
• Advanced trench boxes combine lightweight materials with stronger protection. 
• Ground-penetrating radar and GPS mapping improve utility location accuracy. 

What Ongoing Safety Practices Should Be Part of Every Job?

Best practices don’t stop once work begins. Here are some proactive safety measures you should implement to make your jobsite stronger and more resilient.

• Keep soil, materials, and equipment at least two feet from trench edges to avoid adding pressure that can trigger a collapse. 
• Monitor atmospheric conditions continuously in deeper excavations. 
• Train workers and supervisors on excavation hazards, recognition, and response. 
• Communicate risks daily, including weather impacts and changes in soil stability. 

Want Expert Support With Your Excavation Safety Program?

If your organization performs this type of work, a structured safety program can make all the difference in preventing injuries, minimizing liability exposure, and meeting regulatory requirements.

Partnering with risk and safety advisors — like those at Amerisure — can help you assess your current processes, enhance planning and training, and strengthen your overall safety culture. Connect with an Amerisure risk specialist today.

In recognition of , our latest workplace safety resource explores practical prevention strategies that can help teams recognize heat-related risks earlier and respond before conditions become dangerous. Federal nearly 34,000 serious heat-related workplace injuries and illnesses have occurred over the last decade alone, with construction and other physically demanding industries continuing to face elevated risk.

That same challenge carries across industries. On construction sites, in manufacturing facilities, and anywhere physically demanding work takes place, safer outcomes are often shaped by everyday decisions — how teams hydrate, recognize subtle warning signs, schedule recovery breaks, and look out for one another throughout the workday. And because within minutes if left untreated, early action matters.

Explore the full resource below for expert insights, prevention essentials, and practical first-aid response guidance designed to help support safer workplaces during the hottest months of the year.

Helping Teams Stay Safer

Farmington Hills, Mich., May 15, 2026 — Amerisure Insurance announces the release of its , featuring financial strength and a commitment to delivering exceptional value through trusted partnerships, superior service, and specialized expertise.

The report highlights momentum across the organization, including growth in key business segments, technology modernization efforts, and ongoing improvements designed to make the insurance experience easier, more responsive, and built around the needs of agency partners and �鶹ԭ��.

“2025 was a year that reinforced the strength of our partnerships and the dedication of our people,” said Greg Crabb, Amerisure President and CEO.

“This report reflects the progress we’ve made across our business and our continued commitment to helping our agency partners and �鶹ԭ�� move forward with confidence.”

The annual report also highlights Amerisure’s “A” (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating from AM Best, more than $55 million in surplus growth, expanded risk management and claims capabilities, and ongoing community support efforts through the Amerisure Charitable Foundation.

About Amerisure Insurance

Amerisure is a leading provider of commercial property and casualty insurance solutions for U.S.-based construction, manufacturing and healthcare businesses. Licensed in all fifty states and available through an exclusive network of elite independent agents, the company upholds an “A” (Excellent) financial strength rating, industry-leading service scores, and multiple awards for innovation. Amerisure has been in business for more than 100 years and is consistently named among the best places to work in the industry and throughout the nation. To learn more, visit amerisure.com.

When an organization produces goods, the hope is that the products are fault-free. However, there may be instances when a product could become dangerous to the public and it’s the company’s responsibility to inform consumers about these risks.

This responsibility is referred to as the “duty to warn.” The duty to warn doctrine is based on the idea that consumers should be able to make informed decisions about whether to use a product. If a product is dangerous, the manufacturer has a duty to warn consumers about those dangers so they can make an informed decision about product usage.

I talk about this, among other important product liability topics, in the February 2026 Risk Management webinar presentation: .

Manufacturers must remember that the duty to warn includes products that are safe, designed and manufactured well, but normal function can still cause injuries. An obvious example is a chainsaw, but we also see warnings appearing on plastic bags, buckets or other seemingly innocuous items that may present a hazard to children.

Duty to warn covers reasonably foreseeable use and misuse. Inhaling aerosol propellants, for instance, could be considered reasonably foreseeable misuse.

Failing to warn, failing to instruct or issuing unclear warnings are among the leading allegations in product liability claims. 

• Failure to warn: No warnings are provided about a known risk.
• Failure to instruct: Instructions don’t clearly explain how to use the product safely or how to avoid foreseeable misuse.
• Inadequate warnings: Labels or manuals don’t clearly communicate the hazard or do so in a way the average user will understand. 

When warnings are inadequate, injured parties can argue that the product itself was defective because consumers weren’t informed about risks they could not reasonably anticipate.

The duty to warn is rooted in the legal principle of negligence — a failure to exercise reasonable care that causes harm to others. 

To establish negligence, a plaintiff generally must show that:

1. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care.
2. The defendant breached that duty.
3. The plaintiff suffered harm as a result of the defendant’s breach.
4. The harm was caused by the defendant’s breach. 

In product liability cases based on duty to warn, a “breach” often involves failing to provide adequate warnings or instructions about risks that could have been reasonably identified through testing, research or industry standards.

There are two primary ways a business can satisfy its duty to warn:

1. Warnings on the Product Itself

Labels affixed directly to the product — especially when the user may not see packaging or manuals — need to be clear, conspicuous and understandable.

2. Warnings Through Supporting Materials

Instructions, manuals, safety guides and other product documentation can provide detailed guidance about how to safely use the product and avoid known risks. 

Effective warnings should:

• Describe the risk clearly,
• Be visible and easy to understand and
• Cover both intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse.

ANSI Z535.4-2023 is a  on the design and content of safety warnings. The standard is not legally binding, but it is widely used by businesses to comply with their duty to warn. The standard is a valuable resource for businesses that want to ensure their warnings comply with their duty to warn. It covers a wide range of topics for warning labels, including purpose, type, content, format, placement and testing.

While ANSI Z535.4-2022 is not a legal document, it is often used as evidence in product liability lawsuits. If a plaintiff is injured by a product, it may be argued that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings about the dangers of the product. If the manufacturer followed ANSI Z535.4-2022 in designing and developing the warnings, this may help defend the manufacturer against the lawsuit.

Overall, ANSI Z535.4-2022 is a valuable resource for businesses wishing to comply with the duty to warn. However, it is important to note that the standard is not a guarantee of safety or immunity from liability. The standard is only a guideline and there may be cases where a manufacturer can comply with the standard and still be found liable for a product liability lawsuit.

Duty to warn should be considered early and throughout the product lifecycle — not just at launch. 

A practical approach includes:

• During design and development: Identify intended use, target users and hazards.
• Before market release: Evaluate foreseeable misuse and develop warnings/labels accordingly.
• After product launch: Adjust warnings based on customer feedback, complaints or evidence of misuse. 

Organizations should document this process and continually reassess warnings as new information emerges.

Failure to warn can expose a company to liability even when the product itself is safe by design. Providing clear, effective warnings helps:

• Reduce risk of injury and liability claims
• Demonstrate reasonable care in product development
• Build customer trust and safety reputation
• Support defense in litigation by showing adherence to industry best practices

A strong duty-to-warn strategy is an essential component of an overall product liability risk management program.

If you manufacture or distribute products, taking a strategic approach to warnings and instructions can significantly strengthen your product safety posture.

Working with experienced risk advisors — like those at Amerisure — can help you evaluate warning requirements, apply best practices and align your product liability program with real-world risks.

In his current role at Amerisure, Eric assists with the review of manufacturing accounts, the products produced, and coordinates with underwriting teams on potential issues identified, while helping to coach risk management consultants prior to visiting prospective accounts. Eric has been a featured speaker for the National Pool Builder’s Association meeting, providing safety instruction to company ownership personnel. Additionally, he created the widely successful . Eric was named Amerisure’s Loss Control Consultant of the Year in 2012 and 2023, and has been nominated for this honor two other times. He has been published in Safety and Health Magazine, as well SafetyInfo.com’s online magazine. 

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in this article are for general informational purposes only.