WSA Member Update 9.15.24

WSA Member Update 9.15.24 September 15, 2024 Dear Ranger, I’m sending this out today since September 15th falls on a Sunday. We welcome our newest startup contractor member, M3S Maintenance, located in Greenville, SC.  As reported in our last WSA Update, we analyzed the recent hour-long Zoomcast discussion on increasing contractor liability, then pared it down to a three-page PDF, “Sweeping Industry Faces Rising Tide of Litigation: Experts Urge Proactive Measures” that we provided in our last Update issue. If you haven’t already read that previous document, we suggest you do so prior to reading this next one. As promised, it is an additional PDF document that is designed to further inform on ways the industry might push back against this costly trend. We call this one “Limiting Liability In Contracts.” It provides a number of ideas on ways you can take steps to limit your liability with your customers.  Because the liability issue has become so rampant, I am now working with our insurance pro, Phil Duncan, who is a principal at BindDesk, to develop a WSA Contract Addendum that could be attached as a legally-binding addendum to contracts with customers. (If you haven’t yet talked to Phil or gotten an insurance quote from him, here’s a link to do so.)  From reports from WSA members, it appears that Auditec is still at it… We first reported on this situation in September of last year, with more infoadded in March of this year.  Yet another WSA contractor called this week and said they had recently received an audit notice from the company on behalf of Walmart. The Auditec notice asserted the contractor needed to refund multiple tens of thousands of dollars that had been paid for Walmart services over the last three years.  I will be working on ways to push back on the Auditec/Walmart arrangement and plan to provide that information in the next WSA Update.  As the leaves fall, the weather cools and school starts back up the driving conditions change. Fortunately, WSA offers tips your drivers (both business and in your family) can use to remind them about these changes and ways to drive safely during this time. Here’s a link to the information. This month, our Safety First! post has more info centered around hurricanes since one just hit Louisiana and worked its way up the coast. as well as the time of year when school gets back into session. September’s Safety First! message discusses the following:HURRICANE SEASON (as if you hadn’t already heard…)Post storm recovery advice, especially for those in hurricane zonesPractice defensive driving all the time; here’s howHand and finger safety remindersRemember to report ‘close calls!’As always, if you have questions or comments about this WSA Member Update, or anything else to do with the World Sweeping Association or power sweeping in general, please let me know. Good Sweeping, Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Executive Director World Sweeping Association

If you no longer wish to receive communication from us:
https://www.worldsweepingpros.org/?wlmunsub=1/1facae7177

To update your contact information:
https://www.worldsweepingpros.org/wp-admin/profile.php

2778 Barrell Springs Road, Bow, Washington, 98232, United States