Zurich in North America has created an electronic library of risk management and product information. Zurich calls it: the Zurich Virtual Literature Rack (VLR).

The VLR contains information relevant to risk managers, customers, and those looking to purchase business insurance. The VLR requires registration and the information requested is a bit invasive, but that is probably my only complaint. I have always liked RiskInsight, a publication produced by Zurich that covers different types of risks in each issue. That publication is available in the VLR for direct viewing or downloading.

Other publications and white papers are also available at the VLR. I like the fact that, by making these publications available electronically, the company is avoiding the high cost of brochures while acting in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Well worth the look if you are an insurance professional or business looking for information on insurance or risk management.

Always on the look out for ways to keep business insurance interesting, I came across a video at insurancejournal.com that illustrates the importance of planning and creating proper written procedures. Planning for risks and creating procedures in advance to reduce risk are the best ways to reduce the cost of business insurance.

Just ask the people at Gatorland. As a part of its video series "Watching the Risks," Insurance Journal posted a video interview with Tim Williams, Gatorland's dean of gator wrestling, discussing the ways Gatorland manages risk. The video is great, not only because of the great shots of gators, but because of the lesson it teaches on the importance of risk planning.

Williams states in the video that Gatorland's alligator wrestlers have a lower workers' compensation premium rate than the facilities personnel at Gatorland. Why? Because 'gator wrestlers are constantly vigilant when performing and thus have a lower incident of injury. Cutting the grass, trimming the hedges, working with power equipment and maintaining the park, is naturally perceived by employees as less dangerous and so the incident of injury increases as job safety is taken for granted.

Williams states that safety is the primary concern at the park and that the park maintains written procedure and emergancy manuals for all park operations. Those procedures are taught to employees and provided to the park's insurance professionals. Steps that reduce risk resulting in reduced premiums. And, if it works for a place that keeps live poisonous snakes and gators, it will probably work for your business.

Yesterday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued a statement on the "Benefits of Health Reform for Businesses." A copy of the Statement is available online with links to supporting documentation.

Secretary Sebelius states that a November 30 letter to Senator Evan Bayh from the Congressional Budget Office on the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordability Acts supports claims from legislators that "[s]mall businesses are likely to see premiums drop by 1 to 4 percent under the proposal."

Premium savings will come from larger risk pools and lower costs owing to administrative savings and increased competition. The statement also concludes that an additional 3 percent in premium savings will come about as the risk pool improves.

A primary focus of my work is advising contractors and handling commercial construction litigation. Admittedly, the role of the "bonding company" or "surety" and public contract requirements of a completion bond or a payment bond, are difficult concepts to explain to clients.

But, understanding bond requirements is a key to smaller contractors being able to secure and bid on larger projects. Bonds are basically business insurance insuring the "risk" that a contract is not performed in a required manner. Bonds can cover other contract risks as well.

SuretyBonds.com is a website offering online bond purchasing and a great deal of information. Some of the professionals over there have helped me put together an article on construction bonds that I posted today.

I will follow up with more bond articles in the future addressing the various risk management scenarios where bonds can be used.