Decorating your library for the holidays is an excellent way to attract library-goers during the season of giving. However, decorations can be surprisingly dangerous, with electrical decor causing yearly fires. Even hanging lights can pose a risk of accidents. Fortunately, you can protect your staff, visitors, and property with library insurance and stay safety-conscious.
Review Your Library Insurance
Insurance is a lifesaver when the unexpected happens. While general commercial policies have a lot to offer, libraries have specific needs, such as repairing or replacing paper documents. Before unboxing decorations, check your insurance to ensure you have proper coverage. Insurance companies may not cover specific damage or circumstances; all employees should have this information to plan accordingly.
Organize Electrical Cords
Lights are a popular holiday decoration and relatively easy for libraries to incorporate into their displays. However, damaged electrical wires are a fire and electrocution hazard, so it’s crucial to check every string for the following:
- Cracked or broken sockets
- Frayed cables
- Broken bulbs
If you discover damage, don’t try to fix the strand; discard it according to your municipality’s regulations.
Of course, wires don’t need damage to pose a hazard — tangles of cords can trip unsuspecting patrons and employees. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep wires neat and out of the way:
- Utilize power strips
- Bundle cords with zip ties
- Hold cables in place with painter’s or electrical tape
It’s also a good idea to label cables. You can use masking tape or bread tags if you don’t have labels handy.
Finally, never leave electric decor on without supervision. The last person to leave the building should turn off all decorations to prevent fires. Alternatively, you can use timers to ensure everything turns off automatically, eliminating the human factor.
Plan Decorations Carefully
Planning your decorations can help you avoid common safety mistakes. For example, you should never put electric decorations near flammable objects like paper or cloth. You should also keep cables out of children’s reach, so take great care when decorating the kids’ books section.
You should also limit the number of items plugged into extension cords and power strips. Too many plugs pose a fire hazard, so distribute cables with this in mind.
If you use a ladder to hang decorations, ensure your staff has the necessary training to use it safely. For example, someone should always hold the other side of the ladder to ensure stability, and users should never step above the height indicated on the ladder.
Find the Right Library Insurance Company
It’s always a good idea to shop around for policies, even if you already have library insurance. Rates change over time so that you may find a cheaper policy after a year. As you consider your options, keep these tips in mind:
- Ask about discounts
- Read customer reviews
- Research company history
About Regan Agency
A family-owned business, Long Island-based Regan Agency has more than 35 years of experience serving the library insurance and risk management needs of Tri-State residents and businesses. We have earned the trust of our clients based on our integrity and commitment to offer individuals and businesses quality library insurance products at competitive prices backed by unparalleled responsive service. Just give one of our professionals a call at (855) 272-1194.
