Understanding Your Insurance Coverage.  In Part 1 of this series, we walked through the contract language that can present potential exposure for a geoprofessional firm. But spotting a red flag in a contract is only the first half of the process. The other half is understanding what your insurance actually covers.  This requires a better understanding of what may or may not be covered should a requirement for your policy to kick. A hurdle to this is that Insurance policies can often be even harder to read than contracts. This article aims to make the key concepts a little more approachable.

A useful way to think about insurance coverage is to be sure you don’t think of it as a single blanket that covers everything. It is more of a collection of tools designed to address a specific type of risk. As with most things, using the wrong tool for the job, or in the case of insurance, assuming one policy stretches to cover something it was never meant to cover, is one of the most common and costly mistakes a firm can make.  Understanding Your Insurance Coverage from the outset helps prevent these missteps.

Let us work through four of the most common insurance concepts that come up in geoprofessional contracts and project negotiations.

Insurance Item 1

Most consulting firms carry several insurance policies, including general liability, commercial auto, and errors and omissions (also known as professional liability). There may be an excess or umbrella policy that serves as an addition to those policies and provides additional coverage when the limits of a primary policy are exhausted.  Figuratively, a safety net beneath the safety net.

The important thing to understand is that an excess policy can only extend coverage that already exists in the underlying policies. It doesn’t create new types of coverage on its own. If a particular risk is not covered by your primary policy, your excess policy will not cover it either, no matter how large the limit is.

In practice, this means that excess coverage can supplement your general liability, auto, and professional liability policies. But for specialized coverage types such as pollution liability and cyber liability, excess policies typically won’t apply. Those risks require their own dedicated policies. Assuming otherwise creates a gap in coverage that you need to know exists before you think you’ve got protection that you don’t.

When a contract requires high limits of coverage, you need to ensure that your excess policy actually applies to the type of coverage being requested, not just the dollar amount. A large umbrella limit means nothing if the underlying risk is not covered by the policy it is meant to increase the coverage for.

Also, for clarification, there are some differences between excess coverage and umbrella policies. Let’s dig into that for little more detail.

The Scope of Coverage for Umbrella vs Excess Policies – Help You In Understanding Your Insurance Coverage 

1. The “Follow-Form” Rule

• In an Excess Policy, the policy is strictly a limit-increaser. It provides additional money for claims that are already covered by your primary policy. If your primary policy excludes a claim, the excess policy will also exclude it. Think of it like putting more water into an already existing bucket.
• In an Umbrella Policy, your limits increase, and your coverage broadens. It can cover certain types of claims that your primary policies completely exclude. Think of this as adding a second bucket of water rather than adding more water to the first bucket.

2. The “Drop-Down” Feature

• An Excess Policy generally does not “drop down.” If a claim isn’t covered by your primary policy, the excess policy stays out of it entirely.
• An Umbrella Policycan “drop down” to act as your primary insurance for claims that your underlying policies don’t cover. When it does this, you usually only have to pay a relatively small out-of-pocket deductible called a Self-Insured Retention (SIR) before the Umbrella coverage kicks in.

3. Number of Underlying Policies

• An Excess Policy typically sits on top of just one specific underlying policy (e.g., you might have an excess policy solely for your Commercial Auto insurance).
• An Umbrella Policy usually sits on top of multiple underlying policies at once (e.g., a single personal Umbrella policy will sit over both your Homeowners and your Personal Auto policies).

Insurance Item 2

Commercial auto insurance comes in two basic structures. The first is a split limit policy, which sets separate maximum payouts for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage. You might see this written as three separate buckets, something like $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 / $500,000.

The second structure is the one most professional consulting firms carry: a combined single limit policy. Instead of three separate buckets, there is one total limit that can be applied to any combination of bodily injury and property damage arising from a single accident. If the limit is $2,000,000, the full amount is available to cover any mix of injury and damage resulting from an incident.

Combined single limit is generally considered broader and more flexible coverage, because the money goes where it is needed most, rather than being divided ahead of time. However, some clients or contracts a requirement for split limits. So, if your policy is structured as a combined single limit, you should be prepared to explain the difference, if needed.  Understanding Your Insurance Coverage in this area allows you to address those client inquiries with clarity.

It’s a good idea to be prepared and understand which structure your auto policy uses before a client asks or you respond to a contractual requirement. If a contract specifies split limit requirements, you can talk to your broker about whether your combined single limit policy satisfies the intent.  In most cases, it does, but you need to provide written confirmation.

Insurance Item 3

Pollution coverage is an area where specifics are important, and where misunderstandings are fairly common, primarily because it’s not just one thing. There are at least three distinct types, each intended for a different situation, and they are definitely not interchangeable.

Contractors pollution liability is designed for firms that are actively performing remediation, excavation, or other physical work that could disturb or release contaminants. An example would be a contractor physically digging up contaminated soil, which is exactly the kind of work this policy exists for.

Pollution legal liability covers the legal obligations of a property owner or operator for contamination that exists on or migrates from their site. This is typically purchased by property owners, developers, or businesses with environmental exposure associated with a specific location.

Professional pollution liability is the type of coverage that most geoprofessional consulting firms carry. It covers claims arising from professional services performed in connection with pollution-related work. In other words, it covers the consulting advice, assessments, and recommendations that your firm may provide, not the physical act of cleaning something up or owning a contaminated property.

The distinction on each of these pollution liability policies is critical when a client reviews your certificate of insurance. If a contract requires contractors pollution liability and your firm carries professional pollution liability, you need to know that those are not the same thing. Submitting one when the other is required can create a coverage gap that nobody notices until a claim is filed, which is way too late in the process and opens up a whole lot of problems for both your firm and you client.

Insurance Item 4

When a client asks to be named as an additional insured on your policy, they are asking for a specific legal protection: that your insurance will extend to cover them in certain situations involving your work. This is a standard and reasonable request, and most consulting firms accommodate it routinely.

The traditional way to handle this was to issue a scheduled endorsement, a specific written addition to each policy that names the client directly. Having the client and their agents listed as additionally insured on the certificate of insurance itself does not meet this requirement, the separate endorsement must be included in the COI packet. One client, one endorsement, one administrative process.

A blanket endorsement works differently. Instead of naming each additional insured individually, the blanket endorsement automatically extends additional insured status to any party that your firm is contractually required to name — without the need to process each one separately. In effect, if your contract requires you to name someone as an additional insured, the blanket endorsement takes care of it.

For busy consulting firms working across multiple projects with multiple clients, blanket endorsements are a practical and efficient solution. They reduce administrative burden and eliminate the risk of forgetting to add someone when a contract requires it. The coverage is the same — only the mechanism for delivering it is different.  Understanding Your Insurance Coverage at this level of detail helps you communicate confidently with clients about how their protection is delivered.

If a client asks whether they are covered as an additional insured, the answer under a blanket endorsement is: yes, automatically, as long as the contract requires it. Be prepared to explain this clearly. Some clients are unfamiliar with blanket endorsements and may initially expect to see their name listed explicitly on a certificate.

In addition to the common additionally insured endorsements, clients regularly request a waiver of subrogation for each of the policies. Subrogation is the legal right of the insurance company to recover any money paid out through your policy from another party. If your company truck is totaled in an accident with a client’s vehicle by no fault of your employee, the insurance company may replace your vehicle right away but then sue the client for the cost of the replacement. A waiver of subrogation protects the certificate holder, in this case the client, by preventing the insurance company from seeking subrogation. With a waiver in place for the auto policy, the insurance company would pay the claim, and all parties would go their separate ways.

One final thought worth keeping in mind is that a certificate of insurance is a summary document. It confirms that a policy exists and lists the basic limits, but it does not tell you everything about what is actually covered, what is excluded, or how the policy behaves in specific situations. If a project carries significant risk or a contract makes specific insurance demands, the certificate is the starting point, not the finish line. Your broker is the right person to confirm the details.  This why Understanding Your Insurance Coverage is vital.

The Bottom Line

Insurance is not the most exciting topic in professional consulting; we are all probably well aware of that. But Understanding Your Insurance Coverage, the basics of what you carry, what it covers, and where it stops is genuinely valuable knowledge. It helps you respond confidently when clients ask questions, spot potential gaps before they become problems, and have more productive conversations with your broker and your leadership team.

The good news is that you do not need to become an insurance expert. You just need to know enough to ask the right questions —and to recognize when the answer you are getting does not quite add up.

In Part 3 of this series, we will bring the contract and the insurance together — looking at how to raise concerns, propose alternative language, and negotiate consulting agreements with confidence, without making it feel like a confrontation.

 

BSK Associates

California’s New Hexavalent Chromium MCL: How BSK Associates Supports Your Water System Compliance

Hexavalent Chromium Testing in California.  If you manage a California public water system, you’re facing a significant new compliance challenge that could impact your operations, budget, and community’s trust.

Starting October 1, 2024, California established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 µg/L (10 ppb) for hexavalent chromium in drinking water—a standard adopted with primary emphasis on protecting public health. Scientific evidence shows that long-term ingestion of hexavalent chromium increases cancer risk, making this regulation critical for the communities you serve.

Here’s What This Means for You:

• Large systems (10,000+ connections)must begin compliance monitoring by October 1, 2026
• Medium systems (1,000–9,999 connections)must comply by October 1, 2027
• Smaller systems face later deadlines but still need to prepare

As these deadlines approach, you’re likely asking yourself:

• How do I ensure accurate, timely testing to meet regulatory reporting schedules?
• What if lab capacity constraints delay my results and put me out of compliance?
• How do I navigate routine monitoring, confirmation sampling, and treatment performance verification without overwhelming my team?

You’re not alone in feeling this pressure. Meeting the State’s monitoring requirements can feel daunting—especially when you’re already managing day-to-day operations and serving your community’s essential water needs.

The Solution: Expanded Capacity, Proven Expertise, and Partnership You Can Trust For Hexavalent Chromium Testing in California 

BSK Associates understands the weight of this responsibility, and we’re here to make this transition as efficient and stress-free as possible.  We’ve doubled our laboratory capacity for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) testing using EPA Method 218.7—the gold standard for compliance monitoring.

This expansion means:

✅ Timely, reliable results that support your regulatory reporting schedules
✅ No capacity constraints when statewide demand surges as deadlines approach
✅ Uninterrupted compliance efforts so you can focus on serving your community 

Why BSK Associates For Your Hexavalent Chromium Testing in California 

When you partner with BSK Associates, you’re not just getting a lab—you’re getting a team that truly understands your challenges:

🔬 Accredited, accurate testing you can depend on for regulatory compliance
📅 Capacity to handle your sampling needs without delays or bottlenecks
🧠 Years of experience navigating California’s evolving water quality regulations
🤝 Excellent customer service that treats your challenges as our own
💡 Knowledgeable support to help you plan sampling strategies and stay ahead of deadlines

Take Action Now: Plan Ahead to Protect Your Community

Don’t wait until the deadline is looming. Water systems that plan their sampling well in advance will avoid capacity constraints and ensure seamless compliance.  BSK Associates is committed to supporting your compliance efforts and California’s public health objectives. We know this is a new challenge, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Ready to ensure your water system stays compliant and your community stays protected?

👉 Contact BSK Associates today to discuss your hexavalent chromium testing needs and discover how our expanded capacity can support your success. Why not give us a try? Let’s work together to turn this regulatory challenge into an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to public health. BSK Associates – Your Partner in Water Quality Compliance

 

Children are uniquely vulnerable to environmental hazards, which is why California law requires state oversight to ensure school properties are safe for students, staff, and surrounding communities before they are purchased, developed, or occupied.  To help support Preliminary Environmental Assessment for School Sites, a Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) is used to provide information if there has been a release of a hazardous substance at a potential school site that presents a risk to human health or the environment. This process plays a critical role in protecting public health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing environmental risk associated with school development.

Purpose of a Preliminary Environmental Assessment For School Sites

The primary purpose of a PEA is to provide DTSC with sufficient information to make an informed regulatory determination. Based on the findings, DTSC may conclude that a proposed school site requires no further action or may require the site to proceed into additional investigation or remediation under California’s hazardous waste and site cleanup programs. This authority is rooted in statutory mandates, public health protection, and risk-based environmental regulation.

Core Objectives of a DTSC PEA

1. Determine Whether a Hazardous Substance Release Has Occurred

A fundamental objective of the PEA is to evaluate whether hazardous substances or petroleum products have been released at the site. This evaluation relies on available environmental data and, when necessary, limited sampling to confirm site conditions. The assessment also considers whether any identified release is associated with current or historical site activities.

This determination is essential to DTSC’s authority under California Health and Safety Code §25319.5, which governs DTSC’s ability to require further investigation or corrective action. Establishing the presence or absence of a release provides the foundation for all subsequent regulatory decisions.

2. Evaluate Potential Risk to Human Health and the Environment

Another central purpose of the PEA is to assess whether any identified or suspected release could pose a risk to human health or the environment. This includes evaluating potential exposure to people, ecological receptors, and sensitive populations such as children.

The risk evaluation considers current and reasonably anticipated future land use and focuses on key exposure pathways, including soil, groundwater, soil vapor, surface water, and air. The PEA also evaluates current and future receptors and compares findings to DTSC screening-level risk criteria. This risk-based approach ensures that sites are evaluated consistently and conservatively to protect public health.

3. Support DTSC Decision-Making on Next Steps

Based on the PEA findings, DTSC may issue several types of regulatory determinations. These may include a No Further Action (NFA) determination if no unacceptable risk is identified. In other cases, DTSC may require a Supplemental Site Investigation (SSI) or Remedial Investigation (RI) to further characterize site conditions.

DTSC may also determine that institutional controls, such as a land use covenant, are necessary or may enter the site into DTSC’s formal cleanup process. These outcomes ensure that regulatory oversight and resources are focused on sites that warrant further attention, while allowing suitable sites to proceed without unnecessary delay.

How a Preliminary Environmental Assessment for School Sites Fits into DTSC’s Cleanup Framework

DTSC considers the PEA an early but critical step in the site assessment and cleanup framework. It serves as a bridge between initial environmental due diligence and more comprehensive remedial investigation and response actions. The PEA is intentionally designed to be efficient, risk-focused, and protective of public health and the environment, particularly for sensitive land uses such as schools.

To learn more about Preliminary Environmental Assessments for School Sites and how BSK Associates can help support your business or institution, contact Kevin Grove, Managing Principal – Environmental Services.

 

Communication in the geoprofessional practice is key.  In the geoprofessional disciplines, we spend a great deal of time talking about risk. We analyze it, model it, mitigate it, and sometimes debate it over long tables filled with contract language, reports, drawings, figures, and coffee cups. The geotechnical engineering discipline provides designs that involve a lot of uncertainty, often with very limited information, to help clients move projects forward with confidence.

Yet one of the most effective risk management tools we have doesn’t appear in a soil log, a field report, a laboratory test result, or a design calculation.

It’s communication.

Not the kind of communication that shows up only at the end of a project report, but the kind that happens throughout a project.  The kind that happens between team members, with clients, and among all the stakeholders working together to turn a plan on paper into a successful real-world project.

In many ways, communication in the geoprofessional practice is the glue that holds the geoprofessional practice together. When it works well, projects tend to run smoothly. When it doesn’t, even the best technical work might not be enough to avoid problems.

Let’s take a few minutes to discuss some high-level communication considerations.

Communication in the Geoprofessional Practice – a Risk Management Tool

Geoprofessional consulting involves navigating some level of uncertainty. Subsurface conditions are inherently variable, and our work often requires interpreting limited data to provide practical recommendations. For example, geotechnical investigation and environmental samples are small representations of a much larger whole. Inspection and testing reports are limited to the specific items we observed and were present for. Because of that reality, effective communication becomes a form of risk management.

When we communicate clearly about what we know, what we don’t know, and how we reached our conclusions, we help clients make informed decisions. More importantly, we help set appropriate expectations for how conditions may evolve during construction.

Proactive communication, especially early in a project, often prevents small misunderstandings from becoming larger issues later. A brief conversation today about any project concern or potential issue can save days or weeks of confusion later and even save clients or your firm a lot of money.

Anyone who has been in this business for a while might have heard that surprises are expensive. Part of our job is to help minimize surprises, whether through proposals, project planning, geotechnical investigations, environmental reviews and evaluations, materials test results, or special inspection reports. In geoprofessional work, many surprises can be avoided, or at least softened, through clear and timely communication.

 

Communicating Uncertainty

One of the most important responsibilities in our profession is communicating uncertainty and limitations. That can feel like a delicate balance. On one hand, we want to provide clear guidance and recommendations. On the other we must acknowledge the natural variability inherent to our professions.

But good communication doesn’t weaken our recommendations; it strengthens them.

When we explain the basis of our observations, findings, conclusions, the assumptions involved, and the potential variability in any conditions, we give project teams the context they need to make better decisions. Transparency builds trust, and trust is one of the most valuable currencies in any professional relationship. Clients and project teams typically have at least a loose understanding of the complex services we provide. But what they appreciate most (at least the good ones) is clarity about what our data indicates, what any potential risks are, and how those risks can be managed or mitigated. In other words, honesty and transparency rarely create problems, but silence and ambiguity sometimes do.

Internal Communication is the First Step

For many geoprofessionals, the first thought about communication might be directed toward clients and project partners. We should remember that effective internal communication is just as important.

Geoprofessional projects often involve collaboration across multiple disciplines. This can include field personnel, laboratory technicians, project managers, engineers and geologists, inspectors, and administrative teams. Each of these groups contributes essential information that helps shape project decisions. When information flows smoothly between these team members, projects benefit from a fuller understanding of conditions and progress. Observations made in the field can quickly inform engineering decisions. Laboratory results can refine interpretations. Project managers can keep clients informed and aligned with mutual expectations.

When internal communication breaks down, valuable information may remain isolated within a single part of the project team or even with a single individual. That can create a missed opportunity to address issues early or to provide clients with relevant information that, if delivered on time, can have a significant impact or cost implications.  The bottom line is that strong external communication frequently begins with strong internal communication.

The Value of Early Conversations

One of the simplest but most effective communication strategies is often overlooked: TALK EARLY!

Early communication has many forms. It could be:

• A quick call before mobilization to discuss project expectations or special requirements.
• A brief meeting to review how reports or findings will be communicated during construction.
• A conversation about how potential subsurface variability, a failing test result, or a non-conformance might affect the project schedule or next steps.

Early discussions help align teams (both internal and external) and establish a shared understanding of the project’s goals and potential challenges. They also reinforce the collaborative nature of successful projects, which should be everyone’s common goal.

Early communications also open doors for future conversation and set a tone for anyone involved in the project. When project teams feel comfortable having conversations or raising questions early, problems often become easier to solve. When those conversations happen late or not at all, solutions and resolutions can become much more complicated and can pose relationship-changing considerations, like whether you’re hired the next time. Timing matters in consulting.

Transparency Builds Stronger Teams

Clear and open communication also strengthens the working relationships that make projects successful. When teams communicate transparently by sharing information, raising concerns, and openly discussing potential risks, it fosters a culture of collaboration. Engineers, contractors, owners, and inspectors begin to see themselves not as separate parties, but as contributors to a shared outcome. That sense of teamwork is particularly valuable in complex projects where conditions develop quickly and the impact of timely decisions is magnified.

Transparent communication creates an environment where people are comfortable asking questions, offering observations, and working together to resolve challenges. In the long run, that environment benefits everyone involved in the project and, at its core, underpins good teamwork.

Communication Is Part of the Practice

In geoprofessional consulting, technical expertise will always be the foundation of our work and is, in large part, an expected skill set for any firm operating within our disciplines. But the value of that expertise depends on how effectively it is shared and understood.

Clear, proactive communication in the geoprofessional practice helps manage uncertainty, strengthen professional relationships, and support better decision-making throughout the life of a project. It also reinforces a fundamental aspect of our profession: part of our job is to help others understand what the information we derive from our work actually means.

When done well, communication becomes more than an administrative task. It becomes one of the most powerful tools we have for delivering successful projects and minimizing risk. And in geoprofessional practice, that makes it anything but underrated.

 

Reach out to BSK Associates to learn more about how we help client with Geoprofessional services.

BSK Associates Announces Q4 2025 Corporate Sponsorship Winner and Selected Community Organization

Fresno, CA — January 30, 2026 — BSK Associates is proud to announce the recipient of its Q4 2025 Corporate Sponsorship Award, an employee‑driven program that recognizes team members who actively support and uplift organizations making a meaningful difference in the community. The latest quarter’s honoree has chosen to direct the sponsorship funds to SCI-FIT, a highly respected rehabilitation center specializing in integrated therapies for individuals with spinal cord injuries and neurological trauma.

SCI-FIT has earned a distinguished reputation for its dedication to healing, recovery, and long-term wellness through innovative, client-focused rehabilitation programs. The organization provides intensive therapeutic services that are often not covered by insurance, forcing many families to pay out of pocket. Despite these challenges, SCI-FIT remains committed to offering high-quality care that is both compassionate and transformative.

The center’s owners and staff are widely recognized for creating a warm, family-like environment where clients feel supported, valued, and empowered. Their team regularly works with individuals and families experiencing some of the most difficult and emotional chapters of their lives. Through this, SCI-FIT maintains a spirit of optimism and encouragement, greeting each session with professionalism, positivity, and unwavering dedication. Their impact extends beyond the walls of their facility, as they actively engage with and contribute to the broader community.

The employee who selected SCI-FIT for this quarter’s sponsorship shared a deeply personal connection to the organization. Their daughter, who suffered a traumatic brain injury, has been attending SCI-FIT for over a year. As a non‑mobile patient, she participates in rehabilitation sessions twice weekly, focusing on stretching, balance, walking exercises, and a variety of targeted therapeutic workouts. These sessions have played a significant role in her ongoing development, offering essential physical progress as well as emotional support for both the patient and her family.

“The team at SCI-FIT treats us like family,” the employee noted. “Their kindness, expertise, and positivity have made an enormous difference—not just in my daughter’s rehabilitation, but in our lives as a whole. It means so much to be able to give back to an organization that gives so much every single day.”

BSK Associates’ Corporate Sponsorship Program reflects the company’s commitment to fostering a culture of compassion, social responsibility, and community collaboration. By empowering employees to nominate organizations that are personally meaningful to them, BSK ensures that its philanthropic efforts remain authentic, relevant, and deeply impactful.

BSK Associates looks forward to continuing its mission of uplifting organizations that inspire resilience, healing, and hope.