Risk Management
By Mike Larson
More Than Just Insurance
Partnering to Help Clients Succeed
Specialist Cameron Boots Tells How a Power Broker Can Benefit Crane and Rigging Owners
Good risk management is vital to a business’ long-term success. It helps protect against potential losses, minimize unavoidable losses, ensure compliance, allocate resources better and ensure business continuity.
Although the concept of risk management is reportedly thousands of years old, and was formalized as a science in the 1950s, its methods continue to evolve in order to keep pace with modern business practices and technology.
For example, until businesses widely started using the internet, there was no need to include cyber security as part of risk management strategy.
One group of risk management specialists that appears to be on the leading edge of effective innovation and customer service that support the crane, rigging and heavy-haul industries is the Gallagher Crane Division.
From its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the division serves crane, rigging and heavy haul clients nationwide, so the team’ s members spend lots of time in the field learning about clients’ operations and needs.
“ It’ s our job to provide the answers to the questions not asked yet so we can help our clients reduce their overall risks, control their insurance costs and focus on running their businesses without a hiccup,” said Cameron Boots, who heads the division.
A well-known risk management specialist, Boots frequently speaks at conferences in the crane, rigging and heavy haul industries.
“ Client-focused service is at the core of everything we do,” Boots added.
Outstanding client service, finding creative solutions to client challenges and industry knowledge have earned him the
To help educate the lifting, rigging and heavy-haul industries about risk management, Cameron Boots( right) and colleague Landin Beer produce the“ Beer & Boots” podcast about significant topics. The podcast is available on YouTube.
2023 and 2025 awards in the construction category for Power Broker by Risk & Insurance, which is affiliated with The Institutes.
Entrants in that competition are nominated through strong client referrals. Boots’ 2025 nomination came from Guy M. Turner Inc.
Though those accolades went to Boots, he said that everything Gallagher Crane Division does is a total team effort.
“ No one person does it all alone,” he said.“ We work to grow each team member’ s knowledge and abilities, and we cross train so that any of us can help a client when they need it.”
Boots cited the example of issuing certificates of insurance.
He said that in the crane, rigging and heavy haul industries, when clients need a certificate of insurance, they often need it
immediately. He said that everyone in the Gallagher Crane Division can issue a certificate of insurance so clients don’ t have to wait.
He noted that as a further step, some clients can use the division’ s software to issue certificates themselves whenever they need them.
Brokers, Not Agents
Boots explained that many people outside of the risk management profession aren’ t aware of the difference between an agent and a broker.
“ Many people use the two terms interchangeably,” he said,“ but there is a difference.”
He explained that an agent favors the representation of an insurer, whereas a broker favors the representation of the insured.
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April 2025 • www. cranehotline. com