A case in Scotland, which recently resulted in three companies being fined over the same incident, provides a reminder of the health and safety responsibilities of all firms involved in any part of the construction supply chain, not just the contractor.
The companies were – between them – fined over £300,000 following a fall of over 6 metres by a worker on to a concrete floor. The accident happened when the worker was installing a security system. The companies that were fined were the customer, the contractor firm and the firm to which the job had been sub-contracted – which was the injured man’s employer.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the customer had not requested a written risk assessment of the work from either the contractor or the sub-contractor. The contractor was understood to have carried out a general risk assessment relating to working at height but not one that related to this particular project. It’s understood that the sub-contracted firm was not aware of the contractor’s risk assessment. It was reported that neither company had a method statement detailing how the work was to be safely conducted.
Furthermore, the customer did not conduct safety inductions for contractors before the commencement of work on site or hold safety meetings once work was underway to check the ongoing safety of the work.
This comes as a salutary warning to construction firms of the extent of their health and safety responsibilities.
As ever, the HSE provides useful information:
• about working at height http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/
• about risk assessments http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/
• example risk assessments http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/
For more information contact Heartland (Midlands) Limited on 01926 420 555 or visit www.heartlandgroup.co.uk
Complimentary Risk Management Analysis
Heartland has teamed up with ‘Action Pro’, a powerful software system which analyses “risk” within a business.
A number of simple questions are asked about a clients business and their management practices. Based on the response to these questions, a detailed report highlighting key areas of risk and ways to better protect the business is generated.
Key Areas include:
- IT Security
- Human Resources
- Financial Protection
- Premises
- Motor Vehicles
- Disaster Planning
- Health and Safety
- Environmental
- Credit
- Director Duties
- Fraud
For a short time, anyone receiving this email is able to request a FREE analysis on Disaster Planning or Environmental risk.
Please email us at info@heartlandgroup.co.uk to request your analysis.
Alternatively call James Trevis on 01926 420 555 to find out more.
With a stagnant UK economy all businesses have to be cautious in their approach to business planning. Growth is hoped for but cannot be taken for granted. So it is particularly pleasing that Heartland Midlands Ltd, a Chartered Commercial Insurance Broker based in Warwickshire, can report another year of record growth.
Brian Weetman, MD of the Heartland Group comments; “The growth is attributed to hard work and a sense of traditional broking values. It seems that customers still want a very personal and independent approach to insurance advice. Naturally to help grow our business we need a high calibre of employee and we are delighted to announce three new arrivals in the last six months”
Jim Higginson Keys has been appointed as a Dedicated Claims Handler and brings expertise and experience of working closely with clients to help manage their claims as smoothly as possible.
To support Heartland’s service offering, Pardeep Bains is making the transfer from a technical underwriting role at Aviva to a dedicated Account Handler.
Beverly Buckley completes the hat-trick of new starters and has extensive insurance broking experience dealing with substantial commercial accounts throughout the Midlands area.
Heartland Midlands Ltd specialises in Commercial Insurance Broking and related services such as Corporate Risk Management. To find out more visit www.heartlandgroup.co.uk or follow on twitter @heartland_ltd
(picture attached, left to right; Pardeep Bains, Jim Higginson-Keys, Beverley Buckley)
Heartland Midlands Limited urges vehicle owners to be vigilant
Chartered Commercial Insurance Broker, Heartland Midlands Limited, has noted a significant increase in claims from clients concerning the Theft of Catalytic Converters (CATs) from company vehicles.
Across the country similar reports of these thefts are on the rise.
This is all down to the precious metals inside. CATs contain Platinum, Palladium or Rhodium which are involved in converting exhaust gases into less harmful substances.
With the price of precious metals rocketing, a thief can make anywhere between £50 and £150 for each catalytic converter.
Commercial Vehicles are exceptionally vulnerable as they often have larger clearances from the ground making the CAT easier to access. They also have larger engines so the CATs are usually bigger and therefore more valuable.
Commercial Fleets are also an attractive target as a thief can hit multiple vehicles at the same time.
The cost to the victims of this type of theft can be substantial. A typical CAT replacement can cost between £900 and £1,500 per vehicle. There is also the impact to trading to consider whilst the vehicle is being repaired.
Whilst comprehensive motor insurance will cover the cost of the repair, some policies impose an excess ‘per vehicle’. They also provide no cover for the ‘loss of business’ as a result of the theft. (This type of cover maybe available under a company’s ‘business interruption policy’ but it is worth checking the terms and conditions of your policy)
So what can you do to help prevent these thefts?
• Store the vehicles in a garage where possible.
• Alternatively, park in well-lit busy areas.
• Look out for people working under cars.
• Consider a marking system. Many companies offer a kit consisting of virtually indestructible stickers, metal marking fluid and a window sticker (to warn thieves that the catalytic converter carries an identification mark).
Heartland is offering a complimentary insurance ‘checking service’ to any company concerned about their Motor Fleet policy. Visit their website www.heartlandgroup.co.uk or call 01926 420 555.
Heartland Ironman “up for the challenge”
Insurance can be a challenge for many businesses. Often we need to challenge insurers for our clients. However when it comes to a challenge, our MD takes them in his stride, or stroke or pedal for that matter.
Heartland’s Brian Weetman (right) has recently completed “Challenge Henley” an Ironman distance triathlon event comprising a 2.4 mile swim in the Thames, a 112 mile cycle in the Chiltern Hills and a 26 mile run around Henley on Thames…12 hours 37 minutes of sheer non-stop pleasure.
So if you need someone who can stand up to the challenges insurers pose then he would be pleased to hear from you.
Contact Heartland Midlands Ltd now on 01926 420 555 or visit www.heartlandgroup.co.uk
Civil Disturbances
Nationwide Riots, Protesters at Traveller’s Sites and now camping protesters at St Pauls. What next?
All of these things will, hopefully, not have affected your business but, there seems to be a growing trend of civil disturbance; most, thankfully, benign.
Remember the health and safety of your staff and others that may be affected by your business if any problems like these occur near your business.
The latest, the occupation of St Pauls’ Churchyard has closed general access to the Cathedral due to health and safety concerns which is making headline news. An issue equally disturbing is the severe damage to local businesses which is generally passing without notice by the media.
With these incidents apparently on the rise you may consider re-visiting your Business Continuity plan; are there provisions you can make to mitigate the damage if anything should happen to affect your business? Does your current insurance policy cover you for loss of profit? If not or you are unsure contact Heartland for assistance.
01926 420 555 or www.heartlandgroup.co.uk
Firework Precautions
Anti-social behaviour associated with the firework period has become a major issue for many communities in the UK.
Halloween and bonfire night for example, and the days running up to them, are traditionally some of the busiest nights of the year for the police, the fire brigade and other agencies. The anti-social use of fireworks and the resultant damage which can be caused to property is a serious concern, posing a threat to all types of buildings, including commercial and industrial premises, and to business continuity.
One of our Insurer Partners, LV, has issued a useful Firework Precaution Bulletin, highliting some hints and tips to help protect people and their businesses during this period. Click here to download as a PDF.
For advice specific to your business please contact Heartland on 01926 420 555 or visit our website www.heartlandgroup.co.uk.
Protecting your business this winter
Last year many businesses weren’t ready for the cold snap. This year take a few simple steps to help your business make it through the winter months without disruption and extra expense.
Heartland, with its insurer partners, is distributing two useful downloads. Please click on the PDFs below:
1) Protecting against Frozen and Burst Pipes.
For insurance and risk management advice specific for your business, please contact us on 01926 420 555 or online at www.heartlandgroup.co.uk.
Information provided by Ageas Insurance and Allianz Insurance respectively.
Government to Ban Referral Fee Income
The government has pledged to ban the use of referral fees as part of what it calls its commitment to curb compensation culture.
The government has said it will ban the payment of referral fees in personal injury cases as the current arrangements had led to high costs, encouraged a compensation culture and led to the growth of an industry which pursued claimants for profit.
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said: “The ‘no-win, no-fee’ system is pushing us into a compensation culture in which middle men make a tidy profit which the rest of us end up paying for through higher insurance premiums and higher prices.
“Honest motorists are seeing their premiums hiked up as insurance companies cover the increasing costs of more and more compensation claims. Many of the claims are spurious and only happen because the current system allows too many people to profit from minor accidents and incidents.”
Symptom
He continued: “Referral fees are one symptom of the compensation culture problem and too much money sloshing through the system. People are being encouraged to sue, at no risk to themselves, leaving schools, business and individuals living in fear of being dragged to the courts for simply going about daily life.
“We will ban referral fees and we will go further. We have proposals before Parliament to end the bizarre situation in which people have no stake in the legal costs their cases bring. This will make claimants think harder about whether to sue and give insurance companies and business generally an incentive to pass the savings onto customers through lower prices.”
The government said it was changing the law so that in future the person making the claim will have to pay the success fee, rather than the defendant, and that fee would be capped.
The intended result is a fairer split of costs between parties, and lower legal costs overall which means lower costs to pass on to customers or taxpayers. The proposals follow a Ministry of Justice consultation published in November 2010.
Much of the evidence base for this consultation came from an independent Review of Civil Litigation Costs carried out by Lord Justice Jackson.
For more information please contact Heartland (Midlands) Ltd on 01926 420 555. www.heartlandgroup.co.uk
Story from ‘Insurance Age’ September 2011. http://www.insuranceage.co.uk/insurance-age/news/2107940/government-ban-referral-fees
Environmental Liability Insurance
Both legislative changes and increased pressure for businesses to behave in a social, ethical and environmentally responsible way has led to an increase in demand for companies to purchase Environmental Liability insurance (EIL).
Whilst this type of cover is not compulsory at present, the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations of 2009 have introduced new obligations to ensure that a polluter pays for damage caused to water, land and biodiversity.
What does Environmental Liability Insurance cover?
- Cover for both sudden & accidental pollution and gradual pollution.
- First party (own site) clean up costs imposed by regulatory authorities
- Third party liability including diminution in property value
- Nuisance claims
- Legal costs and expenses
Environmental Liability Insurance is aimed primarily at ongoing operational environmental risks, but can also address the legacy liabilities from historical contaminated land exposures.
Why do I need cover?
- Organisations can incur liability through both their properties current land use and the historical use of the site.
- New legislation has significantly increased the potential costs of remediation.
- Potential legacy contamination issues on property purchases.
- Legal and technical defence costs for this type of claim can be significant
- Environmental issues need to be dealt with rapidly to protect the business reputation.
Common myths?
“I already have a public liability policy”
Most policies only offer third party sudden and accidental coverage with no protection for clean-up costs for contaminated soil and water on your own land. In addition to this exclusion, public liability policies generally exclude losses arising from the Environmental Damage Regulations 2009, gradual pollution, historical pollution, and imposed remediation costs.
“My company is not involved with heavy industry or chemicals”
The majority of businesses have the potential to have an environmental incident.
“Environmental cover is not compulsory”.
Whilst this is true, there is increasing pressure from lenders to produce proof of this type of cover.
Typical risk trades
- If you own or operate or buy and sell property
- If you redevelop ‘brownfield’ land
- If you use or produce potentially contaminative materials
- If you create waste (solid, liquid or gaseous)
……then you may have an environmental risk
Information courtesy of ACE European Group Ltd. ACE is a leading insurer in this area. www.aceeurope.co.uk
If you would like to speak to us about Environmental Liability Insurance please contact us on 01926 420 555 or visit www.heartlandgroup.co.uk
