The rate of serious and fatal work-related accidents continues to increase, according to Hibernian general insurance, which today, Monday 26 June launched a new web- based risk management package for small and medium enterprises.
The rate of serious and fatal work-related accidents continues to increase, according to Hibernian general insurance, which today, Monday 26 June launched a new web-based risk management package for small and medium enterprises. Hibernian insures one in four small and medium businesses in Ireland. In 2005, the IIF reported that net incurred commercial liability claims costs for the Irish market were €522.3m.
Terry Dinnigan, executive manager marketing & product development, Hibernian general insurance, said: “Our records to May 2006 indicate a significant increase in work-related claims notifications on last year. Despite the introduction of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act, we continue to see large numbers of notified claims for work-related accidents, which suggests that many companies are still taking unnecessary risks.
We have developed RiskAsyst to support the work of the Health & Safety Authority to reduce the level of accidents in the workplace. It is a tool for our customers, who together with their broker, can ensure they are adhering to best practice in health & safety procedures.”
Hibernian RiskAsyst enables SME’s in conjunction with their brokers, assess their compliance with the Safety, Heath and Welfare at Work regulations which came into effect on 1 September 2005. Hibernian’s RiskAsyst offers an efficient solution to companies who are required under the Act to identify workplace hazards, assess risks, implement controls and compile a safety statement. Employers need to demonstrate a health & safety management system or process in their workplace.
Failure to comply with the new regulations can lead to personal liability for owners and managers with fines of over €3,000,000 and /or sanctions including imprisonment for up to two years for those found to be in breach of the legislation.
Hibernian customers in conjunction with their Broker will now be able to put a risk management process in place and produce a safety statement using RiskAsyst. RiskAsyst is available to Hibernian commercial insurance customers since 1 June 2006. Customers who register for the programme and become compliant can also avail of a 10% safety bonus, which is a rebate on their commercial insurance policy premium.
Further information about RiskAsyst is available on www.hibernian.ie
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Press contact:
Marie-Therese Culligan, 01 617 8164, 087 2367008, marietherese.culligan@hibernian.ie
Notes to editors:
- Hibernian is Ireland’s largest composite insurer, ranked first for general insurance and top three for life and pensions.
- Hibernian employs over 2,000 people in Ireland.
- Aviva is the world’s sixth-largest insurance group based on gross world-wide premiums and market capitalisation (at 31 December 2004); it is one of the leading providers of life and pensions in Europe and has substantial businesses in other markets.
- Hibernian news releases are also available on www.hibernian.ie
* Source IIF Factfile 2005