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Tempora mutantur nos et mutamur in illis - The times change and we change with them
We live in a fast paced world where things are constantly changing and sometimes we find it hard to keep up with those changes. On this page we aim to provide you with details of changes which we come across and feel you may benefit from. Such information may not directly relate to insurance matters but is provided as general information. We also issue a regular newsletter which again contains articles of general interest as well as details of specific insurance facilities we are able to provide and any offers or promotions we are running. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter please complete our 'newsletter subscription form'. Internal Flooding: raise awareness A leading insurer has launched a new campaign designed to help individuals and businesses avoid the potential destruction that escape water can cause. In recent years the cost of these instances has increased sharply from £46m in 2006 to £93m in 2008. To avoid becoming a victim take a look at the toolkits available, one for individuals (whether homeowners or tenants) and the other for businesses, both of which provide straight forward advice. The toolkits are available to download now from the Fortis Website Directors Liability : First company manslaughter case In April 2009 a Gloucestershire company was accused of gross negligence in connection with the death of a geologist on a building site near Stroud, in Gloucestershire, in September 2007. A director of the company, was also accused of gross negligence manslaughter over the incident. If found guilty, he could face a life sentence. The company could face an unlimited fine. Both the company and its Director are also facing charges under health and safety rules. It is the first prosecution brought under the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007, which came into force in April last year. The case is a clear warning that authorities are taking particular concern into health and safety issues. If you require more information on Directors & Officers Liability cover, please contact our office to discuss your requirements or complete our enquiry form and one of our team will be happy to assist you. Increased fines and greater sentencing for those who breach health and safety legislation. The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 which came into force in January 2009 created no new legal duties. However it has increased penalties and provides courts with greater sentencing powers for those who break health and safety laws. The maximum fine which may be imposed by a Magistrates Court increases from £5,000 to £20,000 for most health and safety regulations; for breaches of the 1974 Act itself, the maximum fine for breaches of sections 2-6 remains at £20,000. The HSOA makes imprisonment an option for a broader range of offences in both Magistrates' and Crown courts. Click here to read the article Employee Tax - Benchmark scale rates for day subsistence HMRC have introduced an advisory system of benchmark scale rates which employers can use to make subsistence payments to employees who incur allowable business travel expenses free of tax and NICs. The new system came into effect from 6 April 2009. Click here to read the article on this website Further information : www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/income-tax/brief2409.htm Recycling of old I.T. and Office Equipment It is now a legal requirement for all UK companies to ensure that computers, monitors, batteries, TVs, fluorescent tubes, fridges and Waste Electrical & Electronic equipment be disposed of in accordance with Environment Agency standards Click here to read the article on this website Further information : http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/32084.aspx Ten reasons why insurance rates have to go up Premiums for motor and household have increased over the last year, but these increases were not significantly above inflation, leaving insurers out of pocket. Click here for 10 reasons why insurance premiums need to rise now Source: AXA Insurance Professional magazine July 2009 Click here to read the article on this website Intruder and Fire Alarm signalling problems BT is planning to make significant changes to the telecommunications infrastructure which could cause serious disruptions to the signaling capability of many intruder and fire alarm systems. It is expected that, without corrective action being taken, many thousands of alarm communication devices could be disabled as a result of these changes. 21CN is BT's next generation telephone/data network, an internet protocol based network that will replace the Public Switched Telephoned System (PSTN) and most other line-based telecommunication including the existing Broadband infrastructure and Integrated Switched Digital Network (ISDN). The new network will offer a variety of benefits for customers in terms of services and value. However, older generations of communications equipment (for example certain types of digital communicator used for alarm transmission) are not necessarily compatible with the new technology, and it is anticipated that many will fail to perform correctly following conversion of the local telephone exchange to 21CN. The main migration programme will not start until April 2010, but a pilot exercise is due to commence in October in the Cardiff area. The pilot will involve some 75,000 telephone lines, about 4,000 of which are thought to be connected to fire or intruder alarm systems. Ongoing impact of the 21CN network on alarm transmission equipment Assurances have been received from the suppliers of higher specification signaling products (e.g. Redcare and CSL Dualcom) that their systems are 21CN-compatible and will continue to perform correctly post-migration. The main concern appears to be the large number of older digital communicators still in use. It is thought that up to 40% of the communicators currently installed in the UK will be unable to perform correctly on the new network. This would mean that hundreds of thousands of alarm systems will need to be updated prior to the 21CN mass migration programme to ensure viability on the new network. Guidance It is possible that the commencement of the migration pilot in Cardiff will raise awareness of the potential alarm signaling problems amongst policyholders. A recommendation in this event is that policyholders with intruder or fire alarms that signal via a digital communicator should:
Plant theft is estimated at £1,000,000 a year If you are worried about the loss of your plant, you may be interested in the Construction Equipment Security and Register (CESAR). CESAR was established by the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and operates jointly with the Metropolitan Police National Plant and Agricultural Unit, which was established in October 2008. Together the National Plant and Agricultural Unit and CESAR are having a positive affect on plant crime with recovery rates of stolen equipment up 3%, including some significant halls with insurance values of £250,000. CESAR works by covertly and overtly micro chipping machinery, thus making it difficult for thieves to remove all identifying data. All the details from the chips are logged on a central database to help police link recovered machines to their rightful owners. So far 18,000 pieces of equipment across the UK have been micro chipped under the scheme. For further details of CESAR visit www.cesarscheme.org Not only will CESAR offer you peace of mind but MasterPolicy in conjunction with Allianz can negotiate discounts for insurance on equipment fitted with CESAR security. Click here to read the article on this website |