Contractors following best health and safety practice could face lower employers' liability premiums in the future.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is to work with trade associations to look at the health and safety schemes that they may be running with their members, such as the Zero Accident Potential (ZAP) scheme run by the ECA.

If schemes meet the ABI's approval, it will instruct its member companies offering employers' liability insurance to take the schemes into account when offering premiums.

Trade associations will be able to submit details of their schemes to the ABI, which will assess them against best practice. The ABI will then report back to the trade association with any suggested improvements before it is recommended that the scheme be recognised by its members.

m Insurers and brokers have made a commitment to give companies at least 21 days' notice of premium changes. The rising costs of liability cover have been made worse by insurance companies only giving contractors a few days to look for alternative cover.

Members of the ABI and the British Insurance Brokers' Association will provide at least 21 days' notice of their renewal terms on all employers' and public liability insurance policies, starting from 1 November.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor