Press Releases
ALLIANZ BACKS ASBESTOS CAMPAIGN
On the day the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launch a national campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of working with asbestos, Allianz Engineering is reminding brokers of the need to inform clients of their duty to manage risks related in dealing with the hazardous substance.
Asbestos remains the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. Every week, 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease*. The HSE campaign, "Asbestos: The hidden killer" aims to inform tradesmen that asbestos is a danger that is real and relevant to them.
The campaign provides duty-holders, people or organisations responsible for protecting residents or employees from asbestos in homes and workplaces, with advice on how to reduce the risks of ill health for people who use buildings which contain asbestos.
It also outlines specific obligations imposed on duty-holders concerning the planning and execution of asbestos surveys and provides practical advice and guidance on how they can comply with existing asbestos handling regulations.
Steve Ford, special services manager, Allianz Engineering says: “Safe handling of asbestos is a relevant issue for many insurers and the HSE campaign highlights the ongoing danger for duty holders. Risk assessment, careful management and condition monitoring of asbestos should be carried out to meet the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006.”
He adds: “Brokers can play an important role in helping clients to mitigate their risk and avoid costly fines by advising the use of licensed contractors to carry out surveys and project management for remediation services.”
In the past week alone, the HSE has fined two companies for failing to control work properly in buildings where asbestos was present.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. * The Asbestos Survey: Mortality among asbestos workers 1971–2005, prepared by Health and Safety Laboratory for the Health and Safety Executive 2009. Available at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr730.pdf
2. For more information please visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos
3. A photograph of Steve Ford is attached.
4. Allianz Insurance is one of the largest general insurers in the UK and part of the Allianz SE Group, the largest property and casualty insurer worldwide. Reassuringly in these uncertain financial times, in November 2008 the Standard and Poor's rating for Allianz Insurance was reaffirmed as AA- with a stable outlook and the rating of Allianz SE was also reaffirmed as AA with a stable outlook.
For further information contact:
Daniel Tunna, communications officer, Allianz Insurance
Work: 01483 552969
Mobile: 07891 486640
Email: daniel.tunna@allianz.co.uk
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