Initiatives

Zurich in the UK believes that Health & Safety is a line management responsibility and the Managing Directors in each SBU have formally endorsed this.

We operate an integrated management system for Health Safety and Environment. Policy-making is led by a Health and Safety Strategic Management Group (H&SSMG). This committee brings together Health & Safety practitioners, Risk Managers representing each Business Unit and employee representatives. Our first meeting was held in August 2002. Concise minutes are published after each meeting.

The H&SSMG's agenda is set by a risk profiling techniques which identified the top Health & Safety risks, for example:

• stress
• driving
• sickness absence
• criminal assaults on staff
• controlling off-site activities
• call centres
• home-based staff

Zurich has agreed a process with the Unite and UFS unions for appointing Safety Representatives at certain locations and facilities are made available. The same arrangements apply to non-unionised offices where some Safety Marshals have volunteered to become Representatives of Employee Safety.