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Changes in asbestos regulations could leave public sector bodies open to prosecution if precautionary measures are not put in place soon, according to Zurich Municipal, the leading provider of risk management and insurance services to the public sector. The company is urging public sector employers to implement risk management plans to clearly demonstrate measures taken to manage asbestos on their premises.
Currently a staggering 83% of 500 organisations surveyed do not have asbestos management plans in place according to research completed by Zurich Municipal's sister company Zurich Risk Services. Under the Control of Asbestos at Work (CAW) Regulation, all employers, local authorities and property owners are now required to exercise and illustrate a greater duty-of-care. With an 18-month lead-in time for mandatory compliance with the CAW Regulation, all employers and property managers must prepare and implement asbestos management plans by early 2004.
Along with Zurich Risk Services, and in partnership with The National Britannia Group, Zurich Municipal has designed a programme to identify and manage the risks associated with asbestos. The programme is a practical solution which ensures that the necessary precautions against asbestos have been taken and the CAW Regulation is complied with. This new service consists of four stages - a status audit, initial survey, sampling survey and training.
Zurich Municipal Loss Control asbestos consultant, Gavin Chalmers, said:"The dangers of asbestos are severe. Complying with the CAW Regulation will ensure that these dangers are minimised. Asbestos related diseases kill 4,000 people a year in the UK alone, a figure which could rise to 10,000 deaths per year by 2024. The CAW Regulation is a step towards ensuring that the dangers of asbestos are controlled. The deadline to conform to the regulation is approaching. Only with a concerted effort will the public sector ensure that public buildings are safe against the risks of asbestos."
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The Zurich Financial Services Group is an insurance-based financial services provider that focuses its activities on its key markets of North America, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It has offices in approximately 60 countries and employs well over 70,000 people. | 