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News & Events
MSI Construction Team visit progress on the Belfast Sewers Project
28th April 2008
In one of the most significant infrastructure projects ever to be carried out in Belfast, Northern Ireland Water is investing over £100 million in improving its sewerage system to cater for the future development needs of the city.
The project, which will complete in 2009, is comprised of a new 9.5km tunnel (up to 4m in diameter), 19km of new sewers, new storm water retention tanks and the refurbishment of 500 sections of existing sewer.
The main benefits will be improvements to both the water quality of the River Lagan and other watercourses, where the pollutant load will be reduced by 85%, and the potential for flooding within Belfast city reduced. This will enhance the quality of life for all of the 250,000 people in the greater Belfast area.
MSI are a major underwriter of the construction work, with a key element being the tunnel boring, an area requiring careful risk engineering and management.
A new technology is being used known as trenchless or ‘No - Dig’, which is less intrusive to the community than alternative methods. With ‘No - Dig’ technology there is less cause for long lengths of trench and deep excavation thus leading to less disruption.
Visiting Belfast as part of a recent visit, Andy Kane, Class Underwriter for the MSI Construction team said 'MSI are delighted to be the insurance partner for the project and this was a good example of MSI being able to provide both insurance and risk management support where our client is involved in a project that is underwriten outside the annual programme'.
MSI supports the London Fire Brigade's LIFE programme for Young People
22nd April 2008
The LIFE programme is run by the London Fire Brigade (LFB). It is aimed at addressing the problems of young people who deliberately start fires and their anti-social behaviour. The programme is targeted particularly at 13-18 year olds who have offended, are at risk of offending, or those that may have been victims of crime.
A key aim is to prevent young people from becoming persistent offenders by providing an intensive, five-day experience within a tightly structured and focused team environment.
Deliberate fire setting accounts for almost half of all fires attended by the LFB (48% in 2005/6). As many as one in four such fires are believed to have been set by young people. On average, two London schools experience a deliberate fire each week. In 2005/6, the LFB attended almost 4,000 incidents classified as malicious hoax calls.
However, the number of deliberate fires and hoax calls has fallen in recent years, particularly in Boroughs with active LIFE schemes. The evidence strongly suggests that this is not coincidental.
There has also been measurable impact on offending rates amongst participants measured six months after the programme. Reductions of 44% for offences against property, 50% for offences against a person and a 64% reduction in public disorder offences.
The LIFE programme is partly funded by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), but LIFE also depends on external funding from partners in order to maintain the number of courses run and to expand the programme further. MSI is proud to have been one of these partners during the last 3 years.
Speaking on behalf of MSI, Jeremy Stevenson said “We are delighted to help fund such a worthwhile programme which has proven to reduce the incidents of deliberately started fires in the capital and which also gives young people a real sense of self esteem and experience of working as a team”.
“The LIFE programme mirrors one of the central tenets of MSI; that hard work and effort in the prevention of incidents, such as fire, is far better than managing the aftermath. It also clearly demonstrates that additional benefits will come from such a positive and proactive approach to risk.”
MSI leads initiative to reduce water damage on construction sites
31st March 2008
Water damage losses are rapidly catching up fire and theft as the number one cause of claims in the construction sector. For one major client, insured under an annual contract, it is estimated that water damage accounts for around 40% of all CAR/PL claims made.
MSI have been actively involved in finding ways to address the problem, a problem which fundamentally comes down to poor workmanship, but is exacerbated by a number of other factors coming into play.
MSI’s drive to address water damage has coincided with another initiative from the Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG) and their development of a “best practice guide on the avoidance and mitigation of water damage on construction sites”.
The initiative is, coincidentally, being spearheaded by MSI’s Mark Redding, one of the founder members of CIREG. This document has been enhanced by input from MSI engineers and underwriters who are now looking to actively promote its use amongst existing and new clients.
The guidance is drawn from engineering and claims experience and addresses a number of issues including design failures, system faults, testing and commissioning, competency and standards of workmanship. Should all these risk control measures fail, a number of risk mitigation measures are suggested, aimed at controlling the extent of damage should a failure still occur.
The guidance document is freely available to be used as Insurers see fit. The initial intention is that it is a guidance document but, with changing market conditions and, if the industry fails to take reasonable steps to improve the situation, we may well see an evolvement into a Code of Practice similar to that found for the prevention of fire.
The guidance document can be downloaded by clicking here. For more information on this initiative, contact Mark Redding at MSI.
MSI announces Peter Foreman’s retirement, and a high profile replacement
27th March 2008
With effect from 31 March 2008, Peter Foreman will retire as Non-Executive Chairman of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (London Management) Ltd. His successor is Max Taylor.
Peter Foreman started his career in insurance over 40 years ago, with The London Assurance, and has held his current role since helping to establish MSI in 2000.
Peter has been instrumental in the success of MSI, shaping it into a company that has achieved a gross income approaching £400 million, which has become the first Japanese insurer to establish its own Managing Agency at Lloyd’s and earned a coveted AA rating from Standard & Poor’s.
Allan Guest, CEO, paid a warm tribute to Peter Foreman saying “Peter has provided strong support and encouragement throughout his eight years at the firm. I have valued his insights, experience and professionalism and his retirement marks a watershed in the progress and development of the business.”
Max Taylor will take over as Non-Executive Chairman with effect from April. Max is a previous Chairman of Lloyd’s and a former deputy Chairman of Aon UK, and is currently Chairman of BIBA. Allan Guest welcomes Max and acknowledges that “he brings a wealth of industry experience at Board level and an invaluable external perspective to our organisation.”
Casualty team lead celebration of Burns Night
7th February 2008
On 24 January, over 70 of MSIUL's leading Casualty brokers gathered for a traditional Burns Supper, set in the stunning location of the Tower Bridge Walkways, high above the River Thames.
With some of the staff dressed for the occasion in tartan and kilts, the hosts included MSIUL senior management led by Allan Guest, Peter Foreman, Mike Gardiner, Jeremy Stevenson and Dipak Warren, and the Casualty team of Andy Dougall, Alan Roxburgh, Martin Felice, Dave Jones, Lisa Clarke, Marc Lewis, Mark Iceton, Ciaran O'Shaughnessy and George Boenke. Tim Bluck represented Construction Casualty.
After the traditional Selkirk Grace, the haggis was ceremoniously piped in by the imposing figure of Hamish Robertson, who did a rousing rendition of the 'Address to a Haggis', and guests sat down to a dinner of haggis, neeps and tatties, followed by Scotch beef.
The evening was finished off with a tutored whisky tasting by David Broom, editor of "Scotch Whisky Review", who took guests through 3 excellent malts including a ten year old 'Miyagikyou' malt from, most appropriately, Japan.
The venue, food and piping were once again to the highest standard and the evening was a resounding success.
MSI demonstrates its continuing commitment to 'Safety on Site'
24th December 2007
The 4th, annual 'Builder & Engineer' Awards event was held recently at The Palace Hotel, Manchester, with guest speaker Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of the BRE. MSI were delighted to sponsor the 'Safety on Site' Award, which was won by HBG for development of internal company initiatives in this area.
Presenting the award on behalf of MSI was Andy Kane, Class Underwriter for Construction at MSI. Commenting on the award Andy said "We see Health & Safety as being a key component not only in a companies relationship with its workforce but also in its relationship with its insurer which is of benefit in personal, legal and financial terms for all parties".
Further information and the full set of award winners can be found by clicking here.
MSI sponsors RoSPA Directors' Health and Safety Responsibilities Conference
28th September 2007
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI) is proud to sponsor RoSPA’s Directors’ Health and Safety Responsibilities Conference.
The conference, which takes place on Monday 26 November 2007 at the Cavendish Conference Centre, London, will address the key developments in board level responsibility for health and safety, including performance reporting, leadership standards and the new offence of corporate manslaughter.
Matthew Bond, Manager, Risk Engineering at MSI said, “MSI has built a market reputation for insuring and rewarding clients who are proactive about risk management and committed to improving their workplace health and safety. Successful risk management depends on strong leadership and effective corporate governance. But even among the best performing companies, there is no room for complacency."
"The new offence of corporate manslaughter has brought the responsibilities of directors and senior managers into sharp relief. RoSPA’s conference is particularly timely and MSI is delighted to be associated with it”.
Roger Bibbings MBE, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: “Understandably, in the wake of one disaster after another, there has had to be a national debate about updating the law of manslaughter and homicide to make it fit-for-purpose and capable of delivering justice when organisations have failed, and failed badly, to protect people and lives have been lost. This has been necessary to draw a line in the sand to indicate the kinds of corporate sloppiness that will not be tolerated. But it should not lead boards to be apprehensive and defensive around questions of health and safety."
"Businesses, and particularly their directors and senior managers, must seize upon health and safety afresh as an exciting challenge; one which is full of opportunity and an area where they personally can make a huge difference, not only to the well-being of their people but to the overall success of their organisation.”
For further information about the conference and to book a place visit click here.
Casualty Seminar - Clare College, Cambridge
3/4 September 2007
MSI`s third successive casualty seminar was by far the most successful to date, not only in terms of numbers, but also in terms of reaction and feed-back from clients and brokers.
Over 70 clients attended, representing 47 different companies. They were joined by 50 brokers, presenters, MSI personnel and key strategic partners. And, as ever, all of them enjoyed the unique ambience, superb hospitality and unique networking opportunities offered by Cambridge’s Clare College.
“How to prevent the worst happening. And what to do if it does.”
This year's theme was 'The avoidance and management of crises.' MSI assembled leading experts in their fields to take delegates through the latest information, technology, personal experiences and case studies to demonstrate the commercial and regulatory benefits of focusing risk management on the real issues and root causes of problems in health and safety.
The seminar was opened by Dipak Warren, active underwriter and director of MSIUL, who set the scene by stressing MSI's core philosophy of creating innovative risk engineering solutions through the development of close, dynamic working relationships with brokers and their clients. Casualty underwriter Alan Roxburgh took the seminar through MSIUL’s perspective of the current insurance market and made the key point that good risk management and strong relationships will keep insurance costs consistent, despite market changes.
“MSI want to build relationships – and keep delivering to those relationships.”
The morning session continued with an explanation of the role of liability adjusters by Jon Fitzsimons and Steve Ford of Garwyns, followed by Dave Dexter of Owen David Risk Management, who highlighted common pitfalls in claims defence.
After lunch, Ken Woodward gave a moving account of the root causes and devastating effects of his accident at Coca Cola, when he was blinded in a chemical explosion. The afternoon ended with an amusingly presented mock trial, conducted by Praxis Partners, which took us through a real life health and safety prosecution and dramatically brought home the critical implications and financial penalties of poor documentation and record keeping.
“It demonstrated that safety isn’t about ticking the box – it’s about thinking outside it.”
Day two opened with Ian Harper’s insight into the factors influencing workplace supervisors’ decisions to intervene (or not) in the case of unsafe acts or conditions. This was followed by Eddie Woods of MindSafety, who’s highly entertaining, fascinating and thought provoking presentation looked into understanding and analysing the psychology behind the causes of accidents – and changing behaviour to minimise them.
The seminar then moved on to cover three highly relevant case histories. Andrew Böber of the Zoological Society of London explored the level of detail required to safely plan expeditions to some of the most remote and inhospitable parts of the world.
“I’m going to make sure my senior management are made aware of the key points of the seminar.”
This was followed by Mike O’Hara’s account of the hard lessons Travis Perkins learned from their response to a very serious incident. Their innovative response is now considered best practice by the Health and Safety Executive.
Dave Faulds of PC Harrington then went on to describe the impact and effect of a fatal accident on him personally and his company – and more important – the action subsequently taken to avoid repetition of such incidents.
After lunch, following Himmat Rai’s case studies on product liability risk management, the seminar closed with a highly entertaining but serious insight into the potential pitfalls of handling the media in a crisis situation.
Russ Timpson of the Fire Strategy Company and Derek Braithwaite of Red Letter Media Consultants brought the message home by putting three volunteers in front of a camera and demonstrating just how tough this exercise can be – thanks to the brave volunteers!