One of the reasons I have enjoyed a lifetime working in claims is the interesting places you get to visit. It is great if you are a natural ‘sticky beak’ like me. I was speaking with one of my mentors, Murray Rowley who was the senior partner of the loss adjusting practice that I joined in 1982. Murray now heads LMI’s Mining Division and in […]
Do you or your clients drive a Ford Ranger or Everest?
As regular readers are aware, I post each week a list of the products that have been recalled in Australia. It staggers me the number of products that are not recalled with people continuing to use. The scariest ones for me are anything involving 240-volt electrical wiring, fittings and or appliances, and the Takata airbags. Another one has hit the list. This involves some Ford Ranger […]
About flood in motor and face masks
Yesterday, not for the first time, I suggested that the insurance industry should consider imposing an exclusion on motor vehicle policies where the car has been driven into flood water. This was driven (pun intended) by the report that over two hundred drivers and their vehicles had to be rescued, putting enormous strain on emergency services. As well as a survey that showed that three […]
New Zealand on Coronavirus coverage
While I have posted several posts on this issue for Australia, I have been asked to comment on the position for insurers and insureds in New Zealand both by readers in New Zealand and underwriters based in Australia who are responsible for New Zealand. First up, Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a notifiable disease in New Zealand with it being regulated as such earlier than Australia. With […]
Are businesses exercising reasonable risk management in controlling the spread of Coronavirus?
I travelled to Sydney yesterday and was surprised that there appeared to have be no change to procedures. It is known that the virus is spread by droplets and can sit on hard surfaces such as hand rails, and that washing hands is so important to minimise the spread. The system as we see in cruise ships with hand sanitisation where as you enter the […]
One area we do not want to follow the United States
With so much of what happens in the United States finding its way to Australia, one statistic worries me and should be of concern to government in that country. That is the life expectancy in the US has fallen every year for the last 3 years. Only Mexico has this decline with the rest of the world enjoying increasing life expectancy. I was not aware […]
Testing & Tagging – worth the effort?
As part of our risk management strategy and, in particular, as part of our occupational health and safety regime we carry out regular testing and tagging of all the electrical appliances and items in our offices. The regulations differ per state but in Victoria where I am based, the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004) states that an employer has a legal obligation to ensure that […]
Fined for using a mobile phone while in charge of a motorised lawn mower
As regular readers will know I am a very strong advocate against the use of mobile phones, particularly texting while driving. I support the introduction of exclusions in motor vehicle policies as a deterrent against this extremely dangerous practice. I therefore read with interest that police in the UK pulled over a council employee who was, I gather, driving the motorised industrial ride on lawn […]
Product Recalls Australia – 26 September 2017
This week’s product recalls includes the following: Knog Pty Ltd — Knog Frog Strobe Bicycle Light Read more Mazda Australia Pty Ltd — Mazda BT-50 Read more Cyclingdeal — Road Mountain Bike Bicycle Cycling Adult Helmet Read more Lenoxx Electronics Aust Pty Ltd — Electric Blanket Read more
Warning on Asbestos Imports
Since the beginning of 2004, Australia has had a complete ban on the importation, manufacture and use of asbestos and products containing asbestos. As with some of the electrical wiring and insulated foam panels that are being imported from China, it has now been found that building materials, auto parts, crayons and other products imported into Australia from China, contain asbestos. It is my understanding […]