In the past year , Industry analysts have noted that fire related corporate and commercial property claims tend to increase because safety and maintenance standards are sometimes compromised in order to maintain or drive production needs .

As a result South Afrca looses millions of rands each year to Fires .

The main focus areas for Fire risk Prevention for commercial entities are :

1. Electrical Certificate of Compliance ( COC )  . For most of us this is a commodity which is unseen, as we take for granted the switching on and off of our appliances on a daily bases . In a typical building ( residential or commercial ) it is a legal requirement to confirm that the electrcical installation complies with the minimum required safety standards , a requirement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act .This needs to be obtained from a suitably trained proffesional such as a certified Electrician. 

2. Automatic Fire Sprinklers ( if the occupancy and size of the building requires this in terms of  current Occupancy certificates issued ). Typical systems are found in warehouses, manufacturing industries as well as hotels and large office buildings .Where provided and properlymaintained , a fire sprinkler system can save lives as well as significant damage to property. The systems are designed to react promplty and automatically in the event of a fire , much faster than any human , irrespectove of time pf day or safety concerns. However the systems can only function as intended if they are properly designed and installed , all key components are well maintained and tested and serviced on tim eto ensure its functioning and reliability .Wheer fire sprinkler systems are not provided or areonly partially installed , a robust risk management programme must be implemented to ensure Fire prevention is the absolute focus.

3. Housekeeping in the workplace . General housekeeping is the responsibility of EVERYONE , be it in your office , factory or your home . The South African Occupational Health & Safety Act has a specific section for housekeeping to promote a safe , clean and healthy working enviroment that reduces the liklihood of accidents and unsafe practices in the work place. Please ensure you are familiar with the requirements realting to your occupancy of your building and should you be renting out to a tenant that your tenant is made aware and complies with their housekeeping requirements .

4.Fire Risk Prevention / Hot Works Permits . Hot works relates to work associated with constuction/demolishion/maintenance activities that involves the use of portable gas and welding equipment as well as soldering, brazing,grinding or any similar activity that produces a spark, flame and heat . Hot work is one of the main causes of fire losses in commericial and industrial operations and has been recognised as a significant inception fire hazard for many years by both fire protection organiosations and the Insuranec Industry . The large Jacobs Durban Fire being one example of  this that amounted to millions let alone the enviromental impact this fire had . The Hot works permit is required whenever hot works activities is accried out on site , except when it forms part of the daily operations on site such as in a manufacturing enviroment , in tis case the hot works permit is not required , howeevr protocols for proper safety controls, good housekeeping and firefighting equipment must be in place as per the regulatory requirement .

If you’re involved in an accident at work or develop an illness caused by your working conditions, you can claim from the Compensation Fund. Here’s what you need to know.

You can claim if:

·         You were injured or contracted a disease while working (permanent or casual), training or completing an apprenticeship.

·         You lost a family member who died on the job.

·         You’re a domestic worker in a boarding house.

·         You’re an apprentice or trainee farm worker.

·         You’re a worker paid by a labour agency.

You can’t claim if you are:

·         A domestic worker employed at a private home.

·         A member of the South African National Defence Force (there is a separate fund explained in the Defence Act 42 of 2002, Chapter 9).

·         A member of the South African Police Services (there is a separate fund).

·         An outsourced employee.

·         A worker who works outside South Africa for more than 12 months at a time.

Claims will only be paid if they are submitted in the correct way and on time. Claims will not be paid if:

·         The claim is made more than 12 months after the accident or death, or after the disease is diagnosed.

·         You are off work for three days or less.

·         The accident resulted from your own wrongdoing (unless you’re seriously disabled or die in the accident, the fund will still pay compensation).

·         You unreasonably refuse to have medical treatment.

Who pays into the fund?

Employers pay into the Compensation Fund once a month. You do not pay anything towards the fund. Employers can’t deduct money from your wages as contributions to the fund.

Which injuries and diseases are covered?

The fund covers occupational diseases and workplace injuries. The working conditions and diseases caused by these conditions that are covered by the Compensation Fund are set out in Schedule 3 of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (130/1993).

You can claim for other diseases if you can prove using medical evidence and reports, that the disease was caused by conditions at work.

What can you claim?

You can’t claim for pain and suffering, only for loss of movement or use of your body.

The amount of compensation paid to you, depends on how much you were earning when you got injured or diagnosed. If you’ve stopped working by the time a disease is diagnosed, the compensation will be worked out according to what you would’ve been earning.

Types of compensation:

Medical costs

All your medical expenses will be paid for up to 2 years, from the date of the accident or the diagnosis of the disease. You are free to choose a medical service provider you want to consult with. All medical accounts should be submitted to the Commissioner, including fees for transporting you to a hospital or to your home.

Temporary disability

Temporary disability is when you’re unable to work or can’t do all your work because of an injury or disease, but you will get better.

To claim, you need to be put off work by a doctor for more than 3 days. If you’re put off work for longer than 3 days, you will get paid out for the whole time that you’re unable to work (including the first 3 days).

If you can’t work at all, you’ll get paid out 75% (three-quarters) of your normal monthly or weekly wage.

If you can only do some of your work, you will still get paid some wages by your employer. The fund will pay you 75% (three-quarters) of the difference between what you got paid and what you would’ve been paid before the injury.

All medical expenses are also paid if the medical accounts are submitted to the Commissioner.

You can claim compensation for temporary disability for 1 year. This can be extended to 2 years, after which the Commissioner may decide that the condition is permanent and grant compensation on the basis of permanent disability.

Permanent disability

A permanent disability is an injury or illness that you will never recover from, for example, losing an eye. The seriousness of the disability will determine whether you’ll never be able to work again or whether you’ll find work more difficult.

Disabilities are rated from 100% to 1% depending on the seriousness. For example, a 100% would be the loss of both your hands or the loss of your sight. The loss of your small toe is a 1% disability.

Your doctor will write a medical report about the disability. The Commissioner and various other doctors will then decide how serious the disability is.

If the disability is more than a 30% disability, you will get paid a monthly pension. The size of the pension depends on what your wages were and on the seriousness of the disability. If you have a 100% disability you will get paid 75% (three-quarters) of your wages.

If the disability is less serious, the Commissioner will work out the monthly payment. The monthly payment will be paid for the rest of your life.

If the disability is less than a 30% disability, you’ll get paid a lump sum. The lump sum payment is a once-off payment.

Death benefits

If a family member that earns money to support the family (breadwinner) is killed by an occupational injury or disease, you can claim from the fund.

The amount of compensation that you’ll be paid depends on your relationship to the person who died. The total amount paid to the family can’t be more than the pension the dead family member would’ve received.

The spouse of the deceased and children under the age of 18 (including illegitimate, adopted and step-children) are entitled to compensation. 

If there’s no spouse or children, other dependents, like parents, will be paid compensation. 

To claim compensation for the death of a family member, you need to provide certified copies of:

·         Marriage certificate

·         Children's birth certificates

·         Death certificate

·         Declaration by the spouse (form WCL32)

·         The employer's incident report

·         Funeral accounts (form WCL46)

·         Details of your income and property

How do you claim?

·         Inform your supervisor or employer as soon as possible (verbally or in writing). Make note of anyone who witnessed the accident.

·         The form that needs to be completed is WCL 2: Notice of Accident and Claim for Compensation.

·         Your employer must then report the accident to the Compensation Commissioner, even if they don’t believe your story, by submitting Form WCL 3: Employer's Report of Accident.

·         The employer must report a workplace injury within 7 days or within 14 days of finding out that you have an occupational disease.

·         You should check that all the details on the form are correct.

·         Within 14 days of seeing you, the doctor must fill in form WCL 4, stating how serious the injury was and how long you are likely to be off work. This is sent to your employer, who sends it to the Commissioner.

·         You don’t pay for the doctor's fees but if you want a second opinion, you’ll have to pay for this.

·         If the injury will take a long time to heal, the doctor must send a progress report (WCL 5) to the Commissioner every month until the condition is fully stabilised. This informs the Commissioner of how long you’ll be off work.

·         Finally the doctor must submit a final doctor's report (WCL 5) stating either that you’re fit to go back to work or that you’re permanently disabled. The doctor must send this form to the employer who sends it to the Commissioner.

·         When you go back to work, your employer must send a resumption report (WCL 6) to the Commissioner stating that you’re back to work and how much you were paid in compensation.

·         Both you and your employer should keep copies of all the forms.

·         When the first doctor's report has been submitted with the accident report, the Compensation Commissioner will consider the claim and make a decision. A claim number will also be allocated. This number should be used for all paperwork relating to a claim.

·         If you disagree with the decision, they can appeal the decision within 90 days by submitting form W929 to the Commissioner.

Who pays the claim?

·         The Compensation Commissioner is appointed to administer the Fund and approves workers' claims. You get money from the Fund and not from the employer.

·         BUT the employer has to pay you for the first 3 months after the injury was sustained. The Compensation Fund will pay the employer back.

·         If you’re off for more than 3 months, the Compensation Commissioner takes over the monthly payments.

·         If the employer has insurance against workplace injuries then the insurance company will pay the compensation. In these cases, claims are still made to and decided by the Compensation Commission.

Trucks Torched, roads blocked as protestors shutdown Ladysmith

IF YOU ARE A CIVIL CONTRACTOR THIS IS WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT LATERAL SUPPORT COVER

The last 3 years there have been numerous insurance claims for damage to Buildings caused by rainfall & flooding. The following  demonstrate the various ways in which this damage may occur, and to suggest ways in which the risk of an incident, and the magnitude of any consequential damage, may be reduced.

The unusual rainfall patterns seen in recent years have caused flooding problems in areas historically considered to be low at risk, and both the frequency and size of losses have increased significantly.

Rainfall: Building Maintenance

The fabric of the building must be well maintained for protection against the elements. All buildings need frequent and careful examination. Those in elevated positions, exposed to prevailing winds, are particularly at risk from rain entry. The following regular checks are necessary and appropriate remedial action should be taken:

• Check the roof and replace any loose or damaged tiles, slates, ridge tiles and any other roof claddings or flashings.
• Check that flat roof coverings are in good condition, not showing evidence of cracks or splits and are firmly stuck down, particularly at joints. Remember that bitumen felt flat roof coverings must be checked every 3 years.
• Check the condition of roof lights for leaks and cracks or breakages.
• Check and repair as necessary all cement fillets and brickwork pointing, including chimneys, coping stones, lintels and ledges.
• Check that roof gutters and down pipes are clean and unobstructed, kept free from leaves and vegetation. These should be cleaned at least once a year, possibly more often depending on local trees etc.
• Check that if gutters overflow in storm conditions the water will be discharged outside the building. This is particularly relevant to valley gutters and those which run behind parapets, where overflow outlets should discharge through the parapet to the outside of the building. Overflow weirs should be considered if not already fitted.
• Check all internal drainpipes
• Are they protected from mechanical damage and securely fixed?
• Are all inspection covers and rodding eyes easily accessible and free from internal obstruction?
• Are the covers securely fixed to prevent leakage?
• Check the condition of underground drains
• Lift manhole covers and check that the drains are clean
• Make sure that the water runs freely without backing up inside the manhole
• If the pipes are dirty, or the water appears to run more slowly than would be expected, have the drainage system cleaned
• Check that all gullies, gratings and drainage channels both inside and outside the building are clean and free from obstruction.
• It is possible that, despite having done all these things, you might still encounter problems with rainwater drainage systems. Typical problems are:
• Gutters that regularly overflow (even though they are clean and well maintained).
• Constant damp patches on walls
• Puddles that collect on flat roofs in wet weather.

These indications of inadequate drainage design will need specialist attention and you should seek professional advice.

Is your vehicle over 3 years old or has your Motor factory warranty expired?

If your vehicle suffered any form of mechanical damage (not covered by your comprehensive motor insurance policy), do you have enough cash put aside to afford the repairs?  

Stress no further, we are happy to announce the launch of our new Motor Engage warranty policy. For as little as R165pm you can insure against mechanical damage to the Engine and other components.

A policy can be issued on its own (stand alone) or it can be added to our existing clients Domestic or commercial Insurance policy.

Cover is determined by:

* Age of the vehicle

* Odometer readings at inception

* Vehicle type

* Mechanical condition

Here is a breakdown of cover  available, with the limits applicable.

Components                             Diamond    Double Platinum    Platinum             Gold            Bronze 

1. Engine                                      R50 000             R36 000          R18 000             R8 500          R6 500

2. Gearbox                                   R35 000              R25 000          R12 500            R6 000          R4 000

3. Differential                                R35 000              R25 000          R12 500            R6 000          R4 000

4. Differential Lock                       R20 000              R15 000           R  7 500            R5 000         R3 000

5. Transaxle                                  R20 000              R15 000           R  7 500            R5 000         R3 000

6. Transfer Box                             R20 000              R15 000           R  7 500            R5 000         R3 000

7. Electrical components             R20 000               R15 000          R 10 000           R7 000          R3 000

8. Supplementary components   R20 000               R15 000           R10 000            R7 000         R3 000

Premium per month           Diamond        Double Platinum    Platinum        Gold            Bronze

 (including VAT)                               R600                      R420                R295             R205            R165

Terms and conditions that apply:

* Vehicles between 10 and 15 years - Bronze

* Mileage between 180 000km and less than 300 000km - Bronze

* Vehicle must be of sound mechanical condition and have a roadworthy certificate.

* Not applicable to Taxi's, rental vehicles, exotics, security vehicles, rebuilds or modified vehicles as well as vehicles used in any form of motoring competition or sport.

Exclusions:

* Further or additional loss from primary cause of failure

* Parts not specified in the "components section" of policy wording

* Repairs undertaken without prior authorization of the Administrator

* Damage resulting from fitting of experimental units, or modification

* Standard services or service parts whilst vehicle is being maintained

* repairs from disconnection or tampering with odometer

* gradual deterioration in operating performance

* repairs, replacement or alterations not accompanied by VAT invoice

* Mechanical/electrical failure recoverable under another policy

* Damage resulting from water, foreign substances, incorrect or contaminated fuel, defective workmanship or poor products

* Re-gassing of air-conditioner

* Oil leaks and/or damages as a result thereof

* Cause of breakdown evident prior to effective date of policy

* Hoses, pipes, auxiliary belts, fan blades, CV rubber boots and dust covers

We have such faith in our Products that we Insurance Brokers use them ourselves.

Leave your details on our website or phone us on 031-5021922 for assistance with this unique product offering.

Written by Andrew Ensor-Smith 18/02/2020