Is there anything that I can do to prevent my premium from increasing? There are many actions with little or no cost that can be done. Tip 22 – Staff Training (Make it practical!) Hopefully many of you will at least have made some attempt to address this issue, but if I’m honest I am troubled by the potential number that simply have not. Do you know that there are certain legal obligations? For example it is compulsory for you to provide Manual Handling/Lifting training. It is compulsory for you to have a Health & Safety Statement. This Health & Safety Statement must be read and signed by all staff to confirm that they have read and understood it.. If an employee claims to have a back injury which they allege happened in work and you believe that it didn’t happen in your shop will your insurer at least consider defending the claim? Unless you have a record of the employee having received such training and the record is signed by the employee confirming that they have been given and understood the training then the answer will be no. You have failed to give your insurer any possible defence. As I have said on a number of previous tips, if a staff member is injured when trying to resist an attempted armed robbery you will be found liable. Unless you have taken the very simple step of training them not to resist in such incidents. But how do you prove that they have been so instructed? Put it in writing. Read it to them. Ask them if they have clearly understood the instruction. Give them 2 copies of the instruction getting them to sign one confirming that they have understood and keep it on their personnel file….assuming you have one!!! The Irish Insurance market is currently in turmoil and every one of us, (claim free or otherwise), is paying for the fact that claims across the board are escalating. Please help us to help you. Our efforts here are single minded. Stop continuing increases of insurance premiums. You will be the main beneficiary. It’s in your hands! Always remember – call us to discuss any/every incident. We will advise and guide you. A publication from Garda National Crime Prevention Unit has just been sent to me and I would ask you to open the link below, (please trust me on this!!!) This covers extremely useful information and advice over the Christmas period!