Clampdown on Insurance Policies
Government officials have been asked to consider a new system to ensure injured workers receive compensation after their employers go bust.
Lawyers acting for people injured at work have renewed calls for a central electronic database to be set up to record employers’ insurance details, so that workers are able to trace policies and obtain compensation for their injuries.
Martin Bare, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) says this is vital for workers suffering from industrial diseases, as these often take years to materialise.
“If someone contracts an asbestos related disease through work, for example, it will take years for the symptoms to become apparent, by which time the employer who caused the injury may have gone out of business. We know from experience that old insurance policies often cannot be traced, which means the victim will then be unable to claim compensation for his injuries.