LONDON, 20 July 2006 – As this summer looks to be a scorcher, the risk of sunburn causing cancer could become the biggest new threat to the building industry by generating huge employers’ liability claims in the future, according to Aon Construction Direct, a unit of a leading insurance broker and risk management consultant, Aon Limited. Contractors across the sector could be facing potential claims amounting to millions over the coming decades if they do not warn their employees to slap on the suntan lotion.

As employers are legally responsible for the health and safety of their employees at work, sunburn is the next long term threat to the industry whereby an employee could potentially claim negligence against their current or former employer years after the contract or employment has finished.

Skin cancers are caused by excess exposure to ultraviolet radiation – the principal source of which is the sun – and is resulting in more than 70,000 new cases each year in the UK (Source: Cancer Research UK).

Last month the House of Lords ruled that where a worker was exposed to asbestos dust by several employers, he would have to seek a proportionate share of compensation from each.  Previously, victims had been able to claim full recompense from one of several employers without having to prove which had caused the fatal exposure. This could have a knock on effect for how sunburn claims are dealt with, leaving even more building companies at risk.

Aon believes cancer from sunburn whilst at work could be the ‘new asbestos’, whose highly publicised yet still emerging claims could cost UK industry in the region of £20 billion over the next few decades.

Aon Construction Direct recommends these three tips for employers:

• Remind employees of your health and safety guidelines: sun protection must be at the top of the agenda alongside wearing hard hats, protective shoes, working at height etc
• Provide suntan lotion on site every morning
• Advise workers to wear protective clothing

Equally, a subcontracting firm must ensure that their employees, even if they are working off site and out of sight, are taking these precautions as they will be liable – not the contractor.

Nigel Geary, Team Leader for Aon Construction Direct, said: “As temperatures soar this summer, builders need to think realistically about protecting their employees from the potential cancerous effects of working out in the sun all day. By including sun protection in your health and safety policy, you will be able to more effectively defend a claim if a former employee tries to prove negligence on your part for their illness.”

Mr Geary continued: “Larger building companies are more likely to have strict health and safety guidelines but it’s the medium sized and smaller businesses who are most at risk of facing big claims as they don’t realise the need to impose these guidelines. It’s easy to take the ‘it’ll never happen to me’ approach but builders must tackle this long term issue for the well being of both their employees and their business.”

Notes to editor:

About Aon

Aon Corporation is a leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. There are 46,000 employees working in Aon's 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Backed by broad resources, industry knowledge and technical expertise, Aon professionals help a wide range of clients develop effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions.

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