[ Focus: Insurance ]
Prevention is better than cure
Proper healthcare cover is an important but often overlooked issue that can have a big impact on smaller companies. PHIL SCARRETT of the Electrical Contractors Insurance Services explains why
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pparently we’re all feeling a bit happier and a bit less stressed. This is according to the Well-being Index published by the government. It seems that between 2011/12 and 2012/13, personal
well-being improved in the UK, as ratings for life satisfaction and feeling that the things we do in life are worthwhile increased on average, while anxiety levels fell. Want some more good news? According to
the accountancy firm KPMG, the outlook for the construction sector is looking more positive. Companies are reporting increased order books, pipeline and profit margins. These market improvements mean that many firms are now looking for ways to expand their business – whether that means adding new locations or branching out into new sectors. It all means a bit more optimism and certainty for people working in the sector. OK – you may have seen this coming – there’s
a ‘but’ to follow this positive stuff. If we look at the recent statistics on our actual health, the picture’s not quite so rosy. This is really relevant for the many skilled professional people working in the trades whose bodies tend to put up with a whole lot more stress than your average office worker. Often out in all elements, using the van as the office, putting backs, knees and hearts under pressure – let alone the digestive system – just to get the job done.
Healthcare So, what are the stats telling us? For a start, absence levels, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, are up 20 per cent year-on-year and, according to the Health and Safety Executive, one in six absence days is due
58 ECA Today December 2013
Accessing comprehensive health cover independently is simply not viable for many tradespeople, particularly those operating as sole traders
to back pain. You probably won’t be surprised to find out that knee pain is becoming as common a complaint. More startlingly, Type 2 diabetes, which is brought
about by lifestyle factors, is increasing rapidly in the UK. This is a long-term condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high because the the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. There are already 3.8 million people with diabetes in the UK, and this figure is projected to rise to five million by 2025. About 90 per cent of all adults with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. A recent survey by Diabetes UK found that less than a third of people are aware of the serious health complications that can arise from the condition including amputation, heart attack, blindness and stroke. If you need a wake up call, this is it. The main risk factors are: having a waist of over 94cm (37 inches) if you are a man or 80cm (31.5 inches) for women; having a close relative with diabetes; or being over 40. I’m not out to spoil your day, but these are
worrying facts and, sadly, these conditions are common among those working in the trade professions. Some 42 per cent of claims in the trade professions relate to musculoskeletal conditions, followed by cancer, heart and circulatory diseases and digestive disorders.
About the author
Phil Scarrett, sales and marketing director, Electrical Contractors Insurance Services.
Support The good news is that help and support is out there and more accessible than ever. For a start, online self-help guides for managing particular complaints such as knee problems have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. And, of course, Electrical Contractors Insurance Services (ECIS) – the insurance operation for the ECA – now offers a range of highly competitive health insurance options specifically developed for tradespeople whether as part of employee benefit or as a sole trader. ECA members take note. Accessing comprehensive health cover independently is simply not viable for many
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