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TECHNOLOGY

Workers' Comp Kit, an online workers' compensation cost-containment program from Amaxx Risk Solutions Inc., features a 10-module improvement plan offering more than 60 forms, sample letters, sample employee policies and formatted brochures to structure injury-management procedures.

Claims Management

Crawford & Co. has released its newest claims management program, Crawford Works, developed in consultation with noted workers' comp expert Richard Pimental from Milt Wright and Associates Inc. The program seeks to reduce costs by helping clients create a customized return-to-work program and assess the effectiveness of their current programs.

Drug History

Hooper Holmes Inc. has released Hooper IntelliScript, a Web-based prescription history service for the life insurance and property/casualty industries. Hooper IntelliScript provides reports specific to each customer's underwriting guidelines, risk-scoring preferences and claims-handling procedures.

Biosecurity

Originally developed by DuPont for its own employee disease preparedness plan, Personal Biosecurity Kits and Worksite Biosecurity Kits are now available to other businesses interested in maintaining the well-being of employees and ensuring business continuity in the event of a disease outbreak.

Cost Prediction

D2Hawkeye, a leader in health-care data analytics, has enhanced its integrated medical management system with "Risk Buckets," an innovative predictive model.

Professional Liability

Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. announces its new online application for land surveyors professional liability. This latest technological development helps to simplify the application process for both brokers and clients.

Thermal Drying

A new thermal drying system could help to close water damage claims. The technology, called the Thermal Energy System, developed and manufactured by Utah-based Bridgepoint Systems, allows most drying jobs to be completed in less than 30 hours, compared to traditional drying times of three to seven days.

Truck Safety

Audiovox Specialized Applications, a manufacturer of mobile electronics for commercial vehicle operators, offers UpTime Parts with its heavy-duty audio and video equipment and its Voyager Observation/Back-Up Camera Systems.

INSURANCE

E&O

Specialty insurance provider Hiscox USA is now licensed to provide technology errors-and-omissions insurance to U.S. businesses. This insurance is written on a nonadmitted basis through Hiscox USA's two New York locations.

Machinery

The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. has launched its select machinery warranty to used-machinery dealers and new machinery manufacturers to provide extended coverage against mechanical or electrical breakdown of their equipment after the standard warranty expires.

Excess Environmental

The Environmental Division of Markel Underwriting Managers Inc. released the Follow Form Excess product, a new coverage that can be placed over underlying coverage provided by Markel for contractors' pollution liability, professional liability, general liability and environmental impairment liability coverages.

Pandemic

The American Association of Insurance Services is filing a new virus or bacteria exclusion designed to exclude losses that arise from organisms that can cause disease. Effective countrywide on May 1, 2007, the exclusion will address contamination from avian flu, SARS, rotavirus, listeria, legionella, anthrax and other disease-causing agents.

Wineries

Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. has introduced comprehensive insurance for wineries, providing coverage for businesses engaged in all aspects of winery operations, including vineyards, equipment, employees, wine-making and production, retail stores and tasting rooms, as well as on-site tours and events.

Health Care

AIG Healthcare has released a new product: AIG Healthcare Security & Liability Insurance. This portfolio of coverages is meant to protect health-care organizations from the costs and liabilities of the negligent handling of private data.

Midsize Business

Zurich has introduced a new, broader property insurance policy for midsize businesses. The all-risk policy offers Zurich's proprietary rates and includes improved options on more than 36 additional coverages.

Excess Liability

AIG Specialty Excess has added Accident Site Advisor and PublicResponse to its excess liability insurance products. The enhancements to the coverage will provide policyholders with immediate access to funds and support in the event of a serious casualty situation, at no extra cost.

Reinsurer Default Protection

The first-ever reinsurer default protection policy has been offered by Aspen Insurance Holdings, with the assistance of Carvill, a reinsurance intermediary in specialty lines of business. The RDP policy will cover a portfolio of reinsurance receivables and current reinsurance recoverables.

Professional Liability

West Chester, Pa.-based Venture Insurance Programs released a new heterogeneous professional and management liability product called Venture Professional. The coverage will include directors' and officers', errors and omissions, and employment practices liability cover.

Parking

The new parking and valet operations program, released by USRisk Brokers, is designed for self-parking garages, assisted-parking lots, valet operations and other businesses involved in parking customer vehicles. The program includes general liability with additional coverages, along with garagekeepers legal liability cover.

Managed Care Organizations

Lexington Insurance Co., a member company of American International Group Inc., will now offer its managed care organization policyholders a complimentary suite of risk and management services. Offered in conjunction with the Law Offices of Steven M. Ziegler, the services are meant to help managed care organizations to limit their liability exposure and litigation and claim costs.

Lawyers PL

The underwriting manager of Evanston Insurance Co., Shand Morahan & Co. Inc., has updated its professional liability coverage for lawyers. Designed for hard-to-place law firms and attorneys, the new version is called Designed Protection for Law Firms and features a more competitive form and new risk management features.

Workers' Compensation

Appalachian Underwriters Inc. and Specialty Underwriters' Alliance Inc. have come to a new agreement to provider workers' compensation coverage for small businesses with less than $15,000 in premium and relatively low hazard grades. The coverage will first be made available by Appalachian Underwriters through 600 retail agents in Illinois, Texas and Nevada. Other states may be included in the future.

SERVICES

Trucking

A partnership between Pitt Ohio Express and The CEI Group Inc., called TruckGuardian Group, has formed to assist the heavy-duty trucking industry to improve safety, find and retain qualified drivers, and reduce operating costs.

March 1, 2007

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