Zurich in North America congratulates Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. for winning National Underwriter’s “2009 Champion Award” for Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management
Schaumburg, Ill., August 20, 2009 – Zurich in North America today congratulated its customer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. for being selected by National Underwriter as the “2009 Champion” for the Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management Award. This award recognizes risk managers and companies that use innovative approaches to maintain a safe workplace, lower loss costs and get injured workers back on the job as quickly as possible.
Starwood was one of eight Zurich customers nominated for the award and received its honor at the Workers' Compensation Educational Conference in Orlando August 16-19. A Starwood profile appeared in the August 17 issues of National Underwriter.
"This is a great honor for Starwood and we congratulate them," said Armand Fernandez, Zurich Services Corporation's North America chief risk engineering officer. "We also consider it a great honor for Zurich. The thought leadership and risk management services we provide our customers have helped them implement programs that are being recognized as best practice efforts by the industry."
Programs Starwood implemented reduced its frequency and average cost of claims. Starwood's programs included:
• Re-launch of its comprehensive Safety & Workers Compensation Management program, referred to internally as the “Be-Safe” program. This was developed by a cross-functional team and addresses key program aspects: management leadership, accountability, communications, recognition, metrics and numerous activities ranging from accident investigation through risk improvement.
• Formalizing and launching a robust claims & injury management program, referred to internally as “Rest & Recovery”, focused on enhancing the level of care and response that associates receive following an occupational accident, while managing costs and driving efficiencies.
• Subsequent expansion of the “Be-Safe” program to include a module focused on preventing and managing slip, trip and fall accidents. This will include training, workplace management, safety shoe program, accident investigations, and risk identification.
• Expanding the functionality of its Intranet site and Risk Management Information System to include claims and loss prevention policies and procedures, as well as other information to enhance the risk management effort.
Starwood was chosen for the award in a two-stage process. National Underwriter senior editors screened initial entries and selected the three most impressive firms. A blue ribbon panel of risk management judges from the industry selected the winner from the final three.
Other Zurich customers nominated for the award were:
• Academy Sports
• Fossil, Inc.
• Lexa International
• Miron Construction
• Musco Family Olives
• Piedmont Plastics
• Skanska ISA
About Zurich
Zurich's North America Commercial and Global Corporate in North America business divisions are part of Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich), an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. In North America, Zurich (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors.
Risk engineering services are provided by Zurich Services Corporation.
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Media contact:
Steve McKay
Zurich
(847) 706-2265
steven.mckay@zurichna.com