News Releases

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The ACE Group today announced the release of a second environmental advisory entitled, “Legionella: Minimizing the Risk during Construction.” The advisory discusses the potential risks of pollutants, specifically legionella pneumophila (“Legionella”), which contractors may encounter during renovation or construction projects that involve heating and cooling systems or any water-containing source. The advisory examines opportunities to help mitigate the risks of Legionella and describes how contractors can meet higher standards of care and take a proactive approach to risk management in order to help minimize the potentially harmful effects of pollutants during construction.

“Emerging environmental risks are challenging contractors and often impacting their projects,” said William P. Hazelton, Executive Vice President, ACE Environmental Risk. “ACE’s Environmental Risk Practice understands these risks and has developed this advisory to provide useful information that can help contractors be better prepared when undertaking a construction project.”

The ACE Environmental Advisory was co-authored by Diana Eichfeld, Assistant Vice President, ACE Environmental Risk, Gerry Rojewski, Vice President and North America Product Line Manager for the ACE Environmental Contractor Program and Frank Westfall, Vice President, ESIS Health, Safety and Environmental Services. The advisory represents the second in a series of papers designed to provide useful information on current industry topics faced by risk managers.

The advisory explains how contractors may face Legionella risk factors stemming from new, old or partially completed construction projects. “Contractors can help avoid pollutant challenges during construction or renovation projects by starting with a proactive risk management strategy,” said Mr. Westfall. “Failure to take the appropriate precautionary measures or create a thorough risk management strategy when dealing with risks like Legionella can jeopardize the health of workers, tenants and others at a construction site leading to potential litigation, decontamination and restoration costs.”

In conjunction with a proactive risk management plan, the advisory references several expert resources that contractors can look to for guidance. According to Ms. Eichfeld, “the new proposed American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard can offer contractors specific guidance on how to prevent the spread of Legionella.”

The advisory also discusses insurance considerations for contractors. “Contractors should consider a pollution liability insurance program that covers Legionella as well as other environmental pollutants when putting together a proactive risk management strategy for a particular project,” said Mr. Rojewski. “It’s important for contractors to purchase a policy that can be tailored to suit their needs.”

To access the report, please visit our website. The material presented in this report is not intended to provide legal or other expert advice. It is presented as informational only. Readers should consult legal counsel or other technical experts, as applicable, with any specific questions they may have.

ACE Environmental Risk, an ACE USA business unit and part of the ACE Group, offers a full range of environmental liability solutions designed to minimize bottom-line impacts, and provide hands-on management for those liabilities. For more information about ACE Environmental Risk and its range of products and services, please visit our website. Organized in 1953, ESIS^®, Inc. (ESIS) provides customized risk management services. ESIS is part of the ACE Group, which is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and AA- (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. For more information, please visit www.esis.com.

Insurance is provided by insurance companies within the ACE Group. All products may not be available in all jurisdictions. The product information above is a summary only. The insurance policy actually issued contains the terms and limits of the contract.

ACE USA is the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. ACE USA, through its underwriting companies, provides insurance products and services throughout the U.S. Additional information on ACE USA and its products and services can be found at www.acegroup.com/us. The ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 53 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident supplemental health insurance, reinsurance, and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of the ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information can be found at: www.acegroup.com.