This is a common topic for certification body auditors to check when performing an OHSAS 18001 audit but even though the law changed in October last year, some certification bodies are still in the dark about the exact requirements.
What do you need to do?
As most people will know, if you employ anyone then you must hold a minimum of £5 million employees liability insurance and display your certificate to all employees.
Up to October 2008, you were required to physically display the certificate (you can now display the certificate electronically) and retain a copy of the certificate for 40 years (there is now no requirement to retain the insurance certificate once expired).
So if auditors are requesting extended retention periods for the liability certificate this is now no longer required.
Beware…
However, you are strongly advised by the HSE to keep details of your liability insurance. This is because diseases and other forms of ill health can appear decades after and former or current employees may decide to make a claim against their you several years after they were working with you.
Planning your next OHSAS 18001 Internal Audit?
The Health & Safety Executive is a good source of information to help you identify specific requirements. Requirements for liability insurance can be found here.