New Loss Control Exam Developed
NU Online News Service, Sept. 24, 2:40 p.m. EDT?Two insurance trade groups said they have developed a competency exam for loss control professionals.[@@]
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America in Des Plaines, Ill. and the American Insurance Association in Washington said the exam will test skills needed to provide quality insurance loss control services on an entry-level basis.
The organizations said the Loss Control Specialists (LCS) examination was developed by experts from the Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists in a joint venture with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and the American Industrial Hygiene Association.
AIA and PCI said that establishing a baseline set of knowledge for the practice of insurance loss control is important for several reasons.
"First, the roles performed by insurance loss control personnel do not precisely match those of government safety inspectors, safety managers in individual organizations, or other safety practitioners," said Arlene Ryndak, PCI director of loss control.
She added that, "While sharing the same technical safety information and objectives, insurers frequently emphasize different aspects of safety work. The LCS designation will enable insurers to evaluate entry-level personnel on the basis of the safety work they will actually be performing."
Ken Stoller, AIA counsel, said, "In addition, loss control specialists play key roles both in moderating the cost of insurance coverage, and in reducing hazards to individual workers and consumers. This exam is a concrete means of recognizing their significant contribution."
PCI and AIA said that a series of interviews with insurance loss control managers and practitioners was conducted to determine the basic skills and knowledge needed to provide professional and competent loss control services. Based on these interviews, testing professionals created questions to determine a candidate's mastery of work site assessment; hazard control and loss prevention; verification; disaster planning, emergency response and professional liability.
The groups said that the current quality of insurance loss control staffs industry-wide is at an all-time high, as industry consolidations and downsizing have led insurers to retain only the most qualified personnel. Looking to the future, the establishment of a credible base of knowledge for competency will help insurers maintain this high level of service, they said.
AIA and PCI said a well-documented standard, such as the Loss Control Specialists' (LCS) exam, will assist insurers in assessing, hiring and training their loss control staffs.
A complete description of the loss control specialist examination, associated fees and the examination handbook can be obtained on the CCHEST web site at www.sschest.org/lcs or by calling CCHEST at 217-359-2686
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