Nano Insurance Conference

Posted on July 21, 2009 by John C. Monica, Jr.

Chubb Insurance is hosting a one-day nanotechnology insurance conference on October 13, 2009 in North Branch, New Jersey:

"Nanotechnology: What is the Best Safety and Risk Management Approach?" 

From the conference website:

"This conference brings together prominent nanotechnology speakers who will review nanotechnology background, health and safety, and potential insurance and liability issues. Current risk assessment and 'best practice' controls will be shared, helping attendees better recognize and manage potential nanotechnology risks. A nanotechnology toolkit will be provided to help attendees stay abreast of critical developments in this dynamic field."

Speakers include: Charles Geraci (NIOSH), Charles Kingdollar (General Reinsurance Corp.); John Monica (Porter Wright); Susan Berry (DRS Technologies); Ganesh Skandan (NEI Corp.); William Barr (Chubb); Erik Olsen (Chubb); and Louise Vallee (Chubb).

More from the conference website:

Emerging risks require new risk management practices. Nanotechnology applications have outpaced safety and health research. The big challenge is trying to figure out a risk management roadmap when there is a scientific and regulatory abyss with the potential for future litigation looming in the distance. Companies that delay nanotechnology innovation awaiting safety consensus or regulations risk falling behind the competition. While these tiny materials and processes are big business, many risk managers and insurance buyers haven’t fully considered potential risks to employees, consumers and the environment, resulting in workers compensation, product liability and environmental liability exposures. Company risk managers and insurance buyers would value and benefit from knowledgeable broker and agent guidance. Application and control strategies considered now may have far-reaching future implications.

Nano insurance issues have received a lot of renewed interest lately.  This should be a great conference on the topic and is open to the public.  Hope to see you there.

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Nanotechnology Health and Safety Forum -- Seattle, June 8 - 9, 2009

Posted on March 16, 2009 by John C. Monica, Jr.

Battelle Memorial Institute, the University of Washington, and the University of Oregon are co-sponsoring the international Nanotechnology Health and Safety Forum (NHSF) in Seattle, Washington on June 8 - 9, 2009.  The NHSF is coinciding with the first world-wide meeting of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) TC 229 -- Nanotechnologies being held in the United States, and will take place at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center.

Topics covered at the NHSF will include:

  • The EHS Progress Report: today's status and tomorrow's next steps
  • International Standards: developing a timeline & milestones
  • Navigating Regulations: encouraging dialogue between Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
  • Safety Guidelines: state of the science and recommended occupational safety guidelines for working with nanomaterials
  • Managing Risk: the insurance industry perspective
  • What's New: current activities of innovative nano-manufacturers

I have been invited to speak on the insurance/managing risk panel along with speakers from Riddell Williams, Hunton & Williams, Zurich North America, and Chubb Insurance:

The availability of insurance for entities using nanotechnology is critical to the further development and application of nanomaterials in industry. Yet the widening use of nanotechnology (while toxicology remains to be determined) is a central concern for the global insurance industry. Insurance, Nanotechnology, and Risk addresses the prospects for managing nano risk through the perspectives of a Silicon Valley loss control specialist, a major international underwriter, and liability / coverage counsel.

This should be a great conference with an international focus; plus Seattle in June is going to be a lot of fun. Hope to see you there.

 

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