Quest promotes product safety in order to minimize the potential for products liability claims. An effective product safety management program can reduce the potential for accidents and product recalls, reduce insurance premiums, increase the safety and quality of products, and provide a more defensible product and company in the event of litigation. We can review a company's product safety program and help develop recommendations that would enhance the existing controls in order to achieve the objectives listed above.

We have considerable experience with assessments of manufacturers of high hazard products and with considerable sales in the United States (e.g. toy manufactur ing, pharmaceuticals, automotive products, heavy machinery, food processing, chemical manufacturing, etc.)

Quest performs product liability assessments through site visits or phone surveys. These assessments focus on the following areas:

• Contracts / Agreements – An investigation of whether the company has sound contracts and agreements in place to help limit their potential exposure to product liability. These could be between the company and its' suppliers, dealers, manufacturing reps, service companies, even with their customers.

• Product Design Reviews – A review of the qualifications of the product design team, the mandatory or voluntary standards that apply to the product, availability of product certification, record keeping practices, etc.

• Marketing / Advertising Concerns – A review of product brochures, catalogues, web sites, promotional videos, and other marketing materials to ensure that these materials do not go too far in promoting the product by overstating its features, benefits or capabilities.

• Reliability Testing – A review of the extent of prototype testing by in-house staff and external testing laboratories.

• Warning Labels & Instructions – A review of the existing warning labels to ensure that they comply with the applicable standards and that they adequately inform the user of the hazard and the means to avoid it.

• Records Retention Programs – In case of a product liability lawsuit numerous types of records will be demanded by the court, and within a short timeframe. We review the existing practices to ensure that important records would be readily available.

• Supplier Selection & Control – A review of the supplier qualification procedures and the availability of risk transfer mechanisms (hold harmless clauses, additional insured status, proof of insurance, etc.)

• Warranties – Interviews are held with sales and management personnel to ensure that they are careful in avoiding any unintended warranties.

• Recall Procedures – A review of the existing recall procedures and product recall history.

• Complaint Handling & Investigation – An effective complaint handling program very often avoids subsequent claims activity. We review the existing program to determine whether safety related problems receive the proper attention.

• Quality Control Program – A formal quality control program can reduce the potential for injury resulting from manufacturing defects as well as provides the necessary documentation to better defend against a product liability claim. We review the existing program and evaluate whether it is adequate for the degree of hazard represented by the product.

• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points Analysis – For food related industries and medical devices, we review the existence of a HACCP program and ensure that it is effective in reducing the potential for the distribution of contaminated or nonconforming products.

Quest Loss Control Services Inc. - Tel: (514) 341-4545 - Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it